The cost of neglect-agriculture, rural transformation and development: Dr Kanayo Nwanze, President of the United Nation’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), explored in his seminar “The cost of neglect—agriculture, rural transformation and development”, at the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture in Dubai, the cost of neglect of agriculture. He highlighted the importance of agriculture and research for development and outlined IFAD's experiences in helping poor rural people increase food production while conserving water and building resilient food systems.