This toolkit was developed collaboratively by WWF, Climate Focus, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CIAT-Bioversity, the NDC Partnership Support Unit, and partners, with financial support for the 2025 edition from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
This toolkit includes 356 resources from 175 organizations across 33 sectors that can help accelerate a sustainable transformation of agriculture and food systems, including:
Guidance and frameworks: Policy briefs, implementation guides, frameworks, and more that can help policymakers implement sustainable agriculture and sustainable food systems measures and/or implement their country's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs);Technical tools: Analytical tools for climate, land-use, and biodiversity assessments in the context of food systems, ranging from emissions scenario calculators and climate risk screening tools with geospatial data to land-use comparison models, cost-benefit analysis tools for sustainable agriculture transitions, and frameworks for resolving land-use conflicts;
Partnerships, platforms, or initiatives: Organisations, initiatives, dedicated to supporting countries in developing, implementing, and monitoring their national plans and strategies or otherwise supporting the advancement of sustainable food systems;
Implementation case studies: Real-world programs, projects, and policies that successfully integrate food systems targets and measures into national climate and biodiversity strategies;
National strategy examples: Specific NDCs, NAPs, and NBSAPs examples with explanations of how they demonstrate agriculture and food systems integration and are developed through inclusive, multi-stakeholder processes.
The toolkit covers resources specific to a wide range of sectors and themes, including livestock, crops, fisheries and aquaculture, agroforestry, nutrition, food security, forestry and other land use, biodiversity, nature-based solutions and ecosystem services, water, cities, coastal zones and oceans, disaster risk reduction, economic recovery, education, energy, gender equality, health, infrastructure and industry, livelihoods, poverty alleviation, waste, rural development, transport, youth, just transition.
With Brazil holding the presidency as both an agricultural powerhouse as well as home to the Amazon rainforest and other critical ecosystems such as the Cerrado, the stage is set to show how coherent land-use policies can deliver for climate, nature, and people alike. For the first time, we may see food systems take center stage in a way that meaningfully links the Rio Conventions, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Paris Agreement.
COP30 is the turning point to mainstream food systems into climate action. CGIAR scientists and the Food and Agriculture Organization on the United Nations (FAO) with and their global partners are seizing the moment to provide the science, partnerships, and innovations that make global adaptation and mitigation targets achievable, inclusive, and ready for finance.
11 Nov. Transformative approaches for adaptation planning in Africa
This session highlighted how African countries are strengthening adaptation planning using CGIAR-supported climate analytics, modelling tools, and policy partnerships. It showcases how governments integrate climate risks into national and sub-national planning, and the evolving role of CGIAR’s science in informing multi-hazard, long-term resilience strategies.
11 Nov The full stack: From AI models to ethical policy and farmer impact (IWMI / CGIAR)
This event explored how advanced AI, Earth observation, and digital agronomy can translate into practical benefits for farmers. It focuses on data governance, responsible AI in agriculture, and real-world examples from CGIAR’s work in South Asia and Africa to scale decision-support tools for climate-smart farming.
Giriraj Amarnath
Research Group Leader – Water Data for Climate Resilience
IWMI
Elliot Jones-Garcia
Senior Research Analyst
IFPRI
Andrew Howe
Ai2
Tek Sapkota
Principal Scientist
CIMMYT
Imara Salas
Secretariat Director
AIM for Scale
Marcelo Morandi
Head of the Office of International Relations
Embrapa
A discussion of science-based strategies for cutting nitrogen losses while maintaining yields. CGIAR and FAO researchers shared insights on fertilizer efficiency, circular nutrients, and opportunities for national climate commitments to integrate nitrogen mitigation.
Valerie Fajardo,
Research Fellow
International Nitrogen Network
Martina Otto
Head of Secretariat
Climate and Clean Air Coalition,
UNEP
Tek Sapkota
Principal Scientist
CIMMYT
Mark Sutton
Director of the International Nitrogen Management System (INMS) and GCRF South Asian Nitrogen Hub (SANH), co-chair of the UNECE Task Force on Reactive Nitrogen (TFRN) and co-chair of the UNEP Global Partnership on Nutrient Management (GPNM)
David Kanter
Chair, International Nitrogen Initiative and Professor of Environmental Studies at New York University (NYU)
Tariq Aziz
Regional Director for South Asia at the International Nitrogen Initiative (INI) and Professor of Soil Science at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF)
Andrea Perez
Senior International Affairs Manager
Compassion in World Farming
Martial Bernoux
Team leader and Senior Natural Resources Officer
FAO
Osamu Kubota
Deputy Assistant Minister, Export and International Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture
Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Japan
Saskia Sanders
Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs and negotiator of Sharm El-Sheik Joint Work in Agriculture
12 Nov Your words, our agenda: Shaping CGIAR climate action
A participatory dialogue where youth, Indigenous groups, and farmer organisations directly informed future priorities of CGIAR’s climate research portfolio. The session solicited feedback on where CGIAR should invest in innovation, partnerships, and policy engagement.
12 Nov. Sustainable finance and policy to scale biosolutions for soil health and climate action
This event examined how public and private finance can accelerate adoption of biological soil solutions—such as biofertilizers, microbiome-based inputs, and regenerative practices. CGIAR soil scientists and partners discuss evidence gaps and opportunities for scaling.
12 Nov. Scaling up agroecology initiatives for net-zero pathways in the Global South
A research-focused dialogue with CGIAR, FAO, and regional partners on agroecology transitions that enhance climate mitigation. Case studies from Latin America, Africa, and Asia highlight co-benefits for biodiversity, women, and Indigenous producers.
13 Nov. Locally led climate adaptation: A “business unusual’’ agenda for R&D (IWMI / CGIAR)
This panel discusses how climate adaptation can be driven from the ground up, centering on farmer-led innovations and locally defined priorities. IWMI and CGIAR show new models for scaling adaptation, from community monitoring to locally determined finance channels.
13 Nov. Who needs national frameworks for climate services anyway? (IWMI / CGIAR)
A critical look at the limitations of top-down climate services. IWMI experts demonstrate alternatives that give farmers direct agency—such as co-produced advisories, participatory forecasting, and decentralized information systems.
13 Nov. Pulses in school meals — Untapped climate potential
This session highlights the mitigation and nutrition gains achievable by bringing climate-resilient pulses into national school meal programmes. CGIAR crop scientists share evidence from India, East Africa, and Latin America.
13 Nov. AI for climate-resilient soils: Scaling digital agronomy across Africa
CGIAR showcased predictive soil intelligence tools that integrate satellite data, AI soil mapping, and machine learning to help governments manage land degradation and farmers optimize soil health.
14 Nov. Demystifying low-emission food systems and landscapes
A science-based unpacking of what “low-emission food systems’’ actually entail. Presenters discussed how mitigation targets can be realistic for countries with diverse farming systems, and the role of CGIAR in quantifying emission reductions.
Eliza Villarino
Research Specialist
Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
Marcela Quintero
Associate Director General
Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
Tek Sapkota
Principal Scientist, Agricultural System/Climate Change
CIMMYT
Claudia Ringler
Unit Director, Natural Resources and Resilience
IFPRI
14 Nov. Integrating climate action into livestock production in multiple systems
Livestock researchers examine strategies for reducing methane and improving productivity in mixed crop–livestock, pastoral, and intensive systems. CGIAR contributions included emissions measurement, feed innovations, and manure management.
14 Nov + 15 Nov. Productive forests — Advances in productive restoration in agriculture (I & II)
These linked sessions explored how forest restoration integrates with farming through agroforestry, silvopastoral systems, and mixed landscapes. CGIAR provides research insights into carbon accounting, livelihood benefits, and restoration finance. 🔗 https://events.cgiar.org/cop30foodagriculturepavilion
15 Nov. Unlocking carbon and climate finance for smallholder adaptation (CGIAR involvement)
A discussion on emerging models including MRV-light carbon programmes, soil carbon payments, and adaptation finance tailored for smallholders. CGIAR contributes evidence on economic feasibility and equity implications.
15 Nov. Climate technology progress report 2025
CGIAR scientists and partners assessed advances in climate tech—bioeconomy solutions, emissions monitoring, digital agriculture, and drought-tolerant crops—evaluating which innovations are ready for scaling.
15 Nov. Turning innovation into impact: Scaling climate-smart solutions for farmers (IWMI / AICCRA / CGIAR)
This AICCRA-led session presented success cases—index insurance, digital advisories, climate-smart cropping systems—reaching millions across Africa. Emphasis is on partnerships that turn pilots into national programmes.
15 Nov. Circular food systems: International solutions for climate action
Showcased evidence from CGIAR research on waste valorisation, nutrient recycling, climate-smart processing, and circular agriculture business models from Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
17 Nov. Agriculture and food security in the Caribbean (IWMI / CGIAR)
This session focused on water-smart agriculture, climate advisories, and innovation ecosystems that support Caribbean states in integrating adaptation into food security strategies.
Examined the science and governance mechanisms needed to shift palm oil, soy, beef, and cocoa toward deforestation-free supply chains. CGIAR provides evidence from land-use modelling and traceability research.
19 Nov. Climate-resilient landscapes for the GGA (Global Goal on Adaptation) (CGIAR Landscapes, FAO, UNU-IAS)
A technical session presented new indicator-aligned innovations for land, water, and biodiversity restoration in support of the Global Goal on Adaptation. CGIAR provides landscape modelling tools and MRV approaches for nature-based solutions.
20 Nov. Enabling holistic NDCs: Tools for integrated climate, biodiversity & food systems action (Alliance CIAT–Bioversity, IWMI, partners)
A major CGIAR-supported event presented integrated modelling tools and cross-sector planning approaches to help countries upgrade their NDCs to include biodiversity, water, and food system linkages.
20 Nov. Scaling solutions for resilient animal & aquatic food systems (CGIAR involvement)
This session highlighted innovations from livestock, aquaculture, and aquatic food research communities—including genetics, climate-resilient breeds, water-efficient aquaculture, and antimicrobial-smart systems.
20 Nov. Sustainable and regenerative livestock of the Americas
A multi-country dialogue on grazing management, silvopastoral systems, and regenerative livestock approaches. CGIAR contributes metrics for monitoring ecosystem benefits and emission reductions.
20 Nov. Scaling regenerative agriculture from Riyadh to Belém (Alliance Bioversity–CIAT / CA4SH)
Building on the UNCCD COP16 momentum, this session connects regenerative agriculture leaders from Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. It highlights CGIAR evidence on soil health, farmer incentives, and resilience outcomes.
20 Nov. Family farming and agroecology: Pathways to inclusive & climate-resilient food systems
Explores how agroecology and family farming can drive just transitions. CGIAR’s contributions include metrics, farmer-centred extension models, and evidence on productivity co-benefits.
Access Agriculture, in partnership with RUFORUM, will conduct two residential workshops (one each for Anglophone and Francophone participants) designed for selected early-career researchers who are affiliated to institutions of higher learning or national research institutes in sub-Saharan Africa.
The workshop for Francophone countries will be held, 24-28 November 2025, in Benin,
The workshop for Anglophone countries will be held, 8-12 December 2025, in Uganda.
The workshop will focus on equipping the participants working in the areas of agroecology, organic and regenerative farming and sustainable food systems with communication and video skills.
It will boost their capacity to document and communicate effectively agroecological innovations and practices using multimedia tools to a broader audience and potential end-users, and share them on digital platforms like EcoAgtube.
Organizer: International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) – Cape Town & partner institutions
As Africa strengthens its position in global agricultural trade, the need to align food safety with sustainable farming has never been greater. This high-level international conference brings together researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, and technology providers to explore science-based solutions for managing pesticide residues, with a strong focus on biological solutions, regulatory innovation, and precision agriculture.
Stella Simiyu (Director, Regulatory Affairs & Stakeholder Relations, CropLife Africa Middle East) — Are biopesticides’ harmonisation efforts paying off?
Travis Bui (Administrative Chair, UAPASTF) — UAV pesticide applications: Industry efforts to enable global regulatory frameworks (virtual)
Afternoon session included:
Murenga Mwimali (Chief Research Scientist, Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Org) — Challenges & opportunities in Kenya’s residue compliance.
Debbie Muir (Biodiversity Officer – Control & Pesticide Risk Manager, DFFE South Africa) — Key provisions of harmonised guidelines for registration of biopesticides in Southern Africa.
Mellon Kabole (Africa Regional Manager, Minor Use Foundation) — Minor Use Foundation priority setting results for Africa.
Day 2 (12 Nov) — Innovations in Biological Pest Control
Chair: Stephen Njoka (Former Director, DLCO-EA)
Keynote: Yrielle Roets‑Dlamini (Senior Researcher – Bioprocess Technology Dev., CSIR) — Scaling & commercialisation pathways: addressing barriers to the growth of biological solutions
Peter Kamuti (Deputy Director, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service) — Rethinking the last spray: Biopesticides for residue mitigation
Fernando Cantão (Fundraising/Tech Transfer & Innovation, ICGEB) — The role of biostimulants & biofertilisers in mitigating pesticide residues
Kahsay Mawcha (Research Fellow – Biopesticides, ICGEB) — Microbes as pesticide clean-up agents: evidence from the literature
Panel:
Moderator: Debbie Matteucci (Chair, South Africa Bioproducts Organisation)
Cornelius Oosthuizen (GM, Koppert South Africa), Kenneth Chipere (Principal Research Officer, Pesticides Registration, Zimbabwe),
Maurice Barasa (Head, Registration of Pesticides, Kenya) & Michelle Lesur (CEO, Andermatt Madumbi)
Day 3 (13 Nov) — Precision Agriculture & Data-Driven Solutions
Chair: Ramadhan Kilewa (Research Officer, Tanzania Plant Health & Pesticides Authority)
Keynote: Mmboneni Muofhe (Deputy Director-General, Socio-Economic Innovation Partnership, South Africa Dept. of Science & Innovation) — From data to action: scaling digital tools for farm-level biocontrol
Tom Murray (Technical Manager, Fruits & Horticulture, Woolworths, South Africa) — From farm to shelf: A retailer’s perspective on pesticide residues
Stella Simiyu (Director, Regulatory Affairs & Stakeholder Relations, CropLife Africa Middle East) — Regulatory readiness for the use of drones in Africa
Closing remarks by Minshad Ansari (Chair, World Bioprotection Forum) + Stella Simiyu + Dennis Ndolo
Activity: Launch of the African Bioproducts Community of Practice – led by Dennis Ndolo (ICGEB)
The Biopesticides Community of Practice (CoP) was established under the Collective Action on Agroecology (CA-AE) to accelerate the adoption of safe, effective biopesticides and promote agroecological pest management. It bridges research, industry, policy, and farmer practice to harmonize regulatory frameworks, coordinate innovation, and support evidence-based scaling of biological pest control solutions.
Objectives
Improve access to and farmer uptake of biopesticides through evidence, policy guidance, and market linkages.
Harmonize regulatory and Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) approaches across regions.
Coordinate fragmented research and innovation across Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Support evidence-based scaling of biopesticides within Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems.
Build a global network for continuous knowledge sharing and policy dialogue on biocontrol solutions.
Linking up with Asian Biopesticide experts:
The Asia‑Pacific Biopesticide Community of Practice (ABCoP), launched by APAARI in May 2024, is a vibrant cross‑sectoral platform that unites researchers, industry stakeholders, policymakers, regulators, NGOs and government agencies across the Asia‑Pacific region. Its primary mission is to promote knowledge exchange, foster collaboration, and accelerate the development, regulation, and trade of biopesticides—a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical pest control.
Related:
GFAIR's Collective Action on Agroecology (CA AE)–Biopesticides initiative took part in the Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting (ABIM) 2025, held in Basel, Switzerland from 20-22 October 2025, as part of its commitment to advancing sustainable agricultural innovation. ABIM, recognized as the world’s leading biocontrol industry conference, brought together over a thousand experts, researchers, regulators, and industry leaders to exchange insights and foster collaboration on the future of biological crop protection. For CA AE–Biopesticides, this engagement marked an important step toward deepening its involvement in global dialogues that align with Africa’s agroecological transformation agenda.
The Conference on Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) was organized by the African Union Commission, the UN Economic Commission for Africa, and the African Development Bank. The conference focused on "Land Governance, Justice and Reparations for Africans and Descendants of People of the African Diaspora". Key topics included historical injustices, land tenure security, climate resilience, and empowering vulnerable groups.
Key topics discussed:
Strengthening land tenure security
Empowering women, youth, and vulnerable groups
Ensuring land governance contributes to climate resilience
Facilitating reconnection between Africa and its diaspora through shared experiences
Addressing historical wrongs and seeking reparations
10/11 Developing capacity for land governance: The role and place of universities and a robust, sustainble Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa
The specific objectives of the Vice Chancellors' convening were as follows:
Showcase achievements and lessons from NELGA’s implementation across different universities and regions;
Assess sustainability models and explore pathways for institutionalising NELGA in host universities;
Strengthen collaboration and ownership of NELGA among African universities and policy actors;
Highlight the role of universities in advancing evidence-based land governance policy making in Africa; and,
Chart a strategic agenda for the next phase of NELGA’s work, building momentum for its consolidation and growth.
10/11 Land Governance, Justice and Reparations for Africans and Descendants of People of The African Diaspora
Dr. Janet Edeme - Head of Rural Development Division and Acting Head of Agriculture and Food Security Division of the AUC
Mr. Claver Gatete - UN Undersecretary and Executive Secretary of the ECA
Amb. Amr Aljowaily, Director, Citizens & Diaspora Directorate, African Union Commission
Ms. Stallkamp Silke, Counsellor for Food and Agriculture Embassy of The Federal Republic of Germany
Hon. Mzwanele Nyhontso - Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development of South Africa
Plenary session 1 - Topic: colonial discontinuities and continuities: who has the right to access and own land in Africa?
The panel recognised that colonial land governance systems disrupted pre-existing communal and customary access and ownership models across Africa. These disruptions included forced appropriation of land, alienation of communities, legal imposition of private property frameworks by colonisers and marginalisation of indigenous institutions.
It was emphasised that many of those structural features—such as concentration of land in the hands of a few, exclusion of particular groups (women, Indigenous peoples, diaspora descendants), and legal frameworks biased towards formal titling—persist today. In other words, the “continuities” of colonial land governance remain relevant.
Speakers argued that addressing land justice in the 21st century requires not just reforming current laws, but confronting the historical foundations of land dispossession, recognising reparative responsibilities and re‐imagining governance models that restore access, ownership and control to historically excluded communities.
The session concluded that the question “who has the right to access and own land in Africa?” cannot be answered purely in technical terms of tenure reform—it is deeply political, historical and normative. The panel highlighted that achieving equity will require: (a) transformation of institutions and power dynamics; (b) legal pluralism and recognition of customary rights; (c) mechanisms for reparations, restitution or redistribution (including for diaspora and displaced communities); and (d) data, monitoring and accountability systems that trace land-ownership patterns back to colonial and post-colonial legacies.
This plenary explored how legacies of slavery, colonial conquest, forced dispossession, apartheid and neo-colonial land grabs continue to shape land access and ownership in Africa today. The discussion highlighted both the opportunities—such as growing political will, increasing recognition of customary and communal rights, diaspora engagement and legal mechanisms for heritage restitution—and the challenges, including weak institutional capacity, contested legal pluralism (customary vs statutory), lack of financial and technical resources, insufficient data on historical injustice, and the complexity of designing effective reparations that avoid new exclusion.
The panel underlined that addressing historical land injustices is not simply retrospective but intensely forward-looking: building equitable governance systems, recognizing communal rights, engaging diaspora and descendants, enabling restitution or redistribution and ensuring reparative mechanisms are inclusive. A clear conclusion was that beyond policy rhetoric, meaningful action calls for measurable frameworks, transparency in land-ownership histories, inclusive participation of affected communities, and alignment with broader development and climate agendas.
This plenary explored the role of the African diaspora as a “sixth region” in land governance: how diaspora communities and descendants of those displaced can engage in land access, ownership, investment and restoration on the continent. The discussion addressed both opportunities (such as diaspora investment flows, knowledge transfer, restitution of ancestral lands, diaspora-led agribusiness and land development) and challenges (including legal/institutional barriers in host and home countries, limited data on diaspora land claims, risk of land grabs, ensuring equitable benefit-sharing and aligning investments with local land rights and environmental sustainability).
The session emphasised that genuine diaspora engagement in land must go beyond capital entry; it must dovetail with inclusive land governance, recognition of customary systems, community partnership and safeguards against exploitation. The conclusion stressed that recognising the diaspora as a partner in land policy requires creating enabling frameworks (for investment, tenure security, restitution), transparent channels for capital and land rights claims, and alignment with broader justice and reparations agendas.
Over the three days the conference underscored that while the promise of climate-smart agriculture is strong, its success hinges on integrated, systemic approaches—not simply isolated innovations. Soil health and plant nutrition emerged as foundational; next-generation crops and sustainable livestock systems were flagged as necessary but not sufficient without enabling policies, inclusive institutions and innovative finance. The “synergies with planetary boundaries” track reinforced that CSA must be embedded in broader land-use, biodiversity and ecosystem resilience agendas. Several speakers emphasised that public and private investment must shift toward verifiable climate-smart outcomes (rather than vague “greenwashing” promises), and that farmer-centred design, gender and social inclusion, and digital tools will be critical enablers.
05/11 Opening Panel: Shifting power, scaling solutions: Aligning global food, climate and development agendas
In this session, panellists emphasised that transformative change in agriculture and food systems must go beyond incremental innovation; it requires a recalibration of power dynamics, meaningfully engaging farmers (especially small-holders and women), local institutions and communities in co-design and decision-making, rather than remaining passive recipients. They discussed how scaling solutions for climate-smart agriculture (CSA) demands alignment across global food, climate and development agendas — bridging trade-offs between mitigation/adaptation, food security, livelihoods, ecosystem health and equity. In particular, the panel highlighted three interlinked imperatives: (1) governance — creating inclusive institutions and enabling policies that shift power towards those most impacted; (2) finance and business models — unlocking investments that reward climate-smart outcomes (not just rhetoric) and channel resources into places and actors often marginalised; and (3) systems thinking — recognizing that food systems, climate action and development goals are deeply interconnected, so scaling solutions must work across value chains, landscapes and supply networks.
Rachel Waterhouse, Resilient Ocean-Coasts, Water and Land Use Systems Lead, FCDO
Grace Tanno, Minister, Head of the Agricultural Policy Division (DPAGRO), Brazil Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty)
Chris Chilcott, Deputy Director Environment, CSIRO
Ishmael Sunga, CEO, Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU)
05/11 From Pilot to Scale – Unlocking Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) in Agriculture
Exploring how different financial and policy instruments can work together to mobilize climate finance in agriculture.
The discussion highlighted four major levers: (i) Measurement and verification — robust monitoring of ecosystem outcomes (e.g., carbon, water, biodiversity) is vital to make payments credible; (ii) Institutional & market design — clear governance, transparent rules, risk allocation (e.g., between buyers, aggregators, farmers) and credible demand (carbon markets, biodiversity credits) are essential; (iii) Inclusive business models — farmers (especially smallholders, women) must be integrated as active partners, not just recipients, with fair benefit sharing and capacity-building; (iv) Scaling pathways and policy enablers — public-sector policies, subsidy reform, enabling regulatory environment and blended finance can unlock up-scaling.
Moderated by: Rachael Kretsis, Climate and Agriculture Advisor, FCDO
Gertrude Kambauwa - Director of Land Resources Conservation, Malawi Ministry of Agriculture
Michael Kwame Nkonu - Head of Portfolio for Agricultural Livelihoods, IKEA Foundation
Lieven Claessens - Senior Scientist – Carbon Modelling, Olam Agri
06/11 Fact or Fiction? Debunking Myths in Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems
In this interactive panel, participants explored how often-repeated claims in sustainable agriculture and food systems mask complex realities, and sought to distinguish legitimate innovation from oversold hype. The discussion addressed recurring themes such as “climate-smart agriculture can solve everything,” “zero-emission livestock is just around the corner,” or “nature-positive food systems are fully scalable today.” The speakers challenged each myth by contrasting them with empirical evidence and farmer-centred realities—for example, they emphasized that while soil health improvements are critical, the institutional and market barriers often prevent scaling; that livestock systems can reduce emissions but require major shifts in feed, land-use and behaviour; and that “nature-positive” approaches can deliver only if metrics, governance, and inclusive business models are robust. The session concluded that credibility in sustainable agriculture will depend on transparency about trade-offs, robust measurement of outcomes, stronger alignment with smallholder realities, and honest communication about what can — and cannot — be scaled rapidly.
Facilitator: Luis Rangel, Federal Inspector for Agriculture and Senior Expert for Sustainable Agriculture, MAPA
Muhammad Ibrahim, Scientist, Climate-Smart Agriculture
Ana Carolina Zimmerman, Farmer & Youth
Katja Vuori, CEO, AgriCord
Omar Farhate, Policy Officer, EmergingAg
07/11 The Private Sector/Business Panel- Innovative financial and business models
This panel explored how private finance can unlock climate-smart agriculture at scale—moving from pilots to bankable, replicable models. Speakers compared instruments such as blended finance, green bonds, sustainability-linked loans, carbon and ecosystem-service credits, and outcome-based contracts. They stressed the nuts-and-bolts: de-risking for early adopters, standardizing MRV to pay for results (not promises), aggregating smallholders so capital can flow efficiently, and aligning incentives across buyers, banks, and farmers. A recurring theme was inclusion—designing models that are investable and workable for farmers (especially SMEs and women), with policy predictability to crowd-in private capital rather than replace it.
Facilitator: Manuela Maluf Santos, Country Director, Brazil · IDH
Laurence Jassogne, Head of Nature and Climate Solutions, Olam Agri
Rodrigo Miguel, CEO of Agrifirm LATAM and member of the Strategic Committee of the Royal Agrifirm Group
Francila Calica, Head of Agricultural Affairs and Sustainability Latin America, Bayer
Franck Saint-Martin, Global Public Affairs, Nestle
Residential Workshop on Transformative Teaching of Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS): Linking Education, Innovation, and Enterprise Development.
Background
The transformation of agri-food systems is increasingly recognized as a global priority in addressing the interconnected challenges of food security, nutrition, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Within this context, Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) are key to advancing nutrition, climate resilience, and sustainable food systems. However, despite their nutritional richness and adaptability, NUS remain marginal in education, limiting opportunities for research, innovation, and NUS enterprise development.
The Network for NUS Education and Curriculum Development—linking universities from Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and India— therefore aims to integrate NUS into real-world innovation, trade, and enterprise development.
This two-day residential workshop will bring together lecturers, researchers, and innovation partners to explore transformative teaching models for NUS, focusing on entrepreneurship, accelerators, and MSME incubation.
The Global network on NUS Education will be launched during the residential workshop.
It is organised by the Global Forum for Agricultural and Innovation Research (GFAiR) and Regional Fora: under the Collective Action Higher Education (CA-HE) Network for NUS Education and Curriculum Development, in partnership with the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), and funded by the International Foundation for Science (IFS, Sweden).
The workshop builds on ongoing collaboration within the CA-HE Network, which seeks to transform higher education through innovation-driven approaches to sustainable food systems. It will be the first delivery milestone of the NUS Network and serve as a launchpad for continued curriculum design and module development over the next 12 months, supporting universities in piloting and refining NUS-oriented courses and teaching tools.
Objectives:
Equip educators with tools for entrepreneurial and systems-based teaching of NUS
Co-design a curriculum framework and module outlines linking NUS education with innovation, trade, and technology
Foster collaboration among universities, CGIAR centers, and private sector actors
Approach and Methodology
The workshop will adopt a participatory and experiential approach that blends plenary discussions, case study showcases, and co-design labs to promote cross-learning and innovation. Lessons and experiences from India, Latin America, and Africa will be shared early in the programme to inspire reflection and guide practical group activities. Through breakout co-design sessions, participants will collaboratively develop draft teaching and accelerator-linked models. The outputs from these sessions will serve as a springboard for continued curriculum design and module development within subsequent CA-HE Network activities over the following 12 months.
Programme Summary:
Day 1: Framing the context of NUS and co-designing ideas for integrating NUS into teaching and curricula
Day 2: Linking NUS education with innovation ecosystems, strengthening partnerships, and defining next steps for continued curriculum development
Expected outcomes:
Prototype modules on NUS and entrepreneurship.
Strengthened partnerships for NUS innovation ecosystems.
Trained educators and facilitators for accelerator-linked teaching.
Participants
The workshop will bring together approximately 50 participants representing universities, research institutions, development partners, and innovation ecosystems from Africa, India, Latin America, and the Caribbean. They will specifically include the following categories:
University lecturers and curriculum developers in food systems, agriculture, or nutrition
Researchers and innovation managers interested in NUS-based enterprise
Business incubator leads and MSME accelerator coordinators
Graduate students or early-career professionals in NUS education and innovation
Representatives of CGIAR centers
This multidisciplinary mix will ensure a dynamic exchange of ideas and experiences across academic, research, and entrepreneurial domains. Their diversity and expertise will also foster a vibrant community of practice, equipped to advance curriculum transformation and NUS-focused innovation through subsequent CA-HE Network activities.
6 November 2025. The Collective Action on Forgotten Foods coordinated by Foodbridge and funded by GFAiR launched in September a Call for Projects: Forgotten Foods Youth Challenge 2025 - Reconnecting Africa’s Youth with Indigenous Food Heritage.
This pilot in Nigeria and Ghana is to served as a proof of concept, generating measurable results to attract further investment and upscaling across Africa.
It hosted the Campus Indigenous Food Festival and Cooking Competition at the University of Ibadan, in collaboration with the National Association of Agricultural Students (NAAS UI). 10 talented youth chefs showcased their creativity using indigenous vegetables to prepare mouthwatering dishes such as:
Efo Odunjejalo with Semo
Edikaikong with Eba
Efo Tete and Seasoned Rice
Efo Ebelo and Pounded Yam
Egunsin Soup and Semo
The chefs took time to enlighten participants about these traditional vegetables and sharing their inspiration behind the dishes. The guests also discussed the nutritional benefits of indigenous vegetables and youth participation in their cultivation and promotion.
The CFF AGROSCHOOLING PROJECT distributed indigenous vegetable seeds to youths and organized an exhibition showcasing other forgotten vegetables.
Multi-stakeholder write-shops (Ghana, Nigeria) to co-develop proposals linking forgotten foods with women’s health, youth, climate resilience, and digital innovation.
Diaspora market engagement through African diaspora food market studies in London (and planned in Paris), identifying demand drivers and niche opportunities.
Digital innovation pilots via the GAMAAL App, connecting women cooks and farmers with diaspora and urban consumers. To be tested in Kumasi (Ghana) and Abuja (Nigeria)depending on funding.
Awareness campaigns including culinary demonstrations, storytelling, cultural tourism events (e.g., African Diaspora Food Forum), and side-events at major international conferences (Biodiversity Conference Kunming, UNFSS+4 Addis Ababa).
Youth-focused pilots such as school gardens in Nigeria to integrate forgotten foods into nutrition, climate-smart practices, and waste reduction education.
Policy engagement pilots through proposals (e.g., Pivotal Ventures, One Planet Network, INCiTiS-FOOD) advocacy at FAO, FfD4 (Sevilla), and UNFSS: Alliance for Local Food and Nutrition Supply Chains in Africa (Alliance Africa).
Community of Practice (CoP) building via FARA and GFAiR, now with 650+ members, to foster exchange on research, policy, and practice for forgotten foods.
Diaspora entrepreneur engagement linking food SMEs and diaspora chefs to promote heritage foods in premium urban and international markets (e.g., Compendium 2024 African Diaspora Agrofood Entrepreneurs)
Despite large-scale food security programmes, malnutrition continues to affect both rural and urban families in Telangana (India). The reasons lie in limited dietary diversity, monocropping systems, lack of nutrition awareness, and weak linkages between food production and consumption. Farmers often grow commercial crops for markets rather than diverse and nutritious foods for their households, resulting in a disconnect between what is produced locally and what is consumed, which limits nutritional outcomes.
To address these gaps, WASSAN initiated the Malnutrition-Free Gram Panchayats programme in Vikarabad district, Telangana, in November 2022 with an integrated approach that combines sustainable agriculture, nutrition-sensitive farming, and capacity building for women and youth.
The programme was aimed at ensuring nutritionally vulnerable families, especially women, children, and the elderly, access to adequate, safe, and nutritious food through building self-reliant, malnutrition-free communities
29 - 31 October 2025. The ARUA 2025 Biennial International Conference brought together experts from different fields, including universities, research institutions, government, industry, civil society, international organizations, etc., to discuss how Africa’s Transformation can best be facilitated by Research, Innovation and Artificial Intelligence.
29/10 Advancing responsible AI ecosystems in African HEIs
Moderator: Prof. Sizwe Mabizela (VC, Rhodes University, ARUA Board Chair)
Prof. Bolanle Oboh (DVC, University of Lagos)
Prof. Didas Muganga Kayihura (VC, University of Rwanda)
Prof. Mosa Moshabela (VC, University of Cape Town)
Prof Denis Worlanyo Aheto (VC, University of Cape Coast)
30/10 Collaboration of Networks (Promoting Collaborative Research and Innovation Networks in AI in Africa)
Moderator: Prof. Kayode Oyebode Adebowale (VC, University of Ibadan)
Prof. Sharon Fonn (Co-Director, CARTA)
Prof. Anthony Egeru (Manager - Skilling, Engagement for Community Development, RUFORUM)
Mr. Jim Kaketch (Senior Programme Officer, Research and Policy Uptake, Partnership for African Social & Governance Research - PASGR)
Prof. Akanni Ibukun Akinyemi (DVC, OAU)
Dr. Rachid Serraj (Director for Africa Initiative, UM6P)
31/10 Collaboration of Networks (Engaging international collaborative networks for Research and Innovation)
Moderator: Emeritus Prof. Ernest Aryeetey (University of Ghana)
Prof. Jenny Dixon (Secretary General, Universitas 21 – U21)
Prof. Jan Palmwosky (Secretary General, The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities – The Guild)
Prof. Peter Lennie (Executive Director, Worldwide Universities Network - WUN)
Prof. Maashutha Samuel Tshehla (DVC, Stellenbosch University)
Dr. Laurent Bochereau (Minister-Counsellor Science, Technology & Innovation Delegation of the European Union to the African Union)
Poster presentation
The ARUA 2025 Biennial International Conference includes several posters and presentations directly related to agriculture and food security, many highlighting how AI and digital innovation can support sustainable farming, climate resilience, and smallholder livelihoods.
1. Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Climate-Resilient Agriculture and Food Security in Africa: Addressing Data Gaps, Infrastructure Challenges and Policy Barriers
Presenter:Ms. Mariah Muli, University of Nairobi
Summary: Explores AI’s potential to improve agricultural resilience and food security in Africa. Identifies barriers such as data scarcity, weak infrastructure, and inadequate policy frameworks. Recommends developing localized AI models, strengthening digital infrastructure, and fostering public-private partnerships
2. Leveraging Indigenous Knowledge and Artificial Intelligence for Climate Resilience and Sustainable Agriculture in Africa: Exploring Africa’s Rain-Making Technology
Presenter:Mr. Philip Onyekachukwu Egbule, University of Delta, Agbor
Summary: Examines integration of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) with AI for climate adaptation and sustainable agriculture. Proposes hybrid systems that combine traditional weather knowledge with AI-based prediction tools for improved agricultural planning
3. Development of an Agri-Management Database System Prototype for the Sustainability of Smallholder Farmers in South Africa: A Design Thinking Approach
Presenter:Dr. Obvious Mapiye, Stellenbosch University, with co-authors from University of Pretoria and UNISA
Summary: Introduces a mobile app (AMDS) co-designed with smallholder cattle farmers to digitize farm records and extension services. Demonstrates improved usability and efficiency for managing farm data and connecting to markets
4. Climate-Smart Apiary Site Selection in East Africa: GIS-Based Analysis of Current and Future Climate Projections
Presenter:Dr. Filagot Mengistu Walle, Addis Ababa University, with collaborators from University of Helsinki and ICIPE
Summary: Uses AI-driven GIS and multi-criteria decision methods to optimize beekeeping site selection under different climate scenarios. Demonstrates how climate models can support adaptive agriculture and ecosystem services
5. AI Research Boost and Impact on Ugandan Universities and Communities
Presenter:Mr. Hussein Mbabali, Islamic University in Uganda
Summary: Highlights how AI and IoT projects in Ugandan universities (e.g., Busitema’s smart irrigation) have improved crop yields and agricultural productivity, showcasing university-community partnerships
🧩 Poster Presentations Related to Agriculture
6. Monitoring the Environmental Quality of Solar Energy-Powered Poultry Production System Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Presenters:Okonkwo Ifeanyi & Owoh Ikechukwu, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Summary: Describes use of AI systems to monitor environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, emissions) in poultry systems powered by solar energy—targeting efficiency and sustainability in agribusiness
This conference revolved around three overarching thematic areas that reflect Africa’s pressing priorities in food systems development.
Creating Resilient Food Systems: Jobs, Equity, and Inclusion. This thematic area focuses on building food systems that are capable of withstanding and adapting to both man-made and natural shocks, while generating decent jobs, promoting equity, and ensuring inclusive participation across all levels.
Investment, Innovation, and Financing for Transformation. This thematic area explores how Africa can mobilize and direct strategic investments toward priority areas of food system transformation by aligning public, private, and development finance with coherent policy frameworks. It draws on ANAPRI’s work under the Policy and Priority Value Chains Initiative (PPVC II), which supports governments in identifying high- potential value chains and designing integrated policy responses grounded in evidence, modelling, and stakeholder consultation.
Sustainability, Trade, and Climate Action. Frameworks such as the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan (AFSH-AP), the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP 3.0), and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provide critical pathways for aligning national priorities with continental goals. Since the launch of the Farmer Know Your Soil campaign at the last ANAPRI conference in 2024, efforts have intensified to raise farmer awareness and adoption of sustainable soil management practices through localized soil data, digital advisory tools, and field-level engagement.
Extract of the programme
Day 0 – Monday 3 November 2025 (Pre-Conference)
A special side event on the topic “Leveraging the Agrifood System for Jobs”, organised jointly by ANAPRI and the World Bank.
Academic-paper sessions: selected papers will be presented by researchers on themes such as job creation in agrifood systems, off-farm employment, MSMEs, digital services, youth and women inclusion.
Networking and preparatory workshops that help set the stage for the main conference.
Day 1 – Tuesday 4 November 2025
Opening Ceremony & High-Level Plenary: Setting the global and African context of food systems transformation under the conference theme “Driving Africa’s Food Systems Transformation: Strategic Investments, Resilient Policies, and Global Partnerships”.
Thematic Panel: Creating Resilient Food Systems – Jobs, Equity & Inclusion: Discussion on governance, youth and women’s roles, off-farm value chain jobs, territorial and community-led resilience.
Interactive Café/Breakout Sessions: Smaller group sessions for peer exchange on job creation, inclusion strategies, and resilience building.
Day 2 – Wednesday 5 November 2025
Keynote and Panel: Investment, Innovation & Financing for Transformation: Focus on directing public, private and development finance into value-chains, digital tools, blended finance, institutional alignment.
Workshop/Exhibition: Showcasing innovation tools (e.g., the PPVC modelling services of ANAPRI) and interactive sessions on building investment-ready food systems.
Parallel Tracks / Thematic Workshops: Possible breakout tracks on topics such as digital agriculture, value chain finance, MSME linkages, youth entrepreneurship.
Panel Discussion: Aligning National & Continental Frameworks: Topics may include implementing the Africa Fertilizer & Soil Health Action Plan, CAADP 3.0 alignment, cross-border coordination.
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Closing Plenary & Synthesis: Summary of insights, agreement on next-steps, commitments from stakeholders, launch of any joint statement or roadmap.
Organized under the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE), the gathering spotlighted Africa’s commitment to advancing food security and nutrition through sustainable agriculture.
The three-day high-level gathering, held under the theme “From Malabo to Kampala: Accelerating Just, Resilient Agrifood Systems Transformation for Nutrition and Sustainable Growth,” marked a pivotal transition from the Malabo Declaration (2014) to the newly adopted CAADP Strategy and Ten-Year Action Plan (2026–2035), setting a bold agenda for the next decade of Africa’s agricultural transformation.
It brought together African governments, policymakers, regional economic communities, civil society, farmers’ groups, private sector actors and development partners to:
Address Africa’s food and nutrition security challenges in line with Agenda 2063 and the SDGs.
Strengthen nutrition-sensitive agricultural systems and value-chain development.
Enhance resilience of food systems in the face of climate change and global supply chain disruptions.
Promote policy coherence, accountability, and financing through CAADP processes.
Elevate the role of youth and women farmers in driving agricultural transformation.
Organisers: African Union, CAADP Non-State Actors Group (CNG), African Food Systems Parliamentary Network (AFSPaN), Zero Hunger Coalition.
The session emphasised that parliaments across Africa must move from passive oversight to active financing and legislative leadership in agrifood-systems transformation. It called for parliamentary mandates to align national budgets and laws with the forthcoming CAADP 2026–2035 Strategy, prioritising investments in inclusive value chains, youth and women empowerment, climate resilience, and intra-African trade.
The outcomes included a call to establish parliamentary food-systems caucuses, legislate coherent food-systems laws, adopt transparent budget-tracking dashboards tied to agrifood investment, and reaffirm that MPs hold the power to accelerate the agrifood revolution—not just endorse it.
The session launched
a CAADP Non-State Actors Group “Magazine of Impact”
Chikondi Chabvuta-Mkawa, Chair, CNG (CAADP Non-State Actors Group) “Ten years ago, we stood under the Malabo Declaration. Now, as we embrace the Kampala Declaration, we must renew our commitment, not just to participation, but to transformation. We have seen governments make strides, women rise to leadership, and the private sector move from the margins to the center of dialogue. Yet, 307 million Africans still go hungry. The next decade must be about action: to rise, and rise again, for Africa’s future.”
Agnes Kirabo, Chair, East African Community (EAC) “Many communities still can’t access CAADP materials because of language barriers and limited capacity. We are trying to take the message to the grassroots, but without sufficient resources, it’s not easy. We need investment in translation, training, and local ownership.”
Scene-Setting: Dr John Ulimwengu, Senior Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) "The Theory of Change underpinning the Kampala Declaration is built on three pillars: Leadership and Policy Coherence; Evidence-Based Decision-Making, and Mutual Accountability, as well as Inclusive Participation of Civil Society and Private Sector."
Constance Okeke, ActionAid International
Hon. Agho Oliver Bamenju, African Food Systems Parliamentary Network (AFSPaN) "From Maputo to Malabo, parliaments were observers. From Kampala onward, we are actors. We are no longer on the sidelines. We are implicated, engaged, and accountable. The new Policy Framework for Parliamentary Action, will ensure that commitments made in Kampala are implemented through legislative processes and national oversight. We must not have another decade of speeches without action. Parliament must translate the aspirations of non-state actors into tangible results."
Joe Mzinga, East & Southern African Small-Scale Farmers’ Forum (ESAFF) “When farmers are organized locally and demand accountability, that’s when we see change. We must decentralize implementation and keep farmers, especially smallholders, at the heart of the process.”
Zainab Isah Arah, African Kilimanjaro Women Farmers Forum (AKIWOFF) “We cannot transform Africa’s food systems without women at the center: from the soil to the seed, from health to education. Our soil is our life, our seed is our future, and our hands are our power,”
Precious Jacdonmi GIZ “Non-state actors have been given work without money. To achieve our strategic objectives, we need to rethink how we mobilize and manage resources by blending public, private, and development funding.”
This session advocated institutionalising strategic foresight in agriculture policy/investment cycles (via national foresight hubs, youth leadership, and quality standards) so planning, research and financing.
Foresight must be embedded in planning, investment and policy systems — not treated as a one-off workshop.
Inclusive partnerships are essential, with youth, women, local knowledge-holders and private-sector actors actively co-designing the future of food systems.
Foresight outputs must lead to action — linking research, innovation, value-chains and investment, rather than remaining conceptual.
The draft oversight tool — the Guide on Quality Criteria & Impact for Food-Systems Foresight — provides practitioners with practical measures to ensure foresight is inclusive, rigorous, context-appropriate and measurable.
Foresight capacity-building, institutional mechanisms (e.g., national foresight hubs), and youth leadership are indispensable for achieving a lasting impact.
The Guide, developed by FARA, AFA, and Foresight4Food, offers a practical resource for governments, institutions, practitioners, and partners. It emphasises:
Working principles & quality criteria: inclusivity, contextual relevance, action-orientation, methodological rigour and ethics.
Evaluation & impact framework: providing indicators and learning questions to assess how foresight contributes to change (capacity built, policy uptake, investment relevance).
Procedural guidance: step-by-step processes from scoping and stakeholder mapping through to scenario design and embedding in policy/investment cycles.
Institutionalisation & multi-actor engagement: guidance for embedding foresight in ministries, research systems, youth networks and value-chain partnerships.
The CAADP Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan calls for tripling fertilizer consumption (both organic and inorganic) by 2034, restoring at least 30% of degraded soils, and ensuring 70% of smallholder farmers have access to extension and soil management services.
The session concluded that soil health is a foundational pillar for resilient agrifood systems, linking soil degradation directly to lower food yield, poorer nutritional outcomes and weaker climate adaptation. As Dr Edeme emphasised: with about 65% of Africa’s agricultural land degraded and annual losses of around US $4 billion in soil nutrients, the continent must prioritise investment in soil health to unlock the potential for up to 58% more food production. She quoted Indian agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan, who once said, “Soil anemia breeds human anemia.”
It was further argued that soils must be treated as a national asset — requiring diagnostics (soil health monitoring), targeted interventions (organic & inorganic fertiliser, restoration practices) and integration into policy/investment frameworks (e.g., the CAADP Fertiliser & Soil Health Action Plan). Dr Haddad stressed the shift from plan to performance. In short: invest in soils now, align with national development plans, mobilise finance and monitor results, to secure people’s health, nutrition and planetary sustainability.
Dr Janet Edeme, Head, Rural Development Division (Acting Head, Agriculture & Food Security) at African Union Commission (AUC)
Dr Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director at Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
30/10 Financing Inclusive Partnerships and Food Supply Chains for Nutrition, Health and Food Sovereignty in Africa
This side event explored how inclusive partnerships are necessary for mobilising public and private sector investment for strengthened climate-resilient, nutrition-sensitive, research driven and health-enhancing agri-food local value chains. Such value chains minimize the distance between producers and consumers, involve fewer intermediaries, have closer connections and they support local economies by reinvesting money into the producing (farmer, fisher, pastoral) communities.
Keynote Speakers
Minister or high-level govt. official – Key Partnerships for Investment in Local Food and Nutrition Supply Chains for increased food production – Government of Rwanda
Emmanuel Maboneza, Head Commercial Banking – Private Financing Institutions and Local Food Value Chains Transformation in Africa – Ecobank Rwanda
AUDA-NEPAD - Catalysing Inclusive Partnerships across Africa for the implementation of Strategic Objective 5 - ‘Building Resilient Agri-Food Systems’ of the Kampala CAADP Strategy and Action Plan - 2026-2035) -
Panellists
Dr Aggrey Agumya, Executive Director – FARA
Dr Sloans Chimatiro, President – African Union Policy Research Network for Fisheries & Aquaculture in Africa, PRNFAA
Dr Beatrice Kiage – Food Systems, Nutrition, Climate Change and Health, African Population Health Research Centre, APHRC
Ms Sakina Usengimana, Chairperson, Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF), Managing Director of Agri-foods, Rwanda
Ms Cynthia Ndayishimiye, Head of Operations, JR FARMS, Rwanda
Mr Tobie Manga Ondoa – CAADP Focal Point/National Food Systems Convenor, Cameroon
Africa should drive the momentum toward data-driven youth empowerment in agrifood systems, riding on the idea that progress must be measured, inclusive, and accountable.
Moderated by Dr. Olawale Olayide of the University of Ibadan
Dr. Janet Edeme, Head of Rural Development and Acting Head of Agriculture and Food Security Division at the African Union Commission (AUC) Dr. Edeme introduced the Youth in Agri-Food Systems Performance Index (YAPI)—a new, comprehensive framework jointly developed by the AUC, AUDA-NEPAD, and regional economic communities to track youth participation, entrepreneurship, and employment across Africa’s agrifood systems.
Dr. John Ulimwengu, Senior Research Fellow, Development Strategies and Governance Unit, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Dr. Ulimwengu explained that YAPI builds on the Agribusiness Youth Strategy (AYS) and is designed around five domains: Education, Skills, and Technology, Productive Resources and Services, , Economic Opportunities, Policy Engagement and Governance, Sustainability and Resilience
Haile Abebe (AUC) Mr. Haile Abebe emphasized the AUC’s determination to move from commitment to action, noting that only 11 countries are currently on track to meet the 30% youth-in-agriculture target.
Mr. David Adama (picture) Senior Specialist, AGRA He highlighted ongoing youth initiatives such as GoGettaz, Value4Her, and WIRE, while emphasizing the need for evidence-based programming. He noted that YAPI will provide critical insights to help align and scale up youth agripreneurship programs across the continent.
Mr. Duncan Samikwa Senior Programme Officer for the Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Mr. Emmanuel Onos Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Nigeria
Ms. Baliqees Salaudeen-Ibrahim (CEO, Green Republic Farm). She shared her experiences as a youth-led agribusiness leader, emphasizing that access to finance, mentorship, and markets are some of the barriers hindering youth participation in agribusiness. She called for youth-driven innovation, digital inclusion, and stronger partnerships between governments and the private sector.
30/10 Sovereign and Scalable: Innovative and Gender-Inclusive Risk Financing for Africa’s Agrifood Resilience and Transformation
Organisers: Government of Rwanda (MINAGRI) & African Risk Capacity (ARC).
This session urged embedding gender-responsive disaster-risk financing (e.g., sovereign parametric insurance) in NAIPs to speed the 2026–2035 CAADP Strategy—so climate shocks don’t derail transformation; called for predictable public finance that reaches women and youth.
allAfrica.com
Olivier Kamana (Permanent Secretary, MINAGRI, on behalf of the Minister);
ARC leadership incl. Dr Christiana George (Head of Gender)
Hon. Aimée Marie Ange Tumukunde (Pan-African Parliament).
31/10 The 2025 Africa Food Systems Report Key Takeaways
The Africa Food Systems Report 2025 (2025, 154 pp) formerly the Africa Agriculture Status Report, was launched in September 2025. It acts as a roadmap for transforming Africa's food systems, emphasizing systemic, rather than fragmented, progress. Key recommendations include:
African food systems must transition from fragmented efforts to integrated, food-system-wide strategies, linking production, nutrition, trade, environment and climate resilience.
The Report highlights that new policy pathways are required: moving from incremental improvements to transformational change—through investments in data systems, value-chain development, intra-African trade, youth & women engagement, and alignment with the upcoming CAADP 2026-2035 strategy.
Panelists underscored that adoption of the Report’s findings requires national food-systems-thinking, not just agricultural thinking—embedding food processing, loss reduction, nutrition outcomes and market access into investment plans. They stressed actionable steps: adopt the Report’s recommendations in national investment plans (NAIPs), mobilise matched funding (public + private), and operationalise the monitoring frameworks proposed in the report to ensure accountability and progress.
Finally, there was a call to use the Report as a continental benchmark, enabling countries and stakeholders to compare performance, benchmark progress and accelerate sharing of best practices across regions.
Organisers: AUDA-NEPAD, AUC, GIZ, CIFOR-ICRAF, Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH), NORAD.
This event made the case that robust soil-health monitoring systems are essential to policy, finance and program delivery under the new CAADP cycle, showcasing tools, briefs and hubs to embed soil data in national investment plans and scaling land-restoration practices. The call was for governments, development partners and private sector to commit to the “soil health decade” through measurable commitments, shared indicators, and regional platforms (e.g., CA4SH hubs) that support national implementation and accountability.
H.E. Moses Vilakati — Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy & Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission (AUC)
Esterine Fotabong — Director of Agriculture, Food Security & Environmental Sustainability, African Union Development Agency – NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD)
Teklu Erkossa — Program Manager, Soil Health Project, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Ethiopia; Member, Soil Health Action Working Group
Elvis Weullow — Senior Lab Enterprise Manager, Soil & Land Health Theme, CIFOR‑ICRAF; Member, Soil Health Action Working Groups 2 & 4
Portia Pohlo — Sustainable Agriculture Researcher, Trace & Save, South Africa; Co-Chair, Soil Health Action Working Group
Alice G. Nyaga — Chief Superintending Engineer, Agricultural Land Management Unit, Agricultural Engineering Services, State Department for Crops, Government of Kenya
Blessing Akhile — Food & Agriculture Programme Advisor, ActionAid Nigeria; Member, Soil Health Action Working Group
A representative from the Government of Norway
31/10 Strengthening Africa’s Seed Systems
The session’s through-line was that Africa won’t hit Kampala-era targets without stronger, better-financed seed systems built on partnerships and hard evidence. Seed is the system’s first mile—treat it as national infrastructure and fund/measure it accordingly. Priorities highlighted were:
using rigorous diagnostics (e.g., national seed system assessments) to target evidence-based investments in breeding, early-generation seed, certification/quality control, and market development;
policy and regulatory harmonization (regional seed rules, faster variety release, trade facilitation) to cut time-to-farmer;
deploying digital tools (catalogues, traceability, dashboards) for transparency and performance; and
channeling capital (public + blended) with clear accountability so women, youth and SMEs can scale delivery.
30–31/10 Food, Culture & Nutrition — The Youth Chef Challenge for Africa’s Future
Youth & culture side-event.
This session used culinary competition to spotlight nutrition education, local foods and youth leadership as levers for healthier diets and cultural pride in food systems transformation.
The event was promoted by the CAADP Youth4Nutrition initiative with the tagline “‘Youth Chef Challenge for Africa’s Future’”.
It featured young chefs, cultural food elements and nutrition discussions, tying youth activity with food systems transformation.
Engaging youth through culturally-grounded food and nutrition challenges helps raise awareness, build skills, and link heritage foods to healthier diets and agrifood system transformation.
31/10 Partnering with farmers organization for Investment
Speakers converged on the idea that farmer organizations (FOs) must be treated as co-investors and delivery partners, not just beneficiaries. The session highlighted four priorities: (1) use solid diagnostics to channel evidence-based investment into FO governance, services, and value-chain links; (2) embed FO-targeted lines in next-generation NAIPs, with transparent budget-tracking and parliamentary oversight; (3) expand blended finance and risk-management (e.g., guarantees/insurance) so FOs and their SMEs can scale; and (4) leverage digital tools for market access and performance dashboards so funds translate into measurable outcomes for women and youth.
30–31/10 Parliamentary engagement at CAADP PP
Organisers: Pan-African Parliament (PAP) with AFSPaN and partners.
The sessions underscored parliamentary leadership for policy coherence and financing, echoing AFSPaN’s 2026–2035 policy brief to place legislatures at the centre of accountability for agrifood transformation.
Hon. Aimée Marie Ange Tumukunde
Pan-African Parliament (PAP) committee members
31/10 Getting to the $100 Billion CAADP Kampala target
The session emphasized the need for: scaling public and private investment rapidly, aligning national investment plans with the Kampala-era targets; strengthening results-based financing; tapping innovative financing instruments (blended finance, risk-mitigation); and leveraging regional cooperation to pool resources and bring down unit costs. Progress hinges on "the progressives in government and private sector" working together, aligning around specific value chains, and tackling the bottlenecks that limit enterprise growth. The solution requires seamless integration and coordination of investments across priority value chains and ecosystems, ensuring efforts address binding constraints and deliver tangible results. Ultimately, unlocking the $100 billion ambition is more than an economic goal - it calls for political will, ethical leadership, and inclusive growth models. Read the full AFSR report - the essential roadmap for achieving the Kampala Target.
AGRA’s Vice President for the Center of Technical Expertise, Jonathan Said, reminded participants of Africa's immense potential - citing success stories like Ethiopia's rapid growth in flower exports. However, Dr. Said cautioned that the real constraint isn't a lack of ideas or financing, but fragmented coordination and weak delivery.
From Tanzania, Dorcas Mwakoi presented the rollout of the Agriculture Growth Corridor of Tanzania (AGCOT) - driving commercialization through cluster-based investments, private sector co-ownership, and spatial development that links infrastructure, irrigation, and agribusiness ecosystems.
From Ethiopia, Dr. Yifru Tafesse Bekele shared the Agriculture Commercialization Cluster (ACC) model, now reaching 4.4 million farmers across 311 woredas. By organizing smallholders into production clusters, the model is enhancing productivity, strengthening market access, and attracting investment into agro-industrial value chains.
Together, these experiences highlight how Commodity Cluster Compacts are driving the implementation of the CAADP Kampala Commitments - turning strategy into coordinated, market-led action for Africa’s food systems transformation.
31/10 Multi-sectoral Governance to Tackle Malnutrition, SUN Movement Secretariat
The session underscored that achieving nutrition outcomes in Africa demands strong multisectoral governance—involving agriculture, health, education, social protection, trade and finance sectors—operating through a nationally-mandated platform (often a SUN country platform). Key takeaways included: the necessity to embed nutrition objectives in national agricultural investment plans and sectoral budgets; to build robust data and monitoring systems that span sectors; to strengthen legislative and budgetary oversight of nutrition outcomes; and to engage civil society, private sector and youth as partners in governance, not just as implementers.
31/10 Pathways for achieving CAADP Kampala Targets
31/10 Closing Plenary and OFFICIAL CLOSING
Mrs. Estherine Lisinge-Fotabong, Director of Agriculture, Food Security and Environmental Sustainability, AU-NEPAD
"The future of Africa’s agrifood systems will not be written in conference halls, but in the fields, laboratories, and markets where our people live and work. The Kampala CAADP Declaration gives us the roadmap. Now, it is up to us to build the road. Let the spirit of Kigali—a spirit of resilience, unity, and purpose—accompany us as we translate conversation into coordinated action".
