Platform for African – European Partnership in Agricultural Research for Development

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

VIRTUAL EVENT: Bold Actions for Food as a Force for Good: second day

 23—24 November 2020. Bold Actions for Food as a Force for Good 

This joint-partner organized event is co-led by the World Economic Forum, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), World Farmers Organization, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Unilever, PepsiCo, Royal DSM, Rabobank, One Young World, Tufts University's Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy, Wageningen University & Research, and the Government of The Netherlands.

Extracts of the program:

A Vision for Food Systems of the Future

The COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated vulnerabilities in food systems – highlighting the insecurity of rural livelihoods, the tragedy of food loss and waste, and stark inequities in access to healthy food among the poor and vulnerable. It has also illustrated broadly the types of disruptions one can expect from the impact of climate change in years to come.
  • Introduction: Sabrina Dhowre Elba  Goodwill Ambassador, IFAD
  • Moderator: Karen Tso Co-Anchor and Journalist, CNBC International (Europe) 
  • Sunny G. Verghese Co-Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer, Olam International Ltd Sunny George Verghese is the Co-founder & Group CEO of Olam International Limited, a leading food and agri-business, headquartered in Singapore and ranking among the top 30 largest primary listed companies in terms of market capitalisation on SGX-ST. Sunny is currently the Chairman of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), 
  • Agnes Matilda Kalibata Special Envoy, United Nations Food Systems Summit Places family-farmers at the centre of science-based policies and solutions; agricultural scientist, policy-maker and visionary leader. President of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA); leads one of the largest pools of agricultural scientists and specialists in Africa. 
  • Kate Robertson Founder, One Young World Alumna, Law Faculty, University of Cape Town. Formerly, at J Walter Thompson; started Scholz and Friends London. Co-Founder, One Young World. 
  • Massimo Bottura Chef and Owner, Osteria Francescana 
  • Geraldine Matchett Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Royal DSM NV 
  • Alan Jope Chief Executive Officer, Unilever Since 1985, with Unilever
  • Estrella Penunia Secretary-General, Asian Farmers' Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) Social development worker. 
  • Dominic Kailash Nath Waughray Managing Director, World Economic Forum 

Identifying, Assessing and Managing Synergies and Trade-Offs

  • Gunhild Anker Stordalen, 
  • Berry J. Marttin, 
  • Martin Frick, 
  • Joachim von Braun, 
  • Lawrence Haddad, 
  • Joao Campari, 
  • Christine Campeau, 
  • Sandrine Dixson-Declève

The Poultry Solution:


The combination of population and income growth is expected to lead to an increase in demand for poultry products in the Southern Africa region in the coming years. The poultry sector will play an important role in feeding and employing the region’s young, fast-growing population – but currently, the local sector is underdeveloped. 

However, a multistakeholder platform could accelerate a more coordinated and collaborative sector for poultry and related products in Southern Africa. In this context, the Poultry Solution Initiative aims to foster the growth and development of a productive, inclusive and globally competitive sector in the region. This session explored why the development of the sector is a bold action for food as a source for good; the critical issues that need to be resolved; and what is needed to get there.
  • Moderator: Christopher Mitchell (BAIN)
  • Alejandro Acosta, FAO; 
  • Ishmael Sunga, SACAU; 
  • Calicious Tutalife, Southern African Development Community; 
  • Annie Kneedler, Cargill; 
  • Betty Chinyamunyamu, National Smallholder Farmers' Association of Malawi; 
  • Ulrich Daniel, Ethiochicken; 
  • Nan-Dirk Mulder, Rabobank


The LEAP4FNSSA project together with RUFORUM and EFARD, organised this panel. Over 120 participants joined this discussion on the ambition of UN Action Track 5 to ensure that food systems are able to deliver food and nutrition security and equitable livelihoods for all despite shocks, such as natural disasters, conflicts, and diseases.

After the welcoming remarks by Prof. Adipala Ekwamu, the Food Systems Resilience topic was introduced by Prof. Patrick Caron. The session explored the perspectives of different stakeholders within food systems on resilience pathways and how new ways of collaboration in the field of R&I should look like. The panel consisted of 6 members: her Excellency Honorable Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Liberia, Mrs. Jeanine Milly Cooper, Dr. Hans- Jörg Lutzeyer from the European Commission, Ms. Caroline Jacquet from the NGO Bio Innovation Zimbabwe, Mr. Anthony Mun-Gavin vice president of food and refreshments Africa Unilever, Mr. Hakim Baliraine, chairperson of the Eastern and Southern Africa small-scale Farmers Forum, and Mr. Samuel Rigu. CEO of Safi Organics Kenya. The panelists enriched the discussions with evidences and experiences from their diverse backgrounds. Because the resilience of food systems is a challenge to both Europe and Africa, the potential role of a bi-continental Research & Innovation Platform in addressing food systems resilience was also discussed.

The Climakers

24/11.  The Climakers - A farmers driven climate change agenda towards the sustainability of food systems This session is hosted by World Farmers' Organisation

With the Climakers initiative, farmers worldwide, with the support of the other stakeholders in the food value chain from civil society, international organizations, academia and the media, are promoting a completely reversed paradigm applying an authentic bottom-up approach, where farmers have the opportunity to lead the political process on climate change and build a farmer-driven climate change agenda based on their own best practices as practical solutions to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The session raised awareness about the contribution of farmers to the sustainability of food systems, showcasing their solutions to climate change and how the Food Systems Summit next year can become a turning point to ensure a farmer-driven approach to the shift to sustainable food systems.

First part
  • Theo De Jager, World Farmers’ Organisation; 
  • Jannes Maes, European Council of Young Farmers; 
  • Majola Mabuza, Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions; 
  • Rim Ferchichi, Maghrebian and North African Farmers Union; 
  • Errington Thompson, Agriculture Alliance of the Caribbean; 
  • Stephen Muchiri, Eastern African Farmers Federation; 
Second part
  • Giulia Di Tommaso, CropLIFE International; 
  • Ming-Hong Yen, International Cooperation and Development Fund of Taiwan; 
  • Deissy Martinez, Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security; 
  • Ntiokam Divine, CSAYN; 
  • Peer Ederer, Global Food and Agribusiness Network (GFAN), and WFO Scientific Council Member

Evidence for Desirable Food System Transformation

    24/11. Evidence for Desirable Food System Transformation

    Food Action Alliance

    24/11. Food Action Alliance: Advancing Action in Africa This session is hosted by the Food Action Alliance and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, AGRA

    This session defined key flagship initiatives that can accelerate food systems transformation in Africa, unlocking systemic change at scale – in support of the goals of the UN Food Systems Summit in 2021. Participants defined key actions needed to accelerate innovative action-oriented partnerships, promote transformative partnerships and mobilize strategic actor alignment through flagship initiatives.
    • Moderator: Vanessa Adams, Vice President Strategic Partnerships and Chief of Party, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
    • Edouard Spicher, Chief Executive Officer, Africa Improved Foods; 
    • Adrian van der Knaap, Chief Executive Officer, FtMA; 
    • Ibrahim Gourouza, Chief Operating Officer, Grow Africa

    Bold Actions for Food Systems Transformation

    24/11. This session highlighted key messages emerging from the discussions during the Bold Actions for Food as a Force for Good meeting, brought to light ambitious and inspiring solutions as well as tangible opportunities for positive change, and galvanize urgent global action for food systems transformation.

    High-level leaders from public- and private-sector organizations, civil society groups, farmer organizations and consumer groups brainstormed on a framework for multistakeholder collaboration at scale, essential to achieving the transformation needed and to deliver on the associated UN Sustainable Development Goals.

    First panel
    • Moderator: Sean de Cleene - Head, Food Systems Initiative; Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum. Former Special Adviser to the UN Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Food Security and Nutrition. 
    • David Nabarro - Senior Advisor on Food Systems Summit Dialogues, 4SD. In 2005, he joined the office of the UN Secretary-General; responsible for coordinating international strategies on avian and human influenza; on food insecurity; on nutrition (including coordination of the Movement to Scale Up Nutrition); on the West Africa Ebola outbreak; and on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Climate Change; currently advises on resilient, climate-compatible and sustainable development, with a particular focus on food systems, land use and public health. 
    • Ibrahim Assane Mayaki of the Republic of Niger is the Chief Executive Officer of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD).
    • Aslak Brun - Deputy Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway 
    • Ute Klamert - Assistant Executive Director, Partnerships and Advocacy Department (PA), WFP
    • Manuel Otero - President, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, Costa Rica (IICA)
    • Ramesh Chand (could not connect) - Member, National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog
    • Louise Fresco - President, Wageningen University & Research 
    • Sigrid Kaag - (video message) Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands 
    Second panel
    • Moderator: Wiebe Draijer - Chairman of the Managing Board, Rabobank Group 
    • Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo - IFAD
    • Jennifer Morris - Chief Executive Officer, The Nature Conservancy Christine Gould - Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Thought For Food Foundation 
    • Theo De Jager - President, World Farmers' Organisation 
    • Christine Gould - Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Thought For Food Foundation
    • Peter Bakker - President and Chief Executive Officer, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) 
    at
    Labels: , , , ,

    No comments:

    Post a Comment

    Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)