December 2008 Ministerial Roundtable and Opening Ceremony: Calling for a New Approach in Africa's Agricultural Research Leaders in politics and science underlined the need for a new agricultural research paradigm, which meets Africa’s challenges by building on its strengths. A Session on Global Challenges: New Initiatives to Harness the Power of Agricultural Science Experts respond to the demand for innovative approaches to promote sustainable agricultural growth in the face of multiple crises. Crawford Lecture: Nothing Succeeds Like Success The 2008 Sir John Crawford Memorial Lecture was presented by His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria and United Nations mediator in various African nations. The Future of the CGIAR - A New Way Forward Change was in the air at AGM08, with a proposal for a revitalized CGIAR on the table. CGIAR 2008 King Baudouin Award: Special Recognition for Excellent Work in Central Asia and the Caucasus A massive and intensive effort has rejuvenated agriculture and boosted rural incomes across the region over the last decade. CGIAR Science Awards: Outstanding Achievements in Global Agricultural Research Six awards recognized innovation in tasks ranging from the preservation of maize and wheat genetic diversity to the use of social networking concepts to resolve conflicts over water. Media Awards and Workshop: Recognizing and Promoting Excellence in Africa's Agricultural Journalism African journalists garnered two awards and strengthened their capacity for high-quality reporting on agricultural research and development. Into the Field AGM participants visit farms and research stations to see agriculture in Mozambique first hand.