The Fourteenth International Students Summit (ISS)
on
Food, Agriculture and Environment in the New Century

Students Taking Action in Indigenous Communities and Local Cultures to Sustain Traditional Knowledge and Effectively Move Forward in the Field of Food, Environment and Agriculture

September 19 – 20, 2014

Statement

　The contemporary world is facing a crisis of sustainability, and we see it as tremendously important to draw together the wisdom and vitality of youth, the torchbearers of the future of mankind. There are especially wide ranging missions for agricultural students, as agricultural science plays a key role in the solution of fundamental problems in food production and safety, environmental conservation, energy, and human health. The system of food production and consumption is without doubt closely related to the condition of the natural environment, the stage of economic development, and food culture in each country, and their patterns and problems reflect regional characteristics. It is thus important to understand how agriculture and food systems should be organized and maintained in each society.
　In November 2001, Tokyo University of Agriculture (Tokyo NODAI) organized the “International Students Summit on Food, Agriculture and Environment in the New Century” to provide students from our global partner universities with an opportunity to gather and exchange views and ideas on global food, agricultural and environmental issues, and also to discuss their own roles in sustainable development. The outcomes were announced as the “Tokyo Declaration.” Since then, the International Students Summit has been held every year. The participating students adopted Action Plan in 2002 and agreed to establish the International Students Forum (ISF) from 2003. In 2005, Global Network for Environment, Food and Agriculture (Global NEFA) was established by the former participants of ISS/ISF as a venue for continued sharing of information and knowledge on food, agriculture and environment issues. The 12th ISS in 2012 was sponsored jointly by Tokyo NODAI and Michigan State University (MSU), and held at the MSU Campus in USA.
　The 14th International Students Summit will be held on September 19-20, 2014 at the Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Kasetsart University in Thailand. The sub-theme for this summit is “Students taking action in Indigenous Communities and Local Cultures to Sustain Traditional Knowledge and Effectively Move Forward in the Field of Food, Environment and Agriculture”. In this summit we hope to narrow the scope of their presentations and discussions to actual activities undertaken by the students in their respective local communities. In order to foster their contributions to the solution of global problems, students are expected to clarify the framework of their actions in local communities as to the rationale, methods, and implications for economy, society and culture,  
　Only one presentation will be accommodated for each participating university in the following sessions.

Opening Session
Keynote speech
Session 1: Universities with Students’ Actions in the field of food security
Session 2: Universities with Students’ Actions in the field of community development
Session 3: Universities with Students’ Actions in the field of agriculture
Session 4: Universities with Students’ Actions in the field of education
Discussion and adoption of joint communiqué
Closing Session

Organizing Committee & Students Committee,
International Students Forum,
Tokyo University of Agriculture
Kasetsart University