Platform for African – European Partnership in Agricultural Research for Development

Monday, June 5, 2023

8th Africa Agribusiness and Science Week

5 - 8 June 2023
. (Durban, South Africa) 8th Africa Agribusiness and Science Week, FARA & CCARDESA General Assemblies

The proceedings of the events of FARA's AASW8 were streamed to its online audience to watch via the event website, Facebook, and FARA YouTube channels.

The links to the online channels:

Extracts of the programme

05/06 Welcome + Goodwill messages 

  • Lala Razafinjara (CCARDESA Chairperson)
  • Alioune Fall (FARA Chairperson)
  • Mxolisi Kaunda (Executive Mayor, Durban City)
  • Josefa Sacko (Commissioner DARBE, AUC)
  • Ahmadu Babagana (picture) (FAO representative in South Africa)
    “One in five people in Africa is going hungry. Eliminating hunger and malnutrition is key focus on FAO’s agenda”
  • Lindiwe Sibanda (Chairperson, CGIAR System Board)
  • Ishmael Sunga (C.E.O, SACAU)
  • Agnes Kalibata (President, AGRA) Virtual
  • Hildegard Lingnau as Executive Secretary (GFAR)
  • Leonard Mizzi (INTPA, European Commission)
  • Akinwumi Adesina (picture) (President, AfDB) - Keynote Address
  • Bangokwakhe M. Zuma (MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa
  • Thoko Didiza (Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, South Africa)
Minister Thoko Didiza referred to the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan of South Africa (2022, # 74 p.).
  • The plan acknowledges the magnitude of climate change impacts on agriculture in South Africa and its strategic objectives specifically speak to enhancing resilience to the effects of climate change, promoting sustainable management of natural resources, and a commitment to a just energy transition. 
  • The AAMP, having been co-signed by Government and representatives of various business and
    civil society organisations
     
    civil society organisations in the agriculture sector, has been labelled a social compact as stakeholders and social partners have committed to all work towards the attainment and achievement of the goals of the AAMP. 
  • The AAMP is the first multi-stakeholder process and strategic plan to have commodity-specific transformation targets, jobs, exports, investments and growth rates. It includes a list of targeted interventions needed in the livestock, field crops, horticultural and agro-processing subsectors and more broadly focuses on commercial land reform in rural areas to increase food production, and on farmers’ infrastructure.

Presentation of FARA Leadership Awards

High level session

  • Akinwumi Adesina (President AfDB)
  • Papa Seck (Former Minister of Agriculture, Senegal)
  • Josefa Sacko (Commissioner DARBE, AUC)
  • Jeanine Cooper (Minister of Agriculture, Liberia)
  • Amany Asfour (President, Africa Business Council)
  • Sara Savastano (Director, Research and Impact Assessment, IFAD)
  • Denys Denya (Executive Vice President, Afrexim Bank)
  • Claudia Sadoff (Executive Managing Director, CGIAR)
  • Alexander Thiel (CEO, SAPPI Southern Africa)
  • Ntuthu Mbiko (Chair, AFASA Women’s desk)


05/06 Launch of Action Plan for the renewed partnership between the CGIAR and African agricultural research institutions

  • Akinwumi Adesina (President, AfDB)
  • Josefa Sacko (Commissioner DARBE, AUC)
  • Lindiwe Sibanda (Chairperson, CGIAR System Board)
  • Alioune Fall (FARA Chairperson)


05/06 Launch of the Afrexim bank-FARA Research and Innovation Competencies in Agriculture (AFRICA) Award

  • Denys Denya (Executive Vice President, Afrexim Bank)
  • Alioune Fall (FARA Chairperson)


06/06 Strengthening Partnership between One CGIAR and African Research and Innovation Stakeholders (Part 1)

The goal of the session was to strengthen the partnership between CGIAR and African research and innovation institutions that will lead to the transformation of food, land and water systems in a climate crisis and respond to the ambition of achieving zero hunger in Africa.
  • Introduction of the four Regional Directors for Africa
  • One CGIAR in Africa
  • Action Plan for strengthening partnership between CGIAR and African Agricultural Research and Innovation Institutions.
  • Partnership models for expanded out-scaling in Africa (Convened by CIMMYT)
Speakers:
  • Aggrey Agumya (FARA)
  • Lindiwe Majele Sibanda (CGIAR)
  • Dr. Alioune Fall (Chairperson of the FARA Board of Directors, and former Director General of Senegal's National Institute for Agricultural Research)



06/06 Strengthening Partnership between One CGIAR and African Research and Innovation Stakeholders (Part 2: panel discussion)

  • Bram Govaerts (CIMMYT) - moderator

06/06 1Improving Climate Resilience, Natural Resources Management

 - DESIRA-LIFT, CGIAR, CAADPXP4


06/06 Making African food systems nutrition-sensitive and gender-responsive


06/06 Strengthening Science-Business Link to boost Intra- African Trade

Panel 1. Empowering Africa's Agricultural Transformation: Unleashing the Potential of Science, Innovation, and Productivity

This panel will delve into the role of science, innovation, and enhanced productivity in driving sustainable agricultural development across Africa.
  • Michael Sudarkasa, CEO, African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP), Moderator 
  • Dr. Irene Annor-Frempong, Lead, AU-EU International Research Consortium; FARA
  • Nasir Yammama, Founder & CEO, Verdant Agri-Tech - Setting the Scene 
  • Dr. John Recha, Scientist, Climate – Smart Agriculture and Policy, ILRI
  • Jehiel Oliver, Founder and CEO, Hello Tractor
  • Dr. Canisius Kanangire, Executive Director, African Agriculture Technology Foundation (AATF) 
  • Dr. Innocent Okuku, Executive Secretary, West African Fertilizer Association - Contribution of Research to Boost trade: A case of West Africa
Panel 2. Transforming Agribusiness: Leveraging Aggregation, Finance, Supply Chain Development, and Intra-African Trade toward Sustainable Agricultural and Economic Growth

This panel will focus on critical elements of agribusiness value chains and strategies to unlock their full potential.
  • Michael Sudarkasa, CEO, African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP), Moderator 
  • Themba Khumalo, Advisor to the Secretary General of AfCFTA - Setting the Scene 
  • Nomathemba Mhlanga, Agribusiness Officer, Subregional Office of Eastern Africa, FAO 
  • Litha Kutta, Director, Enterprise and Supplier Development, Tiger Brands 
  • Nico Groenewald, Head Agriculture, Standard Bank 
  • Beverly De Sousa, Education Manager, SAPICS, The Professional Body for Supply Chain Management 
  • Justy Range, Business Development, Freshmark Systems, Shoprite





07/06 Agro-industrial Park (CAAP) models for Increasing Productivity, Value-Addition and Intra-Africa Trade.

  • Common Africa Agro-Parks (AUC, FARA)
  • Special Agro-processing Zones (AfDB)
  • Integrated Agro-Industrial Parks (UNIDO)
  • Lessons learned, possible complementarities and actions for scaling up, including investments

07/06 Farming Systems Transition in African Context 

 - DESIRA-LIFT, AGRA, CGIAR, CAADPXP4 (Read More)

This parallel session discussed the interrelations of issues in agricultural productivity in the light of climate change, soil health, and fertilizer, in the light of different models that are proposed for adoption in African agriculture. 
  • Nature positive solutions for transitioning smallholder farming systems in Africa? Noah Adamtey
  • Drivers of Change in the Africa farming System Prof Idowu Oladele 
  • Pathways for Sustainable Intensification in Africa Dr. Benard Vanlauwe 
  • Client-driven farming systems options for Africa Dr. Paul Demo 
  • Thoughts on Sustainable Agriculture Model for Africa Dr. Tilahun Amede 

07/06 Knowledge Management, Digitalization, and Youth Entrepreneurship 

- IFAD, DESIRA-LIFT, CIAR-CAAS, CAADPXP4

07/06 Policies, Institutions, Capacities 

- RUFORUM, PANAP, FAUBAI

07/06 Optimal Sector Strategies in African Agriculture and Agribusiness

07/06 Mainstreaming Forgotten Foods into Africa Food System: What are the Next Big Things?


08/06 Digitalization and Innovation to facilitate Implementation of the AfCFTA and for boosting Intra-African trade

  • Framework for Boosting Intra-African Trade (BIAT) in Agricultural Commodities and Services, including an update on the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI)
  • Digitalization and trade facilitation to support implementation of AfCFTA
  • Women and youth as enablers of intra-African trade, including agribusiness, in the context of the AfCFTA.
  • SE-01: Can accelerator programs catalyze private investment in climate-smart agriculture Lessons from Southern, Central and East Africa (Read More) 
  • SE-02: GFAR Steering Committee meeting (Read More)
  • SE-03: Tracking the Future of Food and Agriculture in Africa (Read More)
  • SE-04: Science and business dialogue
  • SE-06.a: Mainstreaming land rights of the rural poor in the climate discourse Read More
  • SE-06.b: Outcomes and ways forward of the GFAR webinars on: UN Food Systems Summit and National Pathways; and Regional Responses to Challenges to Soil Fertility and Sustainability Read More
  • SE-07: Supporting Pathways to Sustainable Land Management in Africa.
  • SE-08: Fostering Agribusiness and Gender/Youth-Responsive Food Systems
  • SE-09: Unlocking business opportunities for youth-led SMEs and enterprises
  • SE-10: CGIAR Agribusiness Acceleration Approaches for Climate Smart Agriculture Innovation, Resilience, Gender and Social Inclusion. (Read More)
  • SE-11: 06/06  @3 - 6 PM (GMT+2) Advancing the AU-EU Research and Innovation Partnership in the context of the International Research Consortium (IRC) (Read More)
    The objective is to continue the dialogue that started during the LEAP4FNSSA project on consolidating the membership of the IRC as well as on building the sustainability of the IRC towards playing its expected role as the main AU-EU Platform of the FNSSA partnerships for building stronger food systems, sustainable growth and jobs.
    Incl. Godfrey Bahiigwa AUC-DARBE, Ethiopia Magdalena Gajdzinska, EC-RTDBrussels-Belgium Antonella Zona, EC-DG Agri. – Brussels-Belgium Genna Tesdall, YPARDGermany Michael Sudarkasa, AFAP- South Africa Russell Curtis, Invest DurbanSouth Africa

  • SE-12.a: GFAR Talks
  • SE-12.b: Presentation of GFAR Innovation Survey (Read more)
  • SE-12.c: Partnership Principles (Read More
  • SE-13: Harnessing Science and Innovation: through strengthened capacity to innovate
  • SE-14: Tackling enabling environment issues for scaling agribusinesses in Southern and Central Africa (Read More)
  • SE-15: Challenges and opportunities for Extension and Advisory Services within the African Continental Free Trade Area. (Read More)
  • SE-16: Seed Policy Harmonisation and Domestication: A tool for facilitating seed availability and affordability
  • SE-17: Agricultural Biotechnology: A sustainable lever for African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) (Read More).
  • SE-18: TAAT: Leading the way with agricultural innovation across Africa. Room: Durban (Read More).
  • SE-19: TAAT / TSF Innovation platform and Agribusiness Seminar
  • SE-20: Developing the Implementation Modalities for the Soil Initiative for Africa and AFSH Action Plan (Read More).
  • SE-26: Boosting intra-Africa trade: the agricultural midstream in the value chain
  • SE-31: 07/06 2pm-4pm local South Africa time. Hybrid side event Unpacking the potential of Agroecology in Africa at FARA's Agribusiness and Science Week
    MS Teams Link for virtual participation: Click here to join the meeting
  • SE-34:The sustainable mutation of the Cacao Supply Chain: challenges and opportunities for Africa. (Read More) 

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