REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

 #FARA is seeking a Programme Officer for Results Measurement and Learning to design and implement a comprehensive monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) framework for the #StePPFoS and #CEA_FIRST projects

submit your applications or get more info via bit.ly/3zgY7K5

Demand-Side Interventions and Approaches for Healthy Diets

17 September 2024. 03:30 PM CEST. BIFAD Public Meeting: Demand-Side Interventions and Approaches for Healthy Diets

BIFAD, an independent advisory committee to USAID on food and agriculture issues, will convene a public meeting on September 17, Demand-Side Interventions and Approaches for Healthy Diets, to shape the next steps in USAID’s strategic thinking and policy prioritization toward the objective of achieving healthy diets for all. This meeting will address evidence and evidence gaps, areas for additional research, and prioritized approaches and actions for USAID, centered around demand-side interventions and approaches to improve the processing, storage, distribution, sale, purchase, and consumption of safe and nutritious food. 

Please find an agenda for the meeting at this link. The meeting included a presentation of key findings and opportunities from a draft evidence review (see below) prepared for BIFAD. Written feedback on the evidence review is welcomed and may be submitted using this public comment form until October 4.

 
Questions addressed at the meeting included:

1. How can USAID work better with communities, national governments and private sector stakeholders to enhance consumer demand for safe and nutritious foods in ways that improve the diets of whole households, including women and children?
2. How can demand-focused interventions improve the affordability of healthy diets?
3. How can the progress and outcomes of demand-focused interventions be measured and evaluated?

Speakers:

• Opening Remarks - Kathy Spahn, BIFAD; President Emerita, Helen Keller Intl + Patrick Webb, USAID Chief Nutritionist 
• Increasing the Demand for Safe and Nutritious Food in USAID Priority Countries through Innovations and Interventions across the Food System - Bianca Carducci, Postdoctoral Scientist at Columbia Climate School 

Panel: Catalyzing Demand: Synergizing Public and Market Forces for Nutritious Diets

• Moderator: Saweda Liverpool-Tasie, BIFAD; MSU Foundation Professor, Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Economics, Michigan State University 
• Kefilwe Moalosi AU-NEPAD Nutrition Officer 
• Ndidi Nwuneli, President and CEO, ONE Foundation 
• Stella Nordhagen, Research Lead, Food Environments and Supply Chains, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) 
• Rolf Klemm, Vice President of Nutrition, Helen Keller Intl 

Science Flash Talk: Implications of Demand-side Approaches for Feed the Future Research Peter Goldsmith, Director, Feed the Future Soy Innovation Lab, University of Illinois.

Public Comment Period Moderator: Marie Boyd, BIFAD; Associate Professor, University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law 

The Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS): Creating Demand for Nutrient-Rich Traditional and Indigenous Crops Cary Fowler, U.S. Special Envoy for Global Food Security, U.S. Department of State

Panel: USAID Response 

• Moderator: Patrick Webb, USAID Chief Nutritionist 
• Kristin O’Planick, Market Systems Team Lead, Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security, USAID 
• Getinet Ameha, Senior Agriculture Adviser, USAID/Ethiopia 
• Megan Kyles, Economic Growth Office Director, USAID/Liberia

Shared resources 

BIFAD (2024) Increasing the Demand for Healthy Diets Evidence on Approaches Across the Food System in Feed the Future Contexts Pre-Published Document Released for Public Comment September 6, 2024. # 54 pp.

• The overarching goal of this research was to assess the available evidence, identify evidence gaps, recommend areas for additional research, and use the existing evidence to develop a prioritized set of opportunities for USAID consideration. 
• The research also identifies important areas for USAID’s investment in measurement and evaluation.

 

Feed the Future Business Drivers for Food Safety (BD4FS)

• Feed the Future Business Drivers for Food Safety (BD4FS), funded by USAID and implemented by FES, is a multi-country (Senegal, Ethiopia, and Nepal) project that works alongside SMEs, or as they are referred to in the BD4FS project, “growing food businesses” (GFBs) to co-design and implement incentive-based strategies to accelerate the adoption of food safety practices in local food systems. 

BD4FS (2022) FEED THE FUTUREBUSINESS DRIVERS FOR FOOD SAFETY. Business Drivers for Food Safety Tools and Practices pp. 169

• BD4FS has developed a series of strategies and methodologies – also referred to as “tools” – for business-level assistance in food programs and for raising consumer awareness about food safety.

BD4FS (2023) Capital Mobilization for Senegalese Growing FoodBusinesses pp. 8

• To better understand barriers to financing and to learn where opportunities and synergies exist for food businesses and investors, BD4FS undertook a financial landscape assessment in Senegal in 20212 . 
• This assessment identified several underlying factors that limit investment in GFBs. For one, many investors find investing in the perishable food sector too risky and have concerns that loans will not be repaid.

The Lancet (2024) Global estimation of dietary micronutrient inadequacies: a modelling analysis

• More than half of the global population consumes inadequate levels of several micronutrients essential to health, including calcium, iron, and vitamins C and E, according to a new study by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, UC Santa Barbara (UCSB), and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). 
• It is the first study to provide global estimates of inadequate consumption of 15 micronutrients critical to human health. 
• The study was published in The Lancet Global Health on August 29. Micronutrient deficiencies are one of the most common forms of malnutrition globally, and each deficiency carries its own health consequences, from adverse pregnancy outcomes, to blindness, to increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. See article: Billions worldwide consume inadequate levels of micronutrients critical to human health

The Lancet (2024) Lancet Planetary Health–Earth Commission report on Earth-system boundaries, translations, and transformations

• The paper is a 62-page “thought experiment” by an international team of 65 natural and social scientists that seeks to map out how the world’s 7.9 billion people could remain within safe planetary boundaries while accessing necessary levels of food, water, energy, shelter and transport. It then projects how this may change by 2050, when the population is likely to be 9.7 billion people.
• Published in the Lancet Planetary Health journal on 11 September 2024, the paper first sets a justice “floor” of basic daily living standards – defined as 2,500 calories of food, 100 litres of water, and 0.7kWh of electricity, along with a living area of 15 sq metres and annual transportation of 4,500km (2,800 miles). 
• Then they calculated how much space there was between this and a safety “ceiling” – which was defined by planetary boundaries – that estimated how much humanity can push the climate, ecosystems, nutrients and phosphorus and water sources without destabilising the Earth’s systems.

Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli (2021) 

Food Entrepreneurs in Africa. Scaling Resilient Agriculture
Businesses. 208 pp. 

• Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of the agriculture and food sector in Africa, which is projected to exceed a trillion dollars by 2030. 
• This book is the first practical primer to equip and support entrepreneurs in Africa through the process of starting and growing successful and resilient agriculture and food businesses that will transform the continent. 
• Through the use of case studies and practical guidance, the book reveals how entrepreneurs can leverage technology and innovation to leapfrog and adapt to climate change, ensuring that Africa can feed itself and even the world. 

Nutrition Business Monitor (NBM). A new self assessment tool for SMEs

• SMEs are at the frontline when it comes to supplying food to low-income groups and have the capacity to drive change in food consumption patterns at a rapid pace – e.g., SMEs are found to provide 70% of food to low-income populations in Africa.
• They therefore have enormous potential to improve the diets and health of consumers on a global scale through incorporating nutrition into their business models and practices, in turn improving the availability and accessibility of healthy nutritious foods for consumers in their local markets.

Related:

16 September 2024. The contribution of KOKO Plus® to Universal health coverage (UHC). The Ghana Nutrition Improvement Project was launched in 2009 by the Ajinomoto Group to help solve the pressing issue of malnutrition in the country. In particular, the core project partners aim to improve the nutritional outcomes of an estimated 200,000 children aged 6-24 months by 2017 by providing a supplement named “KOKO Plus”. 

With support of JICA/Ajinamoto, NEC Africa is increasing the capacity of health care workers to "Visualize" and utilize data to promote mothers behavior change. 

Yōko Kamikawa (the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs) declared during TICAD (August 24, 2024): 

"Japan has long been focusing on cooperation in maternal and child healthcare. (...) Japan is now incorporating ICT and other advanced technologies from the private sector. (...) JICA [combines] health examinations and nutritional guidance for mothers and children utilizing Japanese ICT [for] the dissemination of (...) nutritional supplements."

Related:

20 June 2024. EC/INTPA InfoPoint conference: Local Private Sector and Nutrition for Women and Children

• Mandresy Randriamiharisoa, Director General, Nutrizaza, Madagascar
• Siny Samba, Director General, Le Lionceau, Senegal

Upcoming:

7 - 11 October 2024. The 9th Africa Nutrition Conference (ANC 2024/ANEC IX)

• The African Nutrition Society (ANS) and the Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics(GAND) are organizing the 9th edition of the Africa Nutrition Conference (ANC2024 / ANEC IX).
• Theme: “FOOD AND NUTRITION IN A CHANGING WORLD: Implications for nutrition security and health in Africa”
• Venue: University of Cape Coast – North Campus, Cape Coast, Ghana

Opportunity:

Pivotal Ventures (of billionaire philanthropist Melinda French Gates) 

• will launch a call in the autumn to global organisations
• $250 million
• to be awarded through an open call, with Lever for Change to identify organizations working to improve women’s mental and physical health worldwide.ations focused on women’s mental and physical health

Since Melinda French Gates founded Pivotal in 2015, it used different kinds of funding to achieve its mission to advance social progress, including venture capital investments, philanthropic grantmaking, advocacy funding, and partnerships. In 2022, Melinda formed Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation, a nonprofit organization, to support philanthropic grantmaking and help enable this flexible approach to driving impact.

Global Landscapes Forum Africa

 

17 September 2024, Nairobi, Kenya, and online. GLF | GLF Africa 2024

The climate crisis is taking a toll on Africa – and especially on rural communities that depend on natural resources for their livelihoods. How should the continent respond to these challenges, and what lessons can it teach the rest of humanity? This global conference wanted to find out how Africa can navigate the future of three shifting landscapes: forests and savannas, drylands, and freshwater and oceans.

Event concept

Agenda

A green leap in the AI era: Pathways for scaling food systems in Africa

Numerous strategies exist for scaling up food production and transforming food systems in Africa, including commercial commodity crops, fertilizer and high-quality seeds input intensification, and integration of advanced technologies. AI and digital tools in particular are rapidly revolutionizing food systems and landscapes within Africa and beyond.

But what does an AI-driven future mean for Africa’s food systems, where smallholder farmers contribute 80% of the continent’s food supply? How can AI and machine learning be harnessed to drive a green leap forward across Africa’s food systems and landscapes?

This plenary explored two pivotal questions:

 

The choice between input-intensive agriculture and agroecology, 

Speakers 

• Alex Awiti Principal Scientist at CIFOR-ICRAF 
• Pauline Chivenge Senior Scientist in Cropping Systems Agronomy/Climate Change at International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) 

The potential of AI for building sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agrifood systems. (Unfortunately On the video recording the audio gets muted at 59:30)

• Catherine Nakalembe Associate Research Professor, Africa Program Director at University of Maryland, NASA Harvest 
• Jeff Kangacha Agriculturalist, social entrepreneur and technology optimist 
• Monica Yator Founder at Indigenous Women and Girls Initiative 
• Joshua Laizer Co-founder at Tanzania Conservation and Community Empowerment Initiative (TACCEI) & GLFx Maasai Steppe 
• Charlette N'Guessan Data Solutions and Ecosystem at AMINI 
• Steve Misati Marine Conservationist & Founder 
• Salina Abraham Chief of Staff to CEO at CIFOR-ICRAF.

       

Harnessing the power of partnerships to accelerate locally-led integrated landscape management (ILM) approaches, landscape finance and governance for a just transition

The Rainforest Alliance is pioneering integrated landscape management (ILM) approaches across five thriving landscapes globally as part of the 1000 Landscapes for 1 Billion People initiative.

One of the biggest challenges in implementing ILM is weak governance, inadequate finance and siloed approaches towards addressing the triple crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution, which are driving rural poverty and human rights abuses. We seek to strengthen our alliance to drive impact at scale in line with our strategy.

This interactive session provided delegates with an opportunity to learn and interact with seasoned experts on integrated landscape management approaches with examples from Kenya, Ghana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It also provide a platform to share best practices and experiences on landscape governance, financing models, innovative tools to measure landscape progress and maturity, and partnerships to support smallholders transitioning to regenerative agriculture and sustainable commodities.

• Alex Nene Senior Associate Advocacy East & Southern Africa at Rainforest Alliance 
• Beldina Bella Gwada Communication Manager, East & Southern Africa at Rainforest Alliance 
• Edgar Kadenge Lead, Thriving Landscapes, Mount Kenya at Rainforest Alliance 
• Catherine Ng’ang’a Head of Projects Development and Sustainability Manager at Coffee Management Services Ltd (CMS) and member Mt. Kenya Landscape Management Board (ILM) 
• Abeena Dufie Woode Programme Manager at EU LEAN, LLF Ghana 
• Imam A. El Marzuq Global Lead Thriving Landscapes at Rainforest Alliance 
• Herbert Hatanga Partner, East Africa at Clarmondial AG 
• Julius Nganga Senior Director for East and Southern Africa at Rainforest Alliance

Related Knowledge Products: 

1. Climate solutions: rooted in nature, driven by communities
2. The Rainforest Alliance’s work in East Africa
3. Rainforest Alliance Mission: People and Nature Thriving Together
4. Mount Kenya sustainable landscape and livelihood program
5. Video: Uganda Education Children Project
6. Video: Cobalam Project

Making climate and biodiversity finance work for people

This session brought together key rural development experts and local stakeholders to explore opportunities to align restoration programs with social protection objectives, thereby supporting governments in building household resilience, improving social protections and restoring landscapes.

Since the late 2000s, billions of dollars have been invested in restoration efforts across Africa. Initiatives such as the Great Green Wall and the AFR100 Initiative alone have mobilized over $10 billion in funding from African countries, international donors and various financial institutions. These restoration projects, which focus on rehabilitating deforested and degraded lands, are carried out in collaboration with local communities that rely on these lands for the rainfed agriculture that sustains their livelihoods. These communities are among the most vulnerable to environmental crises, caught in a cycle of poverty, land degradation and climate change impacts.

• Godfrey Rogers Natwaluma National Coordinator at Trees on Farm for Biodiversity (TonF) Project, CIFOR-ICRAF, Uganda Country Office 
• Eric Francis Acanakwo Country Representative at CIFOR-ICRAF, Uganda 
• Monique Akullo National Coordinator at Biodiversity Finance Initiative, UNDP 
• Agnes Nafuma Smallholder Farmer and Treasurer at Bunabudde Organic Cooperative Society 
• Egide Karuranga Business Strategy Analyst and Independent Consultant 
• Anja Gassner Europe Director at CIFOR-ICRAF

A transformative partnership platform for tree seed and seedling delivery systems

Achieving Africa’s restoration targets will require effective tree seed and seedling delivery systems to support tree planting, but current systems are suboptimal. This issue has gained prominence on the restoration agenda, with substantial investments being made to address it. The Right Tree in the Right Place – Seed initiative, which aims to increase the supply of diverse, high-quality seedlings of native tree species, is building a partnership platform to enable Africa-wide stakeholders to design practical interventions.

• Ousseynou Ndoye Regional Coordinator for West and Central Africa at AFR100 
• Kirsty Shaw Head of Ecological Restoration and Tree Conservation at Botanical Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) 
• Wubalem Tadesse Scientist at CIFOR-ICRAF 
• Alice Muchugi Team Leader, Trees Genetic Resources and Biodiversity at CIFOR-ICRAF 
• Ramni Jamnadass Principal Scientist and Lead

Related Knowledge Products:

• Tree Commodities And Resilient Green Economies in Africa

Revisiting farmer-centred participatory approaches for sustainable agricultural development

17 September 2024, Revisiting Farmer-Centered/Participatory Approaches Hosted by IIRR, Philippines and Prolinnova-Asia.

• Promoting Local Innovation in Nepal – Some Success Stories - Basanta Rana Bhat, Ecologist, Institute for Social and Environmental Research, Kathmandu and member of the Prolinnova Oversight Group
• Philippines case: Participatory Vulnerability Analysis Methods - Magnolia “Maggie” Rosimo,
• Deputy Director, Philippine Program + Farah Gaud Urdales, Project Manager, Panay Learning
• Community
• South India case: Land to Lab Approach - T J James Country Platform Coordinator, Prolinnova South India
• Cambodia: Case Study on Community Fish Refuge - Mr. Nut Savat, Research Coordinator, Aquadapt Project, IIRR-Cambodia + Or Thy Country Director, IIRR- Cambodia
• Ghana case: Institutionalising Participatory Innovation Development in a nongovernmental and
• a governmental organisation in northern Ghana - Paul Jimmy Kouete Subregional Coordinator,
• Prolinnova West and Central Africa
• Ethiopia Case: Biodiversity & Community Resilience in South Omo (BIOM) - Zerihun Limma Country Director, IIRR-Ethiopia
• Senegal case: Promoting local innovation in agricultural water management: Experiences of Proli-GEAFaSa in West Africa - Djibril Thiam Coordinator of Proli-GEAFaSa Project and Country Platform Coordinator, Prolinnova-Senegal
• Uganda Case: Women-Led Greenbelt Commercialization Project in Karamoja Region - Mr. Daniel Ogwang, Program Director, IIRR-Uganda + Pamela Nyamutoka Africa Regional Director and Country Director, IIRR-Uganda

Fourth Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP)

16 September 2024. Nairobi, Kenya. In partnership with the African Development Bank, the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) convened the 4th Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program Partnership Forum. The Forum :

• took stock of progress made by the Program in providing climate-resilient economic development for Africa since its launch in 2021. Further, 
• garnered from AAAP stakeholders, current and prospective partners, on the expected outlook for a second programmatic phase
• served as a consultation moment to glean from partners and stakeholders on emerging climate adaptation frontiers pertinent to the African continent, to strengthen the AAAP’s next phase offering. 

Kenya as the host country of the forum this year, showcased specific progress across the Program’s offering drawing on progress in infrastructure resilience and in ensuring a locally led adaption approach. As global climate adaptation commitments progress, the AAAP will remain effective in strengthening resilience in Africa and in ramping up efforts to close the Adaptation financing gap. 

Agroecological Transitions in Kenya - Pathways and Lessons

13 September 2024. Tropentag 2024 Vienna: Agroecological Transitions in Kenya - Pathways and Lessons

The CGIAR Initiative on Agroecology, working in eight countries of the Global South, seeks to work with food system actors to provide evidence on performance of agroecology in low-income countries. 

In each country, the Initiative concentrates on one or two distinct territories referred to as “agroecological living landscapes” (ALLs), where it engages with researchers, farmers and their associations or communities, private companies, international and national non-governmental organizations as well as local, regional, and national policymakers.

1. Burkina Faso: Increasing dairy production sustainably 
2. India: Leveraging Insights from Agroecology-based Farming Practices 
3. Kenya: Connecting county-level efforts with national policy
4. Lao PDR: Integrating low-chemical input agriculture and aquatic food production
5. Peru: Banking on organic cacao, free of deforestation 
6. Senegal: Toward a more dynamic agroecology movement 
7. Tunisia: Innovating in socially and culturally significant production systems 
8. Zimbabwe: Accelerating agroecological businesses

More than 4,400 food system actors in the ALLs in eight countries have identified context-specific agroecology transitions through the vision-to-action processes and begun testing agroecological practices as well as designing suitable business models and financial mechanisms.

This workshop focused on the work done in Kenya. Main purpose of the session was:

• to have a constructive dialogue among food system experts interested in agroecological transition, 
• to share a concrete example of work that has been conducted in Kenya 
• to identify clear lessons learnt and pathways that could lead to agroecological transition in LMICs. 
• to gather input from the participating food system experts on lessons learnt elsewhere that could drive agroecological transition, relevant for Kenya. These would be key as we move to phase 2 of the Initiative starting 2025.

Question asked by GFAiR:

QUESTION: The political will in Kenya at the moment, is more for inorganic fertilizers.[1] Farmers cultivate Indigenous vegetables using inorganic fertilizer and they have fantastic harvests, the lands are good and so on. How do you reconcile this with your approach?

[1] See also: Falconnier
et all (2023) The input reduction principle of agroecology is wrong when it comes to mineral fertilizer use in sub-Saharan Africa. The authors of this article argue that more mineral fertilizer is needed in SSA for five reasons.

Related PAEPARD blogposts

• Agroecology TPP - The Dialogues Series: Doing science differently
• The Agroecology Transition: Different pathways to a single destination - Eight country experiences
• 12-13 March 2024. Second Members Forum meeting of the Transformative Partnership Platform on Agroecology

Resource:

CGIAR Initiative on Agroecology. (2023) The Agroecology Transition: Different pathways to a single

destination - Eight country experiences  #32 pp. 

Agroecology is a transdisciplinary, participatory, and action-oriented approach for co-designing options that enhance food system resilience, equity, and sustainability. Working in eight countries of the Global South, the CGIAR Initiative on Agroecology seeks effective ways to put this approach into practice. In each country, the Initiative concentrates on one or two distinct territories referred to as “agroecological living landscapes” (ALLs), where it engages with researchers, farmers and their associations or communities, private companies, international and national non-governmental organizations as well as local, regional, and national policymakers.

This report includes the Andhra Pradesh Community-Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) 

Seed Regulation. Africa’s preparedness for the transition

12 September 2024.  Seed Regulation. Africa’s preparedness for the transition. Understanding the EU regulation on Plant Productive Materials (PRMs)

Webinar Areas of Focus

• Understanding the EU regulation on Plant Productive Materials(PRMs)—what has changed with the amendments, what this means for farmers and the transition process of the regulation
• Lessons learned from the new EU Regulation on organic exports, its transition, and what it means for farmers in Africa.

Panel discussion

Previous webinar

4 April 2024. Implications of the EU Proposed Regulation on the Production and Marketing of Plant Reproductive Materials (PRM) on Africa’s Food System

This Webinar by PELUM Association in partnership with Broederlijk Delen (BD) and AfroNet aimed at raising awareness on the implications of the Proposed EU regulation on Plant Reproductive Materials (2023) on Africa’s food system. 

The webinar was attended by over 170 stable attendants from across the world. 

The webinar featured five distinguished discussants: 

1. Giregon Olupot (PhD) from Makerere University, Uganda; 
2. Ms. Karin Ulmer and Fulya Batur (PhD), who are Consultants on a Seeds for Agroecology Project by Bread for the World (BfW) & HEKS/EPER, 
3. Ms. Greet Lambrecht, an Organic farmer and seed saver in Belgium; and 
4. Mr. Chariton Namuwoza, the President of African Organic Network (AfrONET). 
5. Moderation duties were handled by Mr. Muketoi Wamunyima, the Country Coordinator at PELUM Zambia, and Juliet Katusiime (PhD), a Senior Programme Officer at the PELUM Association Regional Secretariat. 

Resource

PELUM (2024) Webinar report. Implications of the EU Proposed Regulation on the Production and Marketing of Plant Reproductive Materials (PRM) on Africa’s Food System # 18 pp.

This report provides an overview of the

proceedings from the webinar on the

implications of the European Union

proposed regulation on Plant Reproductive

Materials (PRM, 2023) on Africa's food

system.

Assessing the field of generative biology

12 September 2024. Understanding the governance challenges created by 'generative biology' – integration of AI with synthetic biology.

Organized by ETC Group, African Center for Biodiversity, TWN – Third World Network

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has for 30 years governed new developments in biotechnology, in the frame of precaution and justice, and has also recently established a process of technology horizon scanning, assessment, and monitoring of new developments.

Now, there is an industrial attempt to converge next-generation genetic engineering tools (synthetic biology) with generative AI (of the sort used by ChatGPT) in a new "generative biology" industry.

• Why the CBD’s expert groups propose an urgent assessment of this newest AI-biotech convergence.
• How the use of generative AI in biology brings thorny new problems stemming from the opaque and error-prone ‘black box’ character of generative AI.
• How the world’s largest digital tech companies (including Google, Microsoft, Amazon and NVIDIA) are fuelling a ‘generative biology rush’, including a bold biopiracy grab of all the world’s digital sequence information on genomic resources.
• What can be done at COP 16 in Cali, Colombia?

Speakers 

• Introduction Sabrina Masinjila (ACB) 
• An introduction to AI‘Generative Biology: why it raises serious challenges for the CBD Jim Thomas (Scan the horizon) 
• AI and Synbio under the Convention on Biological Diversity: process and perspectives Florian Rabitz (Kaunas University of Technology) 
• Prof. Dr. Ossama Abdelkawy 
• Linking the Convention’s obligations to the need to responsibly assess the integration of AI and SynBio Lim Li Ching (TWN) 
• How the industry is using synthetic biology and artificial intelligence to circumvent the CBD, the Cartagena Protocol, and the ITPGRFA Guy Kastler (La Via Campesina) 
• Conclusion Sabrina Masinjila (ACB)

Resource

The African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB)  (2024) Black Box Biotech. Integration of Artificial Intelligence with Synthetic Biology: Addressing the risks,hype and inequities underpinning Generative Biology. # 36 pp.

Governments are already scrambling to try to catch up with the side effects, errors, and governance conundrums created by first-generation ‘generative AI’ programs – such as ChatGPT – while discovering the overreach of claims initially made by AI developers. 

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), with three decades of experience tracking global biotechnology policy, is uniquely placed to assess the now-emerging field of ‘generative biology’ and offer sensible advice before AI risks become irrevocably entangled with genetic engineering risks. At the sixteenth Conference of the Parties (COP 16) of the CBD in October and November 2024, governments will have the option to commission a ‘deeper dive’ assessment to better understand the array of policy challenges arising from the rapid integration of AI with SynBio – and to propose how to address those challenges promptly in the frame of precaution and justice. Agreements made at COP 16 on Digital sequence information (DSI) also need to robustly ensure that the digital AI giants now amassing DSI to train generative biology models are firmly covered by requirements concerning commercial utilisation of DSI.

TROPENTAG: annual interdisciplinary conference on research in tropical and subtropical agriculture

11-13 September 2024. TROPENTAG. 

The annual interdisciplinary conference on research in tropical

and subtropical agriculture, natural resource management and rural development (Tropentag) was jointly organised by the universities of Berlin, Bonn, Göttingen, Hohenheim, Kassel-Witzenhausen, ZALF e.V. (all Germany), Ghent University (Belgium), Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (Czech Republic), BOKU Vienna (Austria), and the Council for Tropical and Subtropical Research (ATSAF e.V.) in co-operation with the GIZ Fund International Agricultural Research (FIA).

Tropentag 2024 (TT24) was organised as a hybrid 'green event' by University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU University), Austria (Insitute and Cluster for Development Research), in cooperation with ATSAF e.V.

Topics:

1. 
   Agroecology and sustainable resource management practices: This includes discussions on sustainable agriculture practices, such as crop management, soil conservation, organic agricultural production, agroecology and agroforestry systems, aiming to optimize natural resource management while preserving the environment.
2. Livestock management and human well-being: Addressing sustainable and resilient animal production systems, promoting animal welfare, healthy animals as high-quality food resources, and enhancing human well-being through sustainable livestock management practices. Discussions link to the current discourse regarding economic viability and environmental aspects of animal production systems, increasing consumer demands for improved animal well-being, and calls for alternative non-animal protein sources.
3. Food and nutrition sovereignty: This session aims to bring together different perspectives contributing to a sustainable and just transformation of our food system. This involves addressing the underlying structural and socio-political issues related to malnutrition and advocating for sustainable diets. An emphasis is on democratic control over the production, distribution and consumption of food and the rights of peoples and communities to determine their own food and farming systems. This includes discussions on how to improve access to land and access to culturally appropriate, nutritious and affordable food, and the important intersection between food and health, identifying and assessing transformative solutions.
   
   
   
4. Sustainable water and fisheries management: Exploring innovative strategies and solutions to ensure the long-term viability of water resources and fisheries worldwide. Through interdisciplinary research and collaborative efforts, this session delves into the complex challenges facing sanitation, water ecosystems and fish populations, addressing overfishing, habitat degradation, pollution, and climate change impacts and offering insights into sustainable management practices, community engagement, policy frameworks, and technological advancements to promote the resilience and health of aquatic environments and fisheries.
5. Climate change adaptation and resilience: Sessions addressing adaptation to climate change in the context of agriculture and food systems, including pastoralism, natural resources management, and rural livelihoods. A critical perspective is laid on the potential threats of climate adaptation strategies for diverse rural livelihoods, in light of increased privatization, land grabbing and the rush for carbon and biodiversity credits. Sessions further focus on resilience strategies in agriculture, food systems and natural resource governance, including innovative approaches to mitigate environmental risks and enhance resilience of local populations.
6. Forestry, environmental conservation and ecosystem services: Exploring the intersection of agriculture and environmental conservation, including plant protection, agroforestry systems sustainability, and the importance of trees for environmental health and ecosystem services provision. This encompasses sessions on plant protection, trees for people and the environment, and understanding and managing soil-vegetation interactions, all of which contribute to environmental conservation and the provision of ecosystem services. This includes critical reflections on the benefits, trade-offs and potential threats of environmental conservation for rural livelihoods.
7. Gender and intersectional perspectives in the governance of natural resources: Critically explore how gender and other social dynamics intersect with and impact the governance of natural resources. Highlight the importance of inclusive approaches and practices, acknowledging diverse perspectives. Emphasize the importance and value of local knowledge systems, knowledge co-creation, co-learning, and actor-based initiatives in achieving more just and inclusive governance of natural resources and food systems.
8. Multiple crises: political, institutional and economic structures and challenges: Adopting a political ecology lens to explore the impact of multiple crises on our food and agriculture systems and natural resources, such as the climate crisis, violent conflicts and resulting economic crises. This includes reflections on the economic potential and profitability of agriculture and rural livelihoods, as well as collective action from grassroots organisations in shaping our future food and agricultural systems, and the role of policies and institutions amidst societal transformations.
9. Social and technological innovations for implementing the SDGs: Sessions focusing on technology adoption and dissemination, social innovations, and farmer perspectives in cropping and animal systems will highlight the role of technical and social innovations in agricultural practices and farmer-driven processes that contribute to sustainable resource management and securing livelihoods.

Keynote speakers

Tropentag 2024 had the honour to welcome three keynote speakers with diverging backgrounds: Franz Fischler, Anja Gassner, and Lerato Thakholi. Although the speakers shared different stories, their speeches united them in a shared vision of making efforts for brighter future prospects.

• Franz Fischler, President IHS, Institute Advanced Studies, Austria
• Anja Gassner, Managing Director, CIFOR Germany gGmbH; Director Europe
• Lerato Thakholi, Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands / University of the Western Cape, South Africa

Other speakers:

• Jennie Barron, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Dept. for Soil and
  Environment, Uppsala, Sweden
• Johanna Jacobi, Department of Environmental Systems Science, Agrarökologische Transitionen, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
• Nzula Kitaka, Egerton University, Dept Biological Science, Kenya
• Johannes M. Waldmüller, Department of Political Science, International Politics, University Vienna, Austria
• Achille Assogbadjo, Lab of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin

CIFOR-ICRAF's Dietmar Stoian led a session on developing agroforestry value chains in Rwanda, enhancing climate resilience and improving livelihoods through the TREPA project.

Transforming Eastern Province through Adaptation (TREPA)
A paradigm shift in land management practices in Rwanda’s Eastern Province to build resilience in the landscape to sustain agro-ecological systems and livelihoods. TREPA intends to increase the resilience of 75,000 smallholder farmers and restore 60,000 ha of drought-prone degraded landscapes as climate-resilient ecosystems through agroforestry, soil erosion control, reforestation, and the restoration of pasturelands, including economic incentives linked with the development of value chains of climate-resilient agricultural and tree products.

• Funding partners: Green Climate Fund & Government of Rwanda
• Implementing partner: Rwanda Forestry Authority (RFA)
• Budget: Entire budget 49,622,797 USD (Green Climate Fund + Co-financing)
• ICRAF budget 7,554,960 USD.

Using digital tools to support climate & agroecological transitions at scale

10 September 2024. Using digital tools to support climate & agroecological transitions at scale.

The Agroecological TRANSITIONS program, supported by the EU, advocates for climate and agroecological transitions by addressing several challenges. 

• The program has three projects: investigating holistic metrics to assess food and agricultural systems and guide policy and investment decisions; exploring public-private incentives and innovative pathways for sustainable practices; and developing digital tool innovations to support farmers and extension practitioners assess performance.
• TRANSITIONS’ Inclusive Digital Tools (ATDT) Project looks at how digital resources can boost inclusivity and empower farmers in co-creating sustainable practices. ATDT has evaluated digital resources for technical advice and performance assessment to understand how they support agroecological transition. Regional partners and teams have developed and tested digital tools to support agroecology in Vietnam for rice and in Brazil for livestock. 
• As the ATDT project comes to a close this year, the panel exchanged ideas with a wider group of organizations and stakeholders actively working with digital resources. Through this work and the parallel projects on metrics and public-private incentives, the TRANSITIONS projects aim to improve food security, minimize negative ecological impacts, and foster climate-informed agroecological transitions in LMICs.

The interactive workshop, discussed opportunities and challenges to scale climate and agroecological transitions using digital resources. The objective was to share knowledge and exchange ideas among leaders and experts in this area on the following topics:

• Climate and agroecology indicators in digital tools
• Principles for digital inclusion of smallholder farmers
• Digital tool design for co-creation
• Incentives and pathways to scale digital tools for climate & agroecological transitions

Presentations:

• Facilitator: Sandhya Kumar Agroecology TPP Scientific Coordinator 
• Lini Wollenberg University of Vermont & The Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT - Digital tools for an agroecological transition? 
• Violaine Laurens Regional Manager – Digital Solutions, Solidaridad Latinoamérica - Co-creating agroecology practices for livestock in Brazil: Solis 
• Trang Vu/Katie Nelson, IRRI - Vertically integrated digital performance assessment for the 1 Must Do 5 Reductions in Vietnam 
• Fancisco Hidalgo Socio-environmental researcher, Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT - Leveraging digital traceability tools for agroecology transitions  
• Mary Crossland Livelihood systems associate scientist, CIFOR-ICRAF - Metrics for holistic assessment in digital tools 
• Kyle Dittmer Research Analyst, Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT Principles for socially inclusive digital tools for smallholder farmers

Panel: Will this work? What will it take? 

• Facilitator: Sandhya Kumar Agroecology TPP Scientific Coordinator
• Oliver Oliveros Coordinator, Agroecology Coalition 
• Alesha Miller Chief Strategy Officer, Digital Green  
• Christophe Larose European Commission - Concluding statements

The speakers highlighted:

• how digital tools can support farmer agency and negotiate top-down and corporate influence in digital tool design
• how digital tools can best serve farmer needs through co-creation of knowledge and avoiding the pitfalls of current digital tool business models driven by non-farmer interests 
• how aligning metrics, policy, incentives, and digital tools can help integrate climate change adaptation and mitigation into agroecological practices and technical advice.

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)

 9 - 10 September 2024. Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)

Session 1: Presentations on the characteristics of traditional knowledge and its application., Session 2: Panel discussion addressing key questions, such as:  What support do family farmers need to effectively use traditional knowledge and practices?  Can traditional knowledge be strengthened by integrating innovative practices and modern technologies? If so, how? 
FAO units participating: Agroecology, Indigenous Peoples, Mountain Partnership, Innovation and Nutrition.

• Bangladesh: Floating Garden Agricultural Practices, 
• Brazil: Traditional Agricultural System in the Southern Espinhaço Range, Minas Gerais Japan: Nishi-Awa Steep Slope Land Agriculture System 
• Italy: Olive Groves of the Slopes between Assisi and Spoleto, 
• Morrocco: Argan-based agro-sylvo-pastoral system within the area of Ait Souab - Ait Mansour, 
• Philippines: Ifugao Rice Terraces, 
• Spain: Malaga Raisin Production System in La Axarquía. 

Transforming Agri-Food Systems in West Africa with Digital Technologies

9 - 13 September 2024. Abuja, Nigeria Transforming Agri-Food Systems in West Africa with Digital Technologies

• The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), in collaboration with Agropolis Fondation (AF), Gearbox Pan African Network (GB), and Université d’Abomey-Calavi (UAC), whost the Annual Implementers’ Forum (AIF) 2024 for the Accelerating Inclusive Green Growth through Agri-based Digital Innovation in West Africa (AGriDI) project in Abuja, Nigeria.
  
• Funded by the European Commission through the R&I Programme implemented by the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), AGriDI is a 4-year initiative aimed at creating an enabling environment for agri-based digital innovations in West Africa. The project is designed to increase the uptake of digital technologies by farmers’ cooperatives and SMEs, strengthen collaboration between research communities, industry, and policy actors, and enhance policymaking to support the scaling of agribusiness digital innovations.

Since its inception, AGriDI has implemented a competitive grant scheme, awarding EUR 2.73 million across 9 projects in West Africa. These initiatives focus on co-developing and adapting digital solutions, establishing market linkages, and supporting policy development for digital innovation. 

1. The AGriCef mobile app in Benin, controls the Fall armyworm in maize
   In Northern Benin, the Université de Parakou developed the AGriCef mobile app to combat the Fall armyworm (FAW) in maize, while the Ki@ app provides market updates directly to local farmers via SMS and voice messages.
2. the SMARTSOIL app in Nigeria, provides hyper-local soil information to farmers using artificial intelligence.
   In South-Western Nigeria, the SMARTSOIL app by the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) leverages digital soil mapping and AI to deliver accessible and affordable soil information to farmers.
3. In Ghana, the Driving Market Access and Managing AG Value chains (DigiMakt) app profiles over 12,500 smallholder farmers, providing climate-smart agronomic advice, market information, weather alerts, insurance, and credit scoring. This innovation, led by Esoko Ltd., the Agri-Tech company of the year at the 2023 Ghana Agriculture and Agri-Business Awards, is enhancing financial inclusion in the Bono East and Oti regions. Another significant contribution is the recently launched MarketMap app by SOSAI, offering reliable market information for farmers, processors, and service providers in the agricultural sector.

The Annual Implementers’ Forum (AIF) 2024 provides a platform for AGriDI’s partners and beneficiaries to share lessons learned over the past two and a half years. Participants will engage in discussions on the digital innovation ecosystem in agriculture, the successes and challenges faced, and the sustainability of current innovations.

Agronomy and Policy Solutions for Effective Implementation of the African Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan

10 September 2024. Agronomy and Policy Solutions for Effective Implementation of the African Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan. Co-organized by IFPRI, CGIAR, Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and Africa Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ANAPRI)

Speakers from the research, policy, nongovernmental, and private sectors highlighted agronomy solutions and policy frameworks that can bolster stakeholder resilience. These experts will draw on the work of two CGIAR research initiatives, Excellence in Agronomy and National Policies and Strategies, to explore the potential of agronomy at scale solutions and present strategies for developing effective policy frameworks in support of soil health, balanced plant nutrition, and increased agricultural productivity and livelihoods. 

Opening Remarks

• Charlotte Hebebrand, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, IFPRI
• Antony Chapoto, Executive Director, Secretariat, Africa Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ANAPRI)

Outcome of the AFSH and Next Steps

• Wole Fatunbi, Ag. Director of Research and Innovation, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)
• Oumou Camara, Vice President of Programs, International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)
• Bernard Vanlauwe, Deputy Director General, Research for Development, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
• Felicitas Röhrig, Senior Policy Officer, Division “Agriculture, rural development”, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
• Habiba Mouttaki, Chief Commercial Officer, Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP) Africa

Supporting Agronomic Solutions at Scale and Enabling Policy Frameworks for Sustainable Fertilizer Management and Soil Health 

• Job Kihara, Agronomist, Alliance Bioversity International and CIAT; Excellence in Agronomy (EiA), CGIAR
• John Olwande, Research Fellow, Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development; National Policies and Strategies, CGIAR
• Claudia Ringler, Director, Natural Resources and Resilience (NRR), IFPRI
• Kibrom Abay, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
• Madhur Gautam, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

Discussion 

• Richard Mkandawire, Africa Director, Alliance for African Partnership, Michigan State University (MSU); National Planning Commissioner, Malawi
• Maria Wanzala, Vice President, Policy Services, African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP)
• Nancy Laibuni, Advisor, Associate Member, Council of Economic Advisors- Executive Office of the President, Kenya

Is Big Bet Philanthropy Capable of Scaling Food Systems Transformation?

4 September 2024. IFAD Innovation Talk 17: Is Big Bet Philanthropy Capable of Scaling Food Systems Transformation?

This Innovation Talk explored innovations and strategies to transform global food systems and delve into how philanthropic partnerships and investments can be mobilized for systems change. Leading representatives from foundations and philanthropic organizations discussed how they are using these strategies to better leverage resources and focus on proven results to end hunger, achieve food security and ensure climate resilience.

• Alvaro Lario, President, IFAD
• Tonya Allen, President, McKnight Foundation 
  Tonya emphasized the transformative potential of “big bet philanthropy” in rural development and food systems. She stressed the importance of co-designing solutions with local communities, particularly farmers, and highlighted that financial resources alone aren’t enough. True impact requires rewriting financial systems and empowering those closest to the challenges. Allen advocated for disrupting traditional practices in philanthropy and ensuring that investments are driven by genuine intentions and collaboration, ultimately aimed at sustainable, equitable outcomes.
• Sonia Medina, Chief Ecosystem Development Officer & Executive Director, Climate Change, Children's Investment Fund Foundation 
  Sonia emphasized the urgent need for “big bets” in philanthropy to address the significant disparities in agricultural subsidies versus climate financing for agriculture and called for collective action to create lasting systemic change. She outlined three key points: 1. Unite diverse perspectives to create a shared vision for food systems aligning nutrition and climate goals. 2. Encourage diverse agriculture to reduce reliance on large-scale livestock. 3. Collaborate to reform harmful subsidies, ensuring support for sustainable agriculture
• Masego Madzwamuse, Director of the Environment Programme, Oak Foundation 
  Masego pointed out that beyond focusing on increasing production, it’s essential to improve the quality of life and ensure the self-representation of small-scale farmers. She highlighted the disparities in how philanthropic resources are distributed, with far less flexible funding reaching the Global South, and called for a rebalancing of resource flows. 
• Anna Lappé, Executive Director, Global Alliance for the Future of Food
  Anna emphasized the need for philanthropy to play a key role in scaling sustainable food systems. She highlighted that food systems are major contributors to both climate change and biodiversity loss, and urgent transformation is required.
• Ron Thomas Hartman, Director, Global Engagement, Partnership and Resource Mobilization, IFAD 
  Ron emphasized the importance of collaboration, integrated approaches, and empowering local communities. He stressed that philanthropy should support both funding and partnerships to drive sustainable, systemic change.

Unlocking Africa-EU Research Collaboration

5 September 2024. Unlocking Africa-EU Research Collaboration

Funded by the European Union (Horizon Europe programme), SEADE Strengthening the Europe-Africa Digital Ecosystem Through Increased R&I Cooperationprovides fundamental and tangible support services to the Research and Innovation (R&I) ecosystems of Europe (EU) and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), undertaking human-centred research, programme development, and pilot actions in Ghana, South Africa Kenya and Senegal.

The SEADE project incorporates and builds on work started in previous projects, such as the Horizon 2020 projects AfriConEU, HUBiquitous and ENRICH in Africa (EiA), in which consortium partners created a network of core stakeholders from both continents to support and strengthen the European-African innovation ecosystem. SEADE will extend this network to include the research sector and focus mainly on two key areas: digital transformation and international collaboration. Alongside programme development, integration of legacy elements from further current and past initiatives in the field will provide R&I actors with a comprehensive resource toolkit, made available within the digital platform of the EiA Center, legacy organisation of the EiA project.  

• Overview of SEADE Jan Ertmann - Steinbeis Europa Zentrum
• Human-Centered Approach in Research Gideon Brefo - Hapa Foundation
• Call for Stories Isabella Ahinakwa - Association of African Universities
• 
  Senegal Soft-Landing Program and Upcoming Activities Charlie Guerin - BonD'Innov
  
  Bond'innov is an association promoting innovation with a strong economic and societal impact and supporting innovative projects in France and Africa, particularly in the digital technology, health/biotechnology, ecological transition and the social economy sectors. Bond’innov evolves around 4 main activities : Funding of Startups, Incubation of entrepreneurs, Building and implementing programs for public and private partners and Strengthening Incubators Networks in over 18 african countries. For more than years, Bond’innov have supported more than 200 startups and funded 70.