Living Atlas of the World | ArcGIS

The ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World is the foremost collection of geographic information from around the globe.

It includes maps, apps, and data layers to support your work.

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Building an Innovation Ecosystem to Transform Food Systems

15 June 2022, Building an Innovation Ecosystem to Transform Food Systems. By World Bank

The Data-Driven and Digital Agriculture Team has launched a new, monthly FoodTech Innovation Webinar Series.

• FoodTech is the intersection of agriculture, food, and technology along the value-chain from harvest, storage, processing to distribution and retail. 
• FoodTech has promising potential to facilitate the transition of agri-food systems to meet both consumers' demands and sustainable development goals. A diverse range of speakers and discussants from industry, academia, and policy will analyze the various challenges and opportunities in the ecosystem. 

The second webinar in the series provides a deep dive into the rapid transformation of the “hidden middle” of food systems particularly in LMICs led by SMEs (Michigan State University). Additionally, there was a discussion on alternative and plant-based proteins across the FoodTech and nutrition sector while evaluating and assessing the potential to scale innovations along the value-chain and from one region to another. 

Demand for human food and animal feed has steadily increased, particularly in developing countries. Alternative protein and plant-based meat alternatives are projected to gain a significant share in global diets and have potential to reduce carbon emission and resource use. 

The webinar provided an opportunity to highlight alternative protein and food processing companies (Veggie Victory and Blendhub) and discuss challenges and opportunities in developing alternative protein-based products and business development in emerging markets.

Speakers:

• Thomas Reardon, Professor, Michigan State University
  Michigan State University and the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics is addressing societal policy questions and solving practical problems for producers, consumers, and the environment in Michigan and around the world.
• Hakeem Jimo, Co-Founder of Veggie Victory
  Veggie Victory is Nigeria’s first plant-based food tech company bringing people a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle through plant-based meats and meals. Since 2013, Veggie Victory has been surprising Lagosians with veganized Nigerian culinary delicacies and expanding from a restaurant to retail level.
• Henrik Stamm Kristensen, Founder of Blendhub
  Blendhub is a platform for food production services. It helps food companies, brands, and raw material providers in the development and launching of their products. Originating from Spain, they now have operations in India, Colombia and Mexico.

Discussant: Yvonne Pinto, Digital Agriculture and Innovation Specialist, World Bank

Background:

• The FoodTech Innovation webinar series is available on the World Bank Open Learning Campus, OLC. Please circulate the link to your constituents. 
• The OLC is available to everyone inside the World Bank as well as externally.
• Have a look at our website and join the community: https://www.worldbank.org/digitalagriculture

The role that social mobilisation/capital has played in the Natural farming programme in Andhra Pradesh

16 June 2022. The role that social mobilisation/capital has played in the Natural farming programme in Andhra Pradesh By AFSA 

The Living Income Community of Practice: improvements for smallholder incomes

15 June 2022. The Living Income Community of Practice, Roles of Professional Producer Organizations In Living Income

Recording and slides forthcoming

There is no silver bullet for driving improvements for smallholder incomes and neither is any individual actor solely responsible for taking actions for change. There are several levers and methods for improving incomes, appropriate for different actors, that can be applied holistically and can be implemented in various combinations depending on the context.

Through this workshop, the Living Income Community of Practice (LICOP) aimed to empower all actors to advance proactively towards improving producer livelihoods. It provided a space to share and learn.

• Review evidence on effectiveness of income drivers
• Discuss components that make up a credible Living income programme
• Hear from practitioners, implementers and beneficiaries on what has worked well or not.

e-discussion on “The co-creation, sharing and dissemination of local innovations for healthy soils in Africa

20 April - 20 May 2022. e-discussion on “The co-creation, sharing and dissemination of local innovations for healthy soils in Africa”

Summary by Ferdinand Wafula, online- moderator, CEO/Coordinating officer, Bio Gardening Innovations [BIOGI] 

Four sub-topics were discussed during the four weeks, namely;

1. Sustainable soil health practices;
2. Co-creation, sharing and dissemination of local innovation for soil health;
3. Capacities for soil heath improvement and farmers’ autonomy;
4. Policy support.

More contributions were received on the first three topics and very little on the fourth one.

The assumption that healthy communities derive their status from healthy soils, holds a lot of meaning amidst existing and emerging livelihoods challenges. The climate crisis and Covid19 pandemic have exuberated already existing food and nutritional demands for the majority of farming families in Sub Saharan Africa. Agroecology has immense potential in terms of resilience building to cushion millions of people on the continent and to support family farmers in the shift towards more sustainable, productive and ecological based solutions, such as recycling of inputs to manage soil health.

Discussion points were well supported by sharing of web links, videos and documents. 

The first week of the discussion

was more technical and focused on soil health practices. This topic gained a lot of attention and the discussion focused on practical aspects of soil health such as nutrient management cycles, new types of inputs being promoted such as bio fertilizers, biochar, bio protectors, intercropped green manure/cover crops, and participatory research and soil health assessment tools and processes.

Nutrient availability through biological cycles require a holistic view of the farm, including both edible and non-edible elements that are interacting and contribute to biomass accumulation and recycling. The role of trees and agroforestry systems as well as other available vegetation around farms contributing to recycling of nutrients was discussed as well. The transformation processes such as through pit latrines was well illustrated.

Furthermore, experiences from Sri Lanka and São Tomé and Príncipe on the process of banning the importation of agrochemicals and transitioning to organic agricultural production were shared.

Contributions on emerging soil health practices using bio fertilizers/biochar and bio protectors were shared with examples from Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Nigeria. Promotional strategies for wider adoption were also explored. Shared experiences by practitioners and networks from East, South and West Africa as well as Madagascar showed great potential for scaled operations on the practices. Interest from academicians and research community was high. However, demand was made on more participatory research and validation processes on these practices, including on social issues before recommending going to scale.

While using recycled inputs for soil health improvement is appreciated, it should not be seen as the only form of natural soil management. The potential of intercropped green manure/cover crops for improving soil health and increasing yields also was intensely discussed The advantages of such practices are the relatively low labour need, the building up of organic matter in the soil in relatively short time and the provision of high protein food. The challenge remains to choose the right species for each context and farming system. 

Research work on green manure and tree integration was discussed widely. The issue of socioeconomic and livelihoods considerations such as labor and energy needs (in terms of calories) to recycle nutrients and produce inputs on farm raised another aspect, especially when thinking about scaling-up strategies. Trials on small plots with controlled surroundings may be limited in scale. Operational feasibility aspects have often received little attention. Labor and mechanization are termed ‘operational resources’ and play a big role in scaling up soil input operations.

The second week of the e-discussion

focused on the co-creation, sharing and dissemination of local innovation for soil health. The transformation to sustainable food systems based on healthy soils requires a paradigm shift towards participatory and inclusive co-creation models for local innovation, bridging modern science and practice with traditional and local knowledge, and promoting both vertical and horizontal exchanges that empower producers. Knowledge platforms are important pillars in this process to meet farmers' hunger for co-creation and sharing of reliable information. The following were among knowledge platforms presented by participants in the discussion:

• Access Agriculture: Access Agriculture is a non-profit organization that supports organic farming and agroecology trough south-south cooperation, enabling global and local access to quality training videos in local languages
• Agroecology Knowledge Hub contributes to strengthening the co-creation and sharing of agroecological knowledge by providing open access to legal and regulatory frameworks, scientific documents, advocacy materials, learning tools and educational resources to producer organizations, civil society, private sector, researchers, policy makers, Farmer Researcher Networks (FRN) and Farmer Field Schools (FFS). ·
• Biovision Africa Trust / Infonet-Biovision: Infonet Biovision targets users from the East Africa region with focus on sharing knowledge from researchers and bridging with local knowledge from farmers
• Family Farming Knowledge Platform gathers digitized quality information on family farming from all over the world; including national laws and regulations, public policies, best practices, relevant data and statistics, researches, articles and publications. It provides a single access point for international, regional and national information related to family farming issues; integrating and systematizing existing information to better inform and provide knowledge-based assistance to policy-makers, family farmers’ organizations, development experts, as well as to stakeholders in the field and at the grassroots level. ·
• Food Plants Solutions: provides downloadable publications from a data base of well researched nutritional information of common crops grown in Africa. ·
• TAPipedia is developed within the context of Tropical Agriculture Platform (TAP), is an information sharing system designed to enhance knowledge exchange in support of Capacity Development (CD) for Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS). TAPipedia aims to be a global information system for good CD practices, innovation outputs, success stories and lessons learned. ·
• TECA Platform: an online platform that gathers successful agricultural technologies and practices to facilitate knowledge exchange and help family farmers in the field. The TECA Platform fills the gap in the knowledge sharing process and provides practical information on proven agricultural innovations to a global audience, promoting a sustainable and inclusive rural transformation and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Other websites shared include the website of the World Rural Forum dedicated to the United Nations Decade on Family Farming. Digital platforms have become useful spaces to share content with as many users as possible in different forms. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed challenges often faced by marginalized family farmers and other groups such as pastoralists living in remote country side regions of Africa. They have challenges on accessing grid electricity and gadgets such as smart phones to access most needed information on soil health. Such groups stand to benefit a lot more when deliberate efforts are being put in place by advisory service providers and funding agencies to bridge the gap. They occupy large areas with their animals and innovative grazing management can immensely improve soil health.

The need to support participatory multi-stakeholder co-creation approaches and their role in agroecology and soil health was highlighted by the FAO’s Research and Extension Unit. Multi-stakeholder innovation approaches are important for achieving transformative changes faster and at scale. They bring together groups of people with different backgrounds, expertise and interests – farmers, extension agents, traders, food processors, researchers, [local] government officials – and provide them with a space for co-learning, co-creation, co-innovation, joint action and change. 

Examples are Farmer Field Schools, innovation platforms, operational groups, commodity-based platforms, innovation hubs and labs, science and technology backyards, on-farm and forestry lighthouses etc.

Conclusions

• The e-discussion brought up new areas of concern as well as enlightenment to family farmers on soil health matters. Provided links and shared information will enable further exploration, linkages that will transform into new practices on soil health.
• The desire and demand to consume naturally grown food by family farmers is growing every day. The agricultural development community has responsibility to help alleviate this situation and also bridge the knowledge gaps between researchers, practitioners and advisory service providers. Cultivating healthy soils using agroecology interventions and embracing the principle of co-creation, sharing and dissemination of local innovations offers one such bold step towards this end.
• This e-discussion moderated by Ferdinand Wafula contributed to catalyzing change and promote knowledge exchange among practitioners, consumers and key stakeholders including governments in the region. The discussion attracted more than 400 members to the Community of Practice who subscribed to participate and receive updates from the discussion. More than 100 contributions were made within 31 discussion topics in the 4 weeks of discussion. The interest and engagement show the need to enhance further the synergies between the stakeholders working on family farming and agroecology in the Africa region and collectively propose further discussion opportunities for family farmers and agroecology practitioners.

European Forum on Agricultural Research for Development meeting

16 June 2022, Brussels, Belgium. EFARD Annual Hybrid Meeting. “EFARD for Inclusiveness and Transformative Learning”

The European Forum on Agricultural Research for Development is a multi-actor platform which provides opportunity for dialogue on issues of strategic importance for European agricultural and research and non-research actors. Each year, the platform members meet to discuss strategies for possible (re)alignment of EFARD’s priorities with those of key partners such as the European Commission (EC), the Global Forum for Agricultural Research (GFAR) and partners in the South. 

The inclusiveness of Central and Eastern European countries and transformative learning is the focus of this year’s meeting. While the COVID pandemic has posed many challenges for network organisations in the AR4D arena such as EFARD, we believe that now is a good moment to re-energize the EFARD community. During the past 1.5 years the EFARD management has carried out consultations amongst its members and the AR4D community at large to better define EFARD’s comparative advantage and potential role in a new evolving AR4D environment. 

Two major opportunities arise in the short term: 

• With EFARD currently being actively involved in the DeSIRA-LIFT project, EFARD can intensify collaboration and exchange with the CAADP XP4 organisations, and represent a consolidated multi-stakeholder European voice on AR4D in this project.
• Another opportunity emerges from EFARD taking a prominent role in GFAR’s collective action on transformational learning, which aims to update curricula of agricultural higher education institutions globally. All EFARD members were invited to contribute to, and benefit from, both initiatives. 

OBJECTIVES 

• Presentation of EFARD's white paper and action plan to support Agricultural Research for Development. 
• Reaching out to Central and Eastern European / EU13 countries for more inclusivity in Agricultural Research for Development.
• Exploring possibilities on involvement of EFARD and European stakeholder groups in the GFAR collective action of transformative learning.

Speakers:

• Welcome Remarks EFARD – Dietrich Darr, Chair, EFARD 
• Supporting Common Projects of Civil Society regional actions in the Western Balkan Gjergj Murra, Director Western Balkans Fund 
• Support instruments to build capacities, facilitate contacts, and exchange knowhow with focus on the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership Regions – Jiří Sýkora, Visegrad Fund 1
• Opportunities for Science, Technology, Innovation in the Sub-Saharan Africa MultiAnnual Indicative programme (MIP) 2021-2027 – Jean Michel Sers, policy officer, DG INTPA F5 ‘Science, Technology, Innovation & Digitalisation’ 
• DeSIRA-LIFT (Leveraging the DeSIRA Initiative for agri-food systems transformation) – Guy Faure, Senior Policy Officer, DG INTPA F3 ‘Sustainable Agri-Food systems and Fisheries’
• Presentation European Initiative on International Agricultural Research for Development (EIARD) – Christophe Larose, Head of Sector, DG INTPA F3 ‘Sustainable Agri-Food systems and Fisheries’ and Chair EIARD 
• Vision for EFARD – Dietrich Darr, Chair, EFARD 

Discussion on future of EFARD 

In light of the tremendous challenges related to the sustainability transformation of our food systems, GFAR and its partners are proposing a Collective Action aiming at the transformation of formal higher education in the agriculture sector to better equip the future generations of graduates and agricultural professionals with the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for the collaborative management of innovation. 

These include, inter alia, the capacity of graduates to understand innovation logics, processes and models; to support approaches of coexperimentation and co-validation of innovation among diverse actors; to manage multiactor innovation processes; the capacity to build trust among actors; to promote joint ownership of the innovation process; to manage conflicts; to set shared goals and objectives; to support the co-construction of technological, social, organisational and policy innovations; to monitor the process and learn from the collaborative experience, and many others. The Collective Action builds upon previous initiatives where knowledge, skills and attitudes of future graduates were identified along with a redefinition of the role of the instructor and of the purpose and mandate of the universities. EFARD is willing and glad to lead this upcoming Collective Action. The meeting aimed at presenting to and discussing with stakeholders the proposed Collective Action. 

• Introduction of GFAR and Collective Action – Hildegard Lingnau, Executive Secretary, GFAR 
• Presentation of the Collective Action on Transformative Learning – Jan Stas, Czech University of Life Sciences and lead organisation on behalf of EFARD 
• Discussion Collective Action on Transformative Learning including previous experience in higher education transformation – Moderator Nathalie Doré, GFAR 
• Closing Remarks – Dietrich Darr, Chair, EFARD

Principles and metrics for innovation in sustainable agri-food systems

A huge increase in investment in innovation for agricultural systems is critical to meet the Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Climate Agreement. 

Most of this increase needs to come from reorienting existing funding for innovation. However, understanding whether an investment will fully promote environmentally sustainable and equitable agri-food systems can be difficult.

A Task Force of voluntary experts convened by CoSAI has developed a clear set of Principles for innovations and innovation processes that promote sustainable agri-food systems, together with guidance and metrics to support these Principles. Following pilot testing in early 2022, the Principles can now be used to plan, guide and monitor progress against sustainable agri-food systems objectives.

Find out more in this CoSAI policy brief.

EIGHT INNOVATION PROCESS PRINCIPLES

Set out a clear theory of change towards intended impacts, based on a food systems perspective and reflexive learning:

1. Design transparent and evidence-based innovation processes
2. Conduct innovation processes in an inclusive and ethical manner
3. Address potential trade-offs, synergies, efficiencies, and unintended effects
4. Consider contribution to improved food and nutrition security and health
5. Consider contribution to sustainable and circular management and utilization of natural resources
6. Consider contribution to a viable economy and sustainable livelihoods
7. Consider contribution to an ethical, equitable, and adaptive agri-food system for current and future generations

For more details, see the full list of Principles for Agri-food Research and Innovation and Step-by-Step Guide (including Glossary and Frequently Asked Questions). Metrics and scoring templates to accompany the Principles can also be downloaded from the Attachments area on this page.

Read our policy brief to learn more.

Identifying investment priorities to improve rice production in Liberia

9 June 2022. The EUR 4 million agreement between the Liberian government and European Investment Bank (EIB) will prepare detailed feasibility studies to assess the potential and challenges of the rice value chain in Liberia and support project implementation.

The EIB and Liberian partners can then design and structure an investment program that is expected to be launched next year.

The feasibility studies are being financed by a grant from the European Development Fund under the Africa Investment Platform.

Reducing Liberia's dependency on imported rice and global price shocks

The new EIB-backed rice-value chain development program intends to boost rice production in the country by reducing Liberia's dependency on rice imports to improve food and nutrition security and create local jobs in rice production, storage and distribution.

The overall investment program is expected to support the entire rice value chain improving rice production, building irrigation, upgrading food laboratories, enhancing warehousing and logistics.

Global donor platform Annual General Assembly

14-15 June 2022. The 2022 Annual General Assembly (AGA) was entirely dedicated to “Implementing National Pathways for Food Systems Transformation to Accelerate Progress Towards the SDGs in Times of Crisis and Conflict”.

• SESSION NOTES 
• SPEAKERS 
• AGENDA/BROCHURE 
• HIGH-LEVEL SESSION NOTES 
• CONCEPT NOTE

The AGA took place in person at IFAD HQs in Rome, Italy and on zoom and streamed over the internet. The Platform is working with the donor community and other key actors to help facilitate coordination and investments across an integrated set of pathways for action. For instance, support for food systems coalitions, national pathways and other initiatives that have emerged from the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit (FSS) process is crucial, with a focus on how these initiatives can accelerate and scale up change at local and national levels. 

• The 2022 AGA took the FSS outcomes into account, contextualizing the need to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – and in particular SDG2, zero hunger – through the strengthening of national pathways and national-level coordination of actions and agricultural and rural development strategies.
• The AGA also held sessions on central topics to food systems transformation and rural development, such as country-level coordination, data for decision-making, rural youth employment and land governance.

14/06: Session 1: Supporting National Food Systems Transformation Pathways: Enhancing donor effectiveness and coordination at the country level in times of crises  

Enhancing donor effectiveness and coordination at the country level in times of crises

The stocktaking report on “Donor Contributions to Food Systems” and the recent white paper on “Transforming Food Systems: Directions For Enhancing The Catalytic Role Of Donors”, both launched by the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development (GDPRD), promote strengthening coordination among donors and other actors at all levels to improve programme complementarity and enable countryled and -owned development processes. The white paper devotes an entire chapter segment to national pathway coordination, noting that the national pathways are a key pillar of taking the UNFSS outcomes forward. This includes aligning donor investments with national pathways, monitoring and investing in national pathways, and learning lessons from national-level policy outcomes.

SCENE-SETTING KEYNOTES:

• Gérardine Mukeshimana, Minister of Agriculture (Rwanda)
• Claudia Sadoff, Executive Management Team Convener and Managing - Director, Research Delivery and Impact (CGIAR)

BACKGROUND BRIEF ON THE UNITED NATIONS FOOD SYSTEMS COORDINATION HUB:

• Stefanos Fotiou, Director, Office of Sustainable Development Goals, Director, United Nations Food Systems Coordination Hub

OPENING PANEL

• Karima Al-Hada'a, Planning and Liaison Specialist at Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN)-Yemen Secretariat - Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (Yemen)
• Ayodeji Balogun, Chief Executive Officer of AFEX Commodities Exchange
• Agnes Kalibata, President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Former United Nations Special Envoy on the Food Systems Summit
• Jyri Ollila, Coordinator for the Food Systems Summit, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Finland)
• Sok Silo, Secretary General of the Council for Agricultural and Rural Development (Cambodia)
• Johan Swinnen, Global Director of Systems Transformation (CGIAR), Director-General, IFPRI Co-Chair of the Think20 Task Force on Food Security

Group country discussion sessions

• Mahamadou Aboubacar, Coordinator and Focal Point, Haut-Commissariat de l'Initiative 3N (Cellule Nutrition, Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN)-Niger)
• Louise Aubin, United Nations Resident Coordinator (Niger)
• Zulma Yanira Fonseca Centeno, Director of Nutrition, Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF) (Colombia)
• David Gressly, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (Yemen)
• Olusola Idowu, Chair of the National Committee on Food and Nutrition (NCFN) (Nigeria)
• Mahesh Kharel, Program Director, National Planning Commission (NPC) (Nepal)
• Jean Claude Musabyimana, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) (Rwanda)
• Sara Sekkenes, United Nations Resident Coordinator (Lao People’s Democratic Republic)
• Sisay Sinamo, Senior Program Manager at Seqota Declaration (SD) Federal Program Delivery Unit, Federal Ministry of Health (Ethiopia)
• Julie Kasa-Kanga Tshilombo, Coordonnatrice Adjointe de la Coordination des Ressources Extérieures et du Suivi des Projets (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

SYNTHESIS PANEL - presentations reporting discussion, and concluding remarks

• Louise Aubin, United Nations Resident Coordinator (Niger)
• Namukolo Covic, Director General’s Representative to Ethiopia ILRI (Ethiopia)
• Stefanos Fotiou, Director, Office of Sustainable Development Goals, Director, United Nations Food Systems Coordination Hub 
• David Gressly, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Yemen)
• Ron Hartman, Director, Global Engagement, Partnership and Resource Mobilization, IFAD 
• Sara Sekkenes, United Nations Resident Coordinator (Lao People’s Democratic Republic)
• Rosse Noda Videa, Representate Asistente Programas, FAO (Bolivia) 

14/06: Session 2: Optimising date in decision making

The purpose of this session was to explore why optimizing the use of data in decision-making is a key element of implementing national pathways for food systems transformation and how more coherent and coordinated donor support for data and statistical systems can drive food systems transformation at the national level and a more coherent and effective global response to current crises. 

• Jenna Slotin, Senior Policy Advisor, Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD) 
• Joe Glauber, Senior Research Fellow IFPRI Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Chairman 
• Vasco Molini, Program Manager, 50x2030 David Laborde, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI 
• Jaron Porciello, Co-director, CERES 2030 
• Davis Adieno, Director of Programs, GPSDD 
• Béatrice Gakuba, Executive Director, African Women Agribusiness Network (AWAN) 
• José Rosero Moncayo, Director, FAO Statistics Division (ESS) 
• Conrad Rein, Policy Officer, European Commission

15/06: Session 3 - Responsible Land-Based Investing as a Strategy to Mitigate the Harms of a New Food Crisis

• DONWLOAD SESSION 3 NOTE 
• DOWNLOAD SESSION 3 SPEAKERS

Panel

• 
  Moderator: Henry Bonsu, Journalist and Broadcaster
  
• Karol Boudreaux, Senior Land and Resource Governance Advisor, USAID, and Chair, Global Donor Working Group on Land
• Gemma Betsema, Senior Programme Advisor, Netherlands Enterprise and Development Agency, and Vice Chair, Global Donor Working Group on Land
• Chris Penrose-Buckley, Senior Adviser, Land Policy, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, UK
• Francisco Marques, Technical Specialist, Private Sector, IFAD
  Francisco presented: Making Private Sector Finance work for the poor @1:03:23
• Michael Taylor, Director, International Land Coalition Secretariat at IFAD

15/06: Session 4 - Rural Youth Employment and Food Systems Transformation – Solutions in times of (multiple) crisis!

• DOWNLOAD SESSION 4 NOTE 
• DOWNLOAD SESSION 4 SPEAKERS

KEYNOTE: Rural youth employment within a (systemic) food systems transformation in times of crisis and conflict

• Lauren Phillips, Deputy Director, Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equality, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

PANEL DISCUSSION: Rural youth employment promotion – policy perspective and suggestions for donors

Youth perspectives 

• Tumwebaze Khamutima, CEO, Young Farmers Champions Network (YOFCHAN), Uganda
• Olawale Rotimi Opeyemi, Founder and CEO, JR Farms Limited, Rwanda

Country policy perspective

• Lova Manjaka Rakotoson, Head of the Rural Training and Agricultural Extension Department, Directorate for Support to Producers' Organisation and Agribusiness, Madagascar

Continental perspective

• Kennedy Mukulia Ayason , Policy Officer, Rural Development Division, African Union´s Commission Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Development (AUC-DARBE)

Multilateral Organization

• Mollie Brennan, Lead Consultant, Coalition of Action on Decent Work and Living Incomes and Wages for All Food Systems Workers (DWLIW), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
• Elvis Beytullayev, Rural Economy Specialist, International Labour Organization (ILO)

15/06: Special High-Level Session of the 2022 Annual General Assembly of the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development

Building Consensus and Coordination on the Current Global Crisis Response Initiatives: The Potential Role of Donors and the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development. Co-sponsored by the European Commission, IFAD and the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development

DOWNLOAD HIGH-LEVEL SESSION NOTE

• Jim Barnhart, Assistant to the Administrator, Bureau for Resilience and Food Security, USAID
• Beth Dunford, Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, African Development Bank (AfDB)
• Gabriel Ferrero de Loma-Osorio, Chairperson of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and Ambassador at Large for Global Food Security, Spain
• Celine Jurgensen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative for France to the United Nations agencies in Rome
• Sebastian Lesch, Head of Division, Sustainable Agricultural Supply Chains, International Agricultural Policy, Agriculture, Rural Development, Innovation, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany
• David Nabarro, UN Global Crisis Response Group, Food workstream co-lead and Strategic Director of 4SD
• Satu Santala, Associate Vice-President, External Relations and Governance Department, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Malawi Discussion of IFPRI’s 2022 Global Food Policy Report: Climate Change and Food Systems

14 June 2022. Malawi Discussion of IFPRI’s 2022 Global Food Policy Report: Climate Change and Food Systems

The 2022 Global Food Policy Report, IFPRI’s flagship report, highlights the urgency of accelerating innovation, reforming policies, resetting market incentives, and increasing financing for sustainable food systems transformation. It sets forth a broad range of policy options for accelerated action by policymakers as well as international forums for policy and investment decision-making.

Eleven thematic chapters look at how policies can support the development and adoption of “disruptive” technologies by creating an enabling environment for climate change–related financing, innovation uptake, and integrated governance of natural resources. The chapters also examine the impacts of climate change and related policies on the most vulnerable, considering how to promote healthy, sustainable diets and increase benefits for all from food systems. Six regional chapters discuss the diverse impacts of climate change in different parts of the world and identify potential responses that can be taken up in the short and medium term in national and regional food systems.

In the Malawi launch event Rui Benfica, one of the report’s co-authors, who gave an overview of the main findings and recommendations of the global report. He then focus on two chapters that are particularly relevant to the Malawi context. 

Chapter 2 of the report notes that agricultural support policies transfer around US$620 billion per year to the farm sector worldwide and discusses how this massive public support could be repurposed to create more resilient and sustainable food systems. 

Chapter 4 discusses how increased investments in agricultural research and development can help transform agri-food systems towards achieving social, economic, nutritional, and environmental goals.

These global perspectives provided the background to initiate a discussion on how these issues play out in Malawi.

• Welcome Remarks Joachim De Weerdt, Senior Research Fellow, Malawi Country Program Leader, IFPRI
• Presentation of IFPRI’s 2022 Global Food Policy Report Johan Swinnen, Global Director, CGIAR Systems Transformation Science Group & Director General, IFPRI
• Rui Benfica, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
• Panel Discussion on policy implications for Malawi William Chadza, Executive Director, MwAPATA institute
• Grace Kumchulesi, Director of Development Planning, National Planning Commission (NPC)
• Wilkson Makumba, Director Department of Agricultural Research Services (DARS), Ministry of Agriculture
• Samson Katengeza, Director of Research and Outreach, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)

GCHERA proclaims Montagu and Mitiku Haile as laureate of 2021 World Agriculture Prize

11 June 2022. GCHERA (Global Confederation of Higher Education Associations for Agricultural and Life Sciences) announce the Laureates of the 2021 World Agriculture Prize, Emeritus Professor Marc Van Montagu of Ghent University and Professor Mitiku Haile of Makelle University in recognition of their outstanding achievements in agriculture and life science education and scientific research.

The award ceremony will take place on 21 June 2022 and will be transmitted virtually from Nanjing Agricultural University, the People’s Republic of China.

The ceremony will be held at 1:00 p.m. in Nanjing, China, at 5:00 a.m. UCT. on June 21. The event will be streamed globally. Look out here for the streaming information.

Mitiku co-authored among others following articles on incorporating participatory approaches into agricultural education at Mekelle University:

• Learning for sustainability: incorporating participatory approaches into education for rural development in Ethiopia and Tanzania, Chapter 31 in Farmer Innovation in Africa: a source of inspiration for agricultural development, eds Reij C & Waters-Bayer A (London: Earthscan), pp 331-346 (2001)
• Clapping with two hands: bringing together local and outside knowledge for innovation in land husbandry in Tanzania and Ethiopia (2001), Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension 7 (3): 133-142 (pre-publication version)

Kick-Off Webinar of the 2022 Knowledge Management for Agricultural Development (KM4AgD) Challenge

10 June 2022: Kick-Off Webinar of the 2022 Knowledge Management for Agricultural Development (KM4AgD) Challenge. Register HERE

• The three months Knowledge Management certification training for selected Focal Persons from the NARS is Jointly organized by the CAADP-XP4 Institutions 
• The central objective is to strengthen the knowledge ecosystem and improve the capture and dissemination of African agricultural knowledge to support the achievement of CAADP commitments and SDG targets. The initiative has funding support from the European Commission (EC) through IFAD.

See all presentations

 

Digital Agriculture Platform to Enable Access to Capital

9 June 2022. AM- 10:30 AM EST (Washington DC time) Digital Agriculture Platform to Enable Access to Capital, Improved Production, Aggregation, and Trade for Smallholder Farmers: Babban Gona and AFEX Nigeria 

Chair:  Parmesh Shah, Global Lead, Data-Driven Digital Agriculture, Agriculture and Food Global Practice, The World Bank

Speakers:

• Akinyinka Akintunde, COO, AFEX Nigeria
• Hemense Orkar, Vice President, Corporate Services and Partnerships, AFEX Nigeria
• Ubong Nyang, Head of Partneships, Babban Gona

 

Discussants: 

• Benedict Agbo, Head Anchor Borrowers Program, Central Bank of Nigeria
• Dr. Kabir Yusuf, Senior Technical Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture (FMARD)
• Ms Aude Sauvaget – Senior Portfolio Officer – AgriFI at EDFI Management Company

 

Pastoralism and large-scale renewable energy & green hydrogen projects

9 June 2022. Pastoralism and large-scale renewable energy & green hydrogen projects

In our efforts to replace fossil fuels with clean energy, green hydrogen is seen as a game changer and key for the low-carbon transition. This requires a massive upscaling of renewable power. Huge solar and wind plants built to achieve the global climate goals, however, may compete with traditional uses for land and water. A new analysis commissioned by Heinrich Böll Stiftung and Bread for the World found that without careful planning, green hydrogen installations fed by large scale wind and solar plants may affect local communities such as pastoralists and serve to intensify community conflicts. 

In March 2022 the United Nations General Assembly declared 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP). Rangelands not only support the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of pastoralists, they also ensure nutrition and food security worldwide. In the face of a changing climate, pastoralists play a vital role in maintaining and increasing biodiversity, developing sustainable food systems and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. At the same time, rangelands also offer perfect conditions for renewable energy projects.

The study authored by Hussein Tadicha Wario and Ann Waters-Bayer found that conflict is not inevitable. Careful design, good participation and respect for the rights of pastoralists communities to free, prior and informed consent pave the way for solutions that benefit both local communities and society at large.

In the event they will present the study and discuss together with Christian Schnohr and Kirsten Westphal what this means for the private sector and the political implementation.

With:

• Hussein Tadicha Wario, Center for Research and Development in Drylands, Kenya
• Ann Waters-Bayer, Agrecol Association, Germany
• Christian Schnohr, Press officer at ABO Wind
• Kirsten Westphal, Executive Director at H2Global Stiftung

• Jaime Fernandez, Energy Policy Advisor, Bread for the World
• Sarah Ribbert, Project Officer International Politics, Heinrich Böll Foundation

Winners of 2022 Arrell Global Food Innovation Awards

7 June 2022. Working directly with communities to build capacity and improve access to food is a common theme for both winners of this year’s Arrell Global Food Innovation Awards.

The winners have made significant impacts to communities worldwide. The two prizes of $100,000 are awarded annually in these categories: research innovation and community engagement innovation.

Winner of the research innovation award, Delia Grace Randolph is a renowned scientist with unique

and transformative impacts on the safety of food systems and public health in developing countries. As a trained veterinarian and epidemiologist, she brings a special expertise on the interconnectedness of animal health, human health and eco-health to her work. A focus of her work is improving food safety in informal markets in developing countries.

“I’m honoured to be named the recipient of the Arrell Global Food Innovation Award in the
area of research impact. There is a very critical relationship between animal, human, and environment health and I hope we can continue to research and find ways to help improve food safety and thus the health of humans and animals. While there is still a lot to learn, by listening and engaging, thinking and trying, we can achieve much more.” Dr. Delia Grace Randolph.

Winner of the community engagement innovation award, is a non-profit organization that works

directly with community groups to produce and deliver high-quality, farmer-to-farmer training videos. The video resources help to provide informative and relevant content to farmers in small communities. The organization helps ensure the videos are available in local languages and accessible to smallholder farmers even in remote rural areas where technology, power and internet are limited. Over the past decade, the videos have reached 90 million people and have helped ensure healthier and more resilient food systems.

Accepting the award for Access Agriculture are Paul Van Mele, co-founder and director international development; Josephine Rodgers, co-founder and executive director; and Jane Nalunga, coordinator of the Rural Entrepreneur program.

“On behalf of the Access Agriculture team and our worldwide partners, we are delighted and grateful to receive the Arrell Global Food Innovation Award. Farmers are vitally important to rural and urban communities, providing healthy food that people need. Thanks to local community groups and grassroots organizations we are able to identify topics relevant across the Global South, where inspirational farmers can show others how to farm in harmony with the environment. These resources in local languages will have a lasting impact on today’s and future rural communities.” Josephine Rodgers, co-founder and executive director AccessAgriculture

Related:
7 June 2022. Arrell Food Summit 2022

The global food system is pressured by demands of a growing population, and we need to find and implement solutions to feed our population while protecting our planet. 

The Arrell Food Summit, brought together food leaders and experts from across the system to co-create solutions and discuss how we can work together to ensure a healthy and resilient future of food.

Some of the topics included:

• The future of protein
• Disruptions in the food system
• Ag-tech innovation and investment
• Food sovereignty
• Youth perspectives on the future

Sessions:

Food Systems Transformation 
How will the food system change in the 2020s and beyond? In this session, Hannah Tucker will share her research into the disruptive developments transforming the food system, taking us on a journey across ecosystems and around the world. We will explore three possible scenarios—Doomsday, Synthetic and Regenerative—along with ways of actively shaping the outcome.

The Future of Protein 

Governments, farmers, food processors, environmentalists and everyday consumers all have an opinion on an essential nutrient - protein. As conversations grow around cellular agriculture and lab-grown meats, the feasibility of raising livestock sustainably, the rise of plant-based diets, and the tension between new technologies and traditional foods, it's clear that the future of protein is a multi-stakeholder debate filled with difficult questions. The goal of this session is not to provide simple answers to nuanced questions, but rather, to allow participants the opportunity to engage in a holistic dialogue that provides context, informs decisions, and explores new ways of thinking.

Food Sovereignty's Role

What role do traditional knowledge, sustainable land stewardship, and access to nutritious and culturally relevants foods, and people's rights to define their own food and agriculture systems play in the global path toward our collective food future? Are new technologies on a collision course with food sovereignty rights, and what is the best way forward?

LEAP4FNSSA eConsultation

9 June 2022. The LEAP4FNSSA actors are working towards the establishment of the International Research Consortium (IRC) platform. 

A first online consultation was held on 9th of June. 

• The zero draft of the IRC document was launched on 20th May on the LEAP4FNSSA website 
• and the FARA Dgroup 
• The document is available for inputs.

The IRC Platform is expected to target four specific objectives: 

1. Increase the synergies and coherence between actors, research and innovation projects, initiatives and programmes, through the development of institutional alliances and clusters of projects and expertise 
2. Develop a learning environment and a large knowledge base, including monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) activities, creating communication and links between different initiatives to improve STI cooperation 
3. Establish a long term and sustainable coordination infrastructure, governance and funding mechanism 
4. Liaise with the HLPD Bureau.

LEAP4FNSSAschedule:

eConsultations 

• 9th June / 5th July / 30th August

Accra's meeting

• Upscaling Private Sector Participation and Science-based Outreach in West Africa’ to be held on 22nd – 23rd June 2022 in Accra, Ghana.
• The workshop will be hosted by the Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (CSIR-STEPRI), which is one of thirteen institutes under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Ghana.
• Read/download the agenda 

Brussels' meeting

• 13 July 2022. from 10:30 to 16:30 CEST. Creating an International Research Consortium on Food, Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture: A Platform for Research and Innovation between Africa and Europe.The workshop will be held in a hybrid format. The physical meeting is in Brussels, Belgium.
• The workshop will create awareness on the International Research Consortium (IRC), the LEAP4FNSSA platform which will be launched in September 2022.
• The IRC will serve as a bi-continental platform to advance FNSSA, create synergies between the many Research and Innovation (R&I) programmes, initiatives, and actors from both Europe and Africa. It will provide information on prospective partners, funding opportunities, and innovations that have worked in FNSSA.

Final write-shop and the IRC

• These consultations are planned to lead to the final write-shop and the IRC founding launch on September 14-16 in Accra.

8th Annual Agricultural Policy Conference (AAPC)

6 - 8 June 2022. 8th Annual Agricultural Policy Conference (AAPC)

There is compelling evidence that Tanzania is already experiencing the negative impact of climate change. Changes in precipitation patterns, rising temperatures, and extreme weather events pose an increasing threat to the country’s economy. The agricultural sector is at the forefront in experiencing climate change’s brutal impact. The sector’s heavy reliance on rainfall and natural resources intensifies its vulnerability and further complicates the country’s efforts to improve sector productivity.

In line with the Global and National Agenda on Climate Change 2021, the theme of the 8th AAPC, “Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Policies in the Crops, Livestock, and Fisheries Sector,” intends to further emphasize the importance of the Climate Change agenda to the Tanzanian economy. The conference convened over 250 participants from academia, research institutions, policy and advocacy groups, and development practitioners from Tanzania and beyond to discuss the theme of this year’s conference.

The conference implemented a hybrid model with 150 people participating physically and more than twice this number joining virtually. The 8th AAPC will observe strict COVID-19 protocols.

06/06/2022 Extract of the programme

• An Overview of the Annual Agricultural Policy Conferences and Progress Made in Agricultural Policy Reforms Mr. Audax Rukonge 
• A Reflection on This Year’s AAPC Theme: “Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Policies in the Crops, Livestock, and Fisheries Sector.” Prof. David Nyange 
• Remarks From the Private Sector Dr. Jacqueline Mkindi 
• Testimonies From Youth-led Agribusinesses on the Impacts of Climate Change Ms. Carol Ndosi Lucas Malembo Revocatus Valery Kimario 
• A Short Documentary on Climate Change, its Impact, Mitigation, and Adaptation 
• ASPIRES Tanzania A Short Documentary on Tanzanian Youth in Agriculture

07/06/2022 Extract of the programme

Thematic Area 1: Enhancing Efficiency in Water Management for Agriculture 

•  Adaptation to Climate Variability in Tanzania: Diversifications of Irrigation into Micro-irrigation and Micro-dams - Prof. David Nyange 
•  Rainwater Harvesting in Tanzania and Lessons Learned - Prof. Henry Mahoo 
•  A Synthesis of Water Rights and Land Rights in Irrigation Schemes in Tanzania - Dr. Wilbert Kapinga 
•  Panel Discussion: Adaptation to Climate Variability in Tanzania Through Irrigation

Thematic Area 2: Research and Seed Systems Adaptation 

• Establishing Demand for Land for Private Sector Seed Companies - Mr. Bob Shuma 
• Opportunities and Challenges in Seed Systems: Perspectives of a Private Seed Company in Tanzania - Dr. Mary Mgonja 
• Private Seed Research and Value Chain: A Case for Horticulture - Mr. Harald Peters Panel 
• Discussion: Addressing Seed Availability, Access, Utilization, and Sovereignty

SPECIAL SESSION: Nutrition, Resilience, and Vulnerability (special attention to youth and women) 

• The Impact of Climate Change on Nutrition: A Cross-Country Experience - Boitshepo Bibi Giyose 
• Food System Transformation in the Context of Climate Change - Ms. Sophie Tadria 
• Addressing Climate Change Vulnerability to Food and Nutrition Insecurity: MNAP-II Strategic Intervention - Mr. Luitfrid Peter Mnally 
• Panel Discussion: Nutrition, Resilience, and Vulnerability - Dr. Reuben Sessa Dr. Hadijah Mbwana Hon. Neema Lugangira

Thematic Area 3: Soil Health Management 

• Application of SAGCOT Inclusive Green Growth For Sustainable Agri-business Growth - Mr. John Banga Nakei 
• Mobile Soil Testing Lab: Experiences and Lessons Learned in Tanzania - Dr. Mshindo Msolla 
• Acid Soils Management: Situational Analysis and Prospects for Solving the Problem - Dr. Liston Njoroge 
• Environmental Concerns in Relation to the Expanding Avocado Industry in Tanzania - Mr. Vincent Akulumuka 
• Panel Discussion: Soil Health Management for Climate Change Adaptation 

Thematic Area 4: Facilitating Water, Pasture, and Feed Availability for Livestock and Climate Resilience 

• The Need for the Establishment of the Livestock Infrastructure Development Unit - Prof. David Nyange 
• Pasture and Rangeland Management: Lessons from the Wildlife Sector - Dr. Julius Keyyu 
• The Impact of Climate Change on Fisheries and Aquaculture (Blue Economy) of Tanzania - Dr. Mathew Silas 
•  Panel Discussion: Facilitating the Availability of Water, Pasture, and Feed for Livestock 

Thematic Area 5: Leveraging Storage, Value Addition, Markets, and Trade for Enhanced. Farmers’ Income and Jobs Creation 

• Shared Marketing Facilities for Regional Food Trade - Dr. Anselm P. Moshi 
• Promotion of Soybean as a Nutritious Food, Livestock Feed, and Edible Oil in Tanzania - Dr. Frederick Baijukya 
• Panel Discussion: Reduction of Post-Harvest Losses Leading to Less Demand on the Environment

The importance of local languages in agriculture extension

7 June 2022. Importance of local languages in agriculture extension

Live dialogue session on "Importance of local languages in agriculture extension".

Access Agriculture is a non-profit organisation that supports organic farming and agroecology.
This NGO enables global and local access to quality training videos in local languages, to impact on rural livelihoods. Over 1,000,000 people from across the globe have visited the Access Agriculture website to watch and download farmer training videos. 

Food safety. A critical pillar in strengthening Resilience in nutrition and food security in Africa

6 - 7 June 2022. Food safety. A critical pillar in strengthening Resilience in nutrition and food security in Africa Commemoration of the World Food Safety Day. By African Union

The objectives of the events were:

1. Raise awareness and mobilize collective action to improve food safety in Africa.
2. Share experiences and solutions for addressing Africa’s food safety challenges
3. Identify key actions and strategies to address current and future challenges to food safety in Africa.

The two-day programme took the form of key note addresses and panel discussions on 

1. Innovative approaches to raising food safety standards and enhancing regulation in the informal food sector in Africa; 
2. Enhancing Public Private Partnerships to advance food safety in Africa.

 
World Food Safety Day aims to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism and sustainable development. In Africa alone 137,000 people die every year due to consumption of unsafe food. It has been estimated that the public health burden of foodborne diseases is comparable to malaria and HIV-AIDS.

Read more:

• Full Concept Note and Event Programme on World Food Safety Day
• Agenda
• Register for the online event: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_g99FVHHlRX2C-b2AlJ4i2g

Introduction: 

• Welcome Remarks – Dr. Godfrey Bahiigwa, Director, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (AUC)
• Keynote Address: Enhancing food safety in informal food markets through Public-Private Partnerships – Mrs. Lucy Muchoki, Chair of Governing Council at Coalition of CAADP Non-State Actors

06/06 Panel Theme 1: Innovative approaches to raising food safety standards and enhancing regulation in the informal food sector in Africa 

• Dr. Delia Grace, Natural Resource Institute (UK)/International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)):
• Mr. John Kakungulu Walugembe, Executive Director of Federation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Uganda
• Mrs. Delese Mimi Darko, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Food and Drugs Authority
• Dr. Blaise Ouattara, Food Safety and Quality Officer, FAO
• Ms. Diana Akullo, Principal SPS and TBT Officer, AfCFTA Secretariat

06/06 Panel Theme 2: Enhancing Public Private Partnerships to advance food safety in Africa

• Dr. Namukolo Covic, Director General’s Representative to Ethiopia for the International Livestock Research Institute
• Ms. Kefilwe Rhoba Moalosi, Senior Nutrition and Food Safety Officer and currently the Ag. Head of Nutrition Unit.
• Dr. Ihedioha Onyema Damian, Manager of Agribusiness Development Division, African Development Bank
• Mr. James Ojiambo, Regulatory & Scientific Affairs Manager-Nestlé Eastern and Southern African Region, Representative of SADC Business Council
• Mr. Bai Dodou Jallow, Director of Scientific Affairs of Food Safety and Quality Authority of the Gambia

Outcomes of Technical Sessions of 6th June 2022 

07/06 Commemoration of World Food Safety Day

• H.E El-Said Marzouq El-Qosair, The Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of Egypt and Chair of the STC Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (ARDWE)
• H.E. Amb. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission
• H.E Minata Cessouma Samat Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, African Union commission
• Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, The Chief Executive Officer of the African Union Development Agency - NEPAD.
• H.E Wamkele Mene, The Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat
• Dr. Godfrey Bahiigwa, · Director of Agriculture and Rural Development at African Union Commission - Moderator

Keynote: “food safety: a critical pillar to Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security in Africa 

• Presentation of outcomes of Technical Session Dr. Simplice Nouala Fonkou 
• Launch of the Food Safety Strategy for Africa  - H.E. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko