Mugala Naturals: Organic food venture that is powering a climate-smart future

Mugala Naturals exhibited a poster and its products at the  NUS Africa's regional stakeholders conference (9 - 11 June 2026. Accra, Ghana).

Mugala Naturals Kenya is a Nairobi-based agrifood enterprise founded by Kenyan entrepreneur Andrew Egala with the mission of transforming indigenous African crops into nutritious, climate-smart food products. Established in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company promotes a “food as medicine” approach by processing traditional grains such as sorghum and millet into gluten-free, low-glycemic foods targeted at health-conscious consumers and people living with diabetes and other non-communicable diseases. Through its Green Without Borders initiative, Mugala Naturals has positioned itself at the intersection of nutrition, climate resilience, and sustainable agriculture, demonstrating the commercial potential of Africa’s forgotten and underutilized crops.

Beyond food processing, Mugala Naturals works closely with smallholder farmers in Kenya’s semi-arid regions to create inclusive value chains for indigenous crops. The company promotes sorghum, millet, cassava, honey, peanut products, instant porridge mixes, and other plant-based foods while advocating for biodiversity conservation, healthy diets, and climate-resilient farming systems. 

By combining traditional African food heritage with modern food innovation and market development, Mugala Naturals has become a leading voice in the movement to reposition indigenous crops from “forgotten foods” to high-value products capable of improving nutrition, generating rural incomes, and strengthening Africa’s food sovereignty.

Related:

• Sorghum Superfood: Kenyan Startup Revolutionizes Diabetic-Friendly Nutrition
• Mugala Naturals: Organic food venture that is powering a climate-smart future

Heirloom Seed Agriculture Company in Ghana

12 June 2026. GFAiR's Collective Action on Forgotten Foods visited Call To Nature Ghana. 

Call To Nature Ghana is a pioneering Ghanaian social enterprise and permaculture organization dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture, heirloom seed conservation, environmental stewardship, and food security. 

Heirloom seed conservation is the practice of harvesting, drying, and safely storing seeds from open-pollinated plant varieties to prevent them from going extinct.

Founded by Solomon Amuzu, the organization operates on the permaculture principles of “Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share,” combining seed production, farmer training, ecological restoration, and community education. Today, it is recognized as
one of Africa’s leading heirloom seed producers and was named Best Heirloom Seed Agriculture Company in West Africa and Seed Exporter of the Year 2023. Through its work, Call To Nature supports farmers with access to locally adapted seeds and knowledge that strengthen climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable food systems.

The organization’s history dates back to Solomon Amuzu’s early engagement with farming at the age of 16. Motivated by concerns about the environmental impacts of conventional agriculture, he trained in permaculture and launched community initiatives focused on school gardens, tree planting, and ecological restoration. After further studies and practical experience in sustainable agriculture, he formally established Call To Nature with a vision of reconnecting people with nature and building resilient local food systems. Over the years, the organization has expanded from a grassroots permaculture initiative into a nationally and internationally recognized centre for heirloom seed production, farmer capacity development, and sustainable agriculture innovation in Ghana.

Sales figures for local market and for the export market

Ghana's seed market is expanding rapidly, driven by greater awareness of seed quality, climate-smart agriculture, government support programmes, and growing interest in nutritious and resilient crops. Industry forecasts estimate that the Ghana seed market will grow from about USD 125 million in 2026 to nearly USD 193 million by 2031, reflecting sustained growth in demand for improved and specialized seeds. In addition, market studies point to increasing consumer demand for healthy, locally produced foods and greater interest in indigenous crops, which is creating new opportunities for producers of heirloom and opportunity crop seeds.

The company's export positioning is particularly attractive to the U.S. market because it specializes in heirloom and rare seed varieties that are often difficult to source commercially. These include amaranths, African leafy vegetables, traditional legumes, butterfly peas, and other culturally significant crops. 

The growing interest in regenerative agriculture, biodiversity conservation, African heritage foods, and climate-resilient crops among U.S. consumers creates a niche but expanding market for such products. Call To Nature has also highlighted its status as a recognized seed exporter and participates in international seed and agribusiness exhibitions, where it markets its products globally.

Related:

14 October 2025. In Beijing, China, the Chief Executive Director of Call To Nature Ghana - Solomon Amuzu - attended the China-Ghana Investment Forum. The event, which focused on “Partnering for Prosperity: Unlocking Investment Opportunities in Ghana,” aimed to attract Chinese companies to invest in Ghana, highlighting areas like Agriculture and trade, electric vehicles (EVs), manufacturing, and infrastructure.

24-25 September 2025. Call To Nature Ghana participated as an exhibitor at the 2025 West Africa Agri Show, held at the Accra International Conference Center (AICC), where it showcased oits premium Heirloom Seeds. The West Africa Agri Show 2025 (WAAS 2025) was an agricultural event to showcase innovative and sustainable farming technologies. 

Africa's regional stakeholders conference on Neglected and Underutilised Species

9 - 11 June 2026. Accra, Ghana. NUS Africa's regional stakeholders conference. Co-organized by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the hybrid event focused on integrating neglected and underutilized “forgotten foods” (like millets, fonio, and sorghum) into African food systems.

The conference strongly aligned with GFAiR's Collective Action on Forgotten Foods by addressing policy integration, capacity strengthening, seed systems, breeding, market development, and multi-stakeholder partnerships for neglected and underutilized crops. Notably, GFAiR contributes directly through the presentation on embedding opportunity crops into education and capacity development systems, reinforcing GFAiR's role in knowledge exchange and innovation for resilient food systems.

The regional consultation for Africa highlighted the strategic role of opportunity crops in contributing to 

sustainable, nutrient-sensitive agrifood systems and climate-resilient agriculture in the region by: 

1. Assess the progress made in the implementation of the Africa manifesto and action plan on forgotten food. 
2. Reviewing and sharing national and regional experiences related to opportunity crops conservation, production, utilization, constraints, and opportunities. 
3. Discussing policy and institutional frameworks needed to enhance production, value chains, and utilization of opportunity crops. 
4. Developing a regional roadmap and collaborative action plan to maintain opportunity crops in food and agricultural policies. 
5. Strengthening partnerships among governments, research institutions, the private sector, and civil society for opportunity crops promotion. 

Day 1: Setting the Vision and Overcoming Barriers

Opening Session

• 
  Dr. Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Regional Representative for Africa
• Dr. Aggrey Agumya, Executive Director, FARA
• Representative of Ghana's Ministry of Food and Agriculture 

Strategic Perspectives on Opportunity Crops

• Dr. Chikelu Mba (FAO): Unlocking Africa's Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
• Prof. Elbilali (IADC): Framework for integrating neglected and underutilized species into agrifood systems
• Dr. Clement Adjorlolo (AUDA-NEPAD): Scaling opportunity crops through coordinated policy action

Transitioning African Agrifood Systems

• Dr. Julia Sibiya (VACS): Opportunity crops for agrifood system transformation
• Madam Fatmata Binta (Dineonamat): African ingredients and cultural food value
• Prof. Wole Fatunbi (FARA): Progress report on the Africa Manifesto on Opportunity Crops/Forgotten Foods

Theme 1: Overcoming Barriers – Innovative Approaches

• 
  Dr. Abdou Tenkouano (ICIPE): Plant health solutions for opportunity crops
• Dr. Ousmane Ndoye (CORAF): Research development and networking
• Joe Mzinga (ESAFF): Mechanization pathways for smallholder systems

Theme 2: From Knowledge to Action

• Dr. Maureen Duru (The Food Bridge): Scaling nutrient-rich crops for food security
• Prof. Nelson Ojijo (JKUAT): Awareness raising and consumer recognition
• Olawunmi Benedict (GROW West Africa): Producer capacity building and agroecological transition
• Prof. Vincent Aduramigba (IAR&T/OAU): Capacity development instruments for NARES and institutions

Theme 3: Regional Actions and Networks

• Prof. Wole Fatunbi (FARA): Communities of practice and regional networks
• Ms. Ndèye Aïssatou Diop (CORAF): West and Central Africa experiences
• Mr. Moses Odeke (ASARECA): Eastern and Central Africa experiences
• Dr. Batholomeu Chataika (CCARDESA): Southern Africa experiences

Day 2: Conservation, Breeding, Seed Systems and Markets

Theme 4: On-Farm Diversity and Local Adaptation

• Dr. Carlo Fadda (Bioversity & CIAT): Managing crop diversity on farms
• Dr. Olakunle Sansa (IITA): Diversity for resilience
• Dr. Hillary Muginyo (Zimbabwe): Participatory breeding for locally adapted varieties

Theme 5: Conservation of Opportunity Crops

• Dr. Nora Castaneda (Crop Trust): Complementary conservation strategies
• Dr. Olaniyi Oyatomi (IITA): Linking on-farm and ex situ conservation
• Dr. Bissah Mathilda (PGRI-CSIR): Genetic resource conservation and germplasm exchange
• Andrew Mushita (CTDT-ZW): Community seed banks and local stewardship

Theme 6: Breeding for Nutrition and Resilience

• Prof. Enoch G. Achigan-Dako (UAC-Benin/AOCC/AfPBA): Collaborative breeding for forgotten foods
• Dr. Rita Mumm (AOCC): Strengthening plant breeding capacity in Africa
• Mr. Francois Stepman (GFAiR): Integrating opportunity crops into educational curricula

Theme 7: Seed Systems and Value Chains

• Yarama (GNRC): Registration of local varieties
• Edward Kilawe (FAO): Lessons from the One Country One Priority Product initiative
• Dr. Presidor Kendabie (NDU-Nigeria): Sustainable seed systems for forgotten foods

Theme 8: Building Markets and Business Cases

• Dr. Yacouba Diallo (AFSTA): Integrating orphan crops into seed trade systems
• Mr. John Cordaro (MARS/AOCC): Public-private pathways for opportunity crops
• Dr. Stefano Marras (Bayer): Private-sector innovation and investment
• Mr. Andrew Egala (GWB Kenya): Market access, short supply chains, and alternative retail models

Day 3: Developing the African Roadmap

Theme 9: Action-Based Roadmap for Opportunity Crops

Participants were divided into working groups to develop a continental roadmap and implementation agenda for integrating opportunity crops into African agrifood systems. This was followed by plenary presentations and discussions on recommendations and next steps. 

The consultation concluded with a synthesis by Dr. Chikelu Mba (FAO) and closing remarks from Dr. Aggrey Agumya (FARA) and Ms. Priya Gujadhur (FAO Ghana).

Ghana Investment Promotion Council

11 June 2026. The study titled “A Research on the African Diaspora Food Market in the United Kingdom: Understanding Market Dynamics, Opportunities and Indigenous Food Systems” (25 pages) was presented during a meeting with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (the GIPC was among others represented by Cherk Klutse - see picture).

The research – conducted between January and April 2026 – highlights that African food is not a niche or occasional choice, but a core component of daily diets – comparable to staple foods in national consumption patterns. This positions the African diaspora food market as a mature, stable, and scalable agro food sector. The estimated annual market value is £1.5 billion in the UK alone, with a projected €11.5 billion market across Europe.

"The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre is well positioned to host a Regional Diaspora Food SMEs Hub for West Africa due to its established mandate to attract and facilitate investment, its growing engagement with diaspora entrepreneurs, and Ghana's role as a regional gateway for trade and agribusiness. Building on its Diaspora Investment Desk, investor facilitation services, and partnerships with government agencies, financial institutions, and private-sector networks, GIPC could serve as a convening platform that connects diaspora investors with food SMEs, innovation hubs, research institutions, and market opportunities across the region. A regional hub hosted by GIPC could mobilize diaspora capital, expertise, technology, and international market linkages to strengthen food processing, value addition, and agrifood entrepreneurship, while supporting

the objectives of regional integration under Economic Community of West African States and the African Continental Free Trade Area. Such a hub would also position Ghana as a focal point for scaling diaspora-driven investments that contribute to food security, job creation, and resilient food systems across West Africa." Dr Maureen Duru of Foodbridge, Coordinator of GFAiR's collective action on Forgotten Foods

The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre

The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre plays a strategic role in promoting food-sector SMEs from the Ghanaian diaspora by creating an enabling investment environment and serving as a bridge between diaspora investors and local agribusiness opportunities. Through investment facilitation services, business registration support, policy guidance, and investor aftercare, the Centre helps diaspora entrepreneurs establish or expand food processing, packaging, distribution, and value-addition enterprises in Ghana. It also provides information on incentives, access to land and industrial zones, and links to government programmes that support agribusiness development.

In addition, the GIPC actively engages the diaspora through investment forums, roadshows, partnerships, and targeted outreach initiatives that showcase opportunities in Ghana's food and agriculture sector. By connecting diaspora investors with local SMEs, financial institutions, research organizations, and market actors, the Centre helps mobilize capital, technology, skills, and international market networks. This contributes to the growth of competitive food SMEs, job creation, value chain development, and increased participation of diaspora communities in Ghana’s agricultural transformation and food systems development.

• 16–18 June 2026. Accra. Ghana–Italy Circular Economy Dialogue: Scaling Solutions for a Green Transition 
  16/06 Session 1: Circular Economy & Green Industrial Transformation: Ghana’s Landscape, Challenges and Opportunities - with Gianpiero Menza, Alliance Bioversity & CIAT
  16/06 Session 4: Circular Agribusiness & Green Entrepreneurship Unlocking opportunities in Ghana’s agro-industrial sector  - with Pierpaolo Crivellaro, Alliance Bioversity-CIAT 
• 10 - 11 December 2025. In partnership with the International Organization for Migration Ghana, GIPC hosted a Diaspora Business Dialogue aimed at strengthening collaboration between returnees, diaspora entrepreneurs, investors, and Ghanaian businesses. The initiative focused on facilitating investment, business partnerships, and market linkages, including opportunities for SMEs in agribusiness and food processing. Such dialogues help diaspora-owned food enterprises access local networks, investment information, and business support services.
• 10 June 2025. GIPC, together with government and development partners, supported the 2025 Ghana Diaspora Investment Forum, which brought together diaspora investors, entrepreneurs, financial institutions, and business support organizations to explore investment opportunities in Ghana. The forum highlighted sectors including agriculture, agribusiness, food processing, and SME development, providing diaspora entrepreneurs with opportunities to connect with local businesses and identify investment opportunities in food value chains.

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Related: 

29 May 2026. In this debut episode, the CEO of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Mr Simon Madjie, explores the country’s changing investment landscape, highlights exciting opportunities across key sectors, and shares the vision behind the InvestGhana Podcast.

Podcast Episode 1: Why Ghana is a Top Choice for Investors 

Baibhav Biswas, Country Head & Senior Director of Olam Agri, shares how the company has expanded its footprint in Ghana, from wheat milling to operating the country’s only pasta plant, with more growth on the horizon.

 

GFAiR Regional Fora and Steering Committee meeting

7 - 8 June 2026.  Antalya, Turkey. The Global Forum for Agricultural and Innovation Research (GFAiR), the Regional Fora and its Steering Committee meeting brought together representatives from the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI), Central Asia and the Caucasus Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (CACAARI), Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA), Forum of the Americas for Agricultural Research and Technological Development (FORAGRO), European Forum on Agricultural Research for Development (EFARD), Steering Committee members, and the GFAiR Secretariat for a strategic dialogue on the future direction of GFAiR and the Global NARS Consortium (GNC).

The forum was graced by Dr. Didem Kökden, senior International Relations Coordinator and expert at the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies - TAGEM. Turkey). 

The Regional Fora workshop focused on assessing the changing funding landscape, identifying priority activities for the current no-cost extension period, strengthening collaboration among regional partners, and exploring opportunities for joint resource mobilization. Participants also reviewed GFAiR’s strategic focus, including its Theory of Change, Collective Actions approach, equitable partnerships agenda, and future hosting arrangements, while discussing proposals for future support from the European Commission and other funding partners.

The Steering Committee workshop built on the outcomes of the Regional Fora discussions and concentrated on enhancing the strategic role and influence of the Committee within GFAiR. 

Recognizing the unique multi-stakeholder composition of the Steering Committee, participants explored how to better leverage its diverse constituencies to strengthen advocacy, collaboration, and resource mobilization across the global agrifood innovation and research ecosystem. The meeting provided an opportunity to define protocols for more effective engagement, identify shared priorities and collaborative initiatives, and reinforce the Steering Committee’s role in guiding GFAiR’s strategic direction and future development.

Building Resilient Nutrition and Health Systems: Global Challenges and African Solutions

2-3 June 2026. Building Resilient Nutrition and Health Systems: Global Challenges and African Solutions - International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) and Federation of African Nutrition Societies (FANUS) Joint Webinar - but the registration is closed due to high demand

This webinar was part of the IUNS Regional Webinar Series, which brings together nutrition researchers, professionals, practitioners, and students interested in nutrition and policy at different stages of their careers to discuss important and emerging topics in nutrition. The previous webinar in this series has attracted more than 500 participants globally.

Day 1: Understanding the Nutrition Challenge

The first day focused on the changing burden of malnutrition in all its forms, including micronutrient deficiencies, obesity, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), as well as the broader food-system and health-system drivers behind these challenges. Sessions explore current evidence, emerging trends, and policy implications for Africa and other low- and middle-income regions.

Key speakers included:

• Hyun-Sook Kim International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) – Global nutrition leadership and international collaboration.
• Saskia Osendarp Micronutrient Forum – Micronutrient deficiencies and evidence-based interventions.
• Yunhee Kang Ewha Womans University, Republic of Korea – Maternal and child nutrition, food security, and large-scale nutrition programmes.
• Henda Jamoussi University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia and Rym Ben Othman National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, Tunisia. – Malnutrition, obesity, diabetes, and dietary transitions.
• Amos Laar University of Ghana School of Public Health – Food environments, ultra-processed foods, and NCDs in Africa.

Day 2: From Evidence to Action

The second day shifted to solutions and implementation, examining how nutrition and health systems can become more resilient through policy, programmes, food safety measures, and school feeding initiatives. Topics include ultra-processed foods, nutrition and cancer, food safety risks such as mycotoxins, and scaling school feeding programmes in African contexts.

The webinar was moderated by Dr. Robert Fungo (Makerere University, Uganda), Dr. Habiba Hassan-Wassef (IUNS), and Prof. Francis Bruno Zotor (FANUS and the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana).

Key speakers included:

• Jacques Delarue University of Brest, France – Nutrition, chronic disease prevention, and global nutrition policy.
• Alan Jackson University of Southampton, United Kingdom – Nutrition, health systems, and sustainable development.
• Sheila Okoth University of Nairobi, Kenya and Lindy Joy Rose – Food safety and mycotoxin risks.
• Kwadzanai Nyanungo FAO and Jacqueline Kung’u Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF) – School feeding, child nutrition, and food environments.
• Francois Stepman Global Forum for Agricultural Innovation and Research (GFAiR) – Partnerships, food systems, and innovation for nutrition resilience.

Power of Diversity Grants - Call for proposals

 29 May 2026. Power of Diversity Grants. 

The Power of Diversity Funding Facility is a multi-donor initiative managed by the Crop Trust, dedicated to conserving, cultivating and promoting the consumption of relatively neglected opportunity crops across Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean. The Funding Facility was established in 2025 with contributions by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through KfW Development Bank, and the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ireland.

The Call for Proposal and relevant documents can be downloaded here.

A virtual information session for interested applicants was held on 29 May. The presentation and 

recording can be found here.

Book Launch: My Food is African: Volume 2

26 May 2026. Webinar Book Launch: My Food is African: Volume 2

• This powerful new guide goes beyond what we eat. It looks at the systems shaping African food choices, including culture, policy, markets, corporate power, advertising, gender dynamics, and citizen action.

AFSA, Barefoot (2026).  My Food is African: Volume 2 — How Citizens Are Reclaiming African Food Systems.  158 p.

Through live story readings, reflections, dialogue, and audience participation, the launch brought the guide to life as a tool for organising, advocacy, public education, and movement-building across Africa.

Published in 2026 with support from SIDA under the Transforming African Food Systems to Sustainability (TAFS) Project, this Barefoot Guide is a landmark publication — collective in authorship, continental in scope, and uncompromising in its argument.

Written by over 35 individuals — farmers, journalists, researchers, market traders, chefs, activists, and civil society advocates from across 50 African countries — Volume 2 picks up where Volume 1 left off. While the first guide helped individuals and families understand how to eat more healthily, emphasising traditional foods, dishes, and diets, this second volume asks the harder, structural questions: Who controls what Africans eat? Who benefits? And what happens when ordinary people decide to change that?

What the Book Takes On

Across seven chapters, the guide maps the real forces shaping African food — and the real people fighting back.

1. The ultra-processed food crisis. Ultra-processed foods are flooding African communities, driving rising rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity, backed by corporate marketing budgets that dwarf anything civil society can match. The book examines this crisis honestly — including the difficult conversations with policymakers who are not villains but are, as one Ugandan permanent secretary put it, “trapped in a system they didn’t create.”
2. From practice to policy. In Nigeria, sustained advocacy brought corporate seed legislation under public scrutiny. In Senegal, an agroecological farmers’ network secured land for organic farming through local government engagement. In Kenya, Zambia, DR Congo, Cameroon, and Zimbabwe, the book follows an AFSA team across ten countries documenting where the campaign is producing real, measurable change — in schools, parliaments, markets, and kitchens.
3. From consumers to food citizens. In the DRC, twenty trained journalists produced hundreds of radio programmes reaching an estimated two million people, challenging corporate food narratives and reshaping media coverage. In Zambia, community radio turned ten free weekly slots into farmer networks and peer learning groups. In Cameroon, the Je Mange Camerounais movement made traditional food culturally trendy through restaurants, social media, and celebration.
4. African markets are our markets. From Mbare in Harare to Thiaroye in Dakar to Jedaida in Tunisia, the book makes a powerful case for Africa’s territorial markets — the informal, community-rooted spaces that feed the majority of African people — as the backbone of food sovereignty, not problems to be modernised away. These markets maintain food diversity, sustain women’s economic power, and underpin agroecological food systems. They deserve protection and investment, not criminalisation.
5. Advocacy in global spaces. The guide examines how African civil society is building capacity to engage the African Union, COP climate conferences, and the UN Committee on World Food Security — on African terms.
6. A Vision for 2045 — and Beyond. The book closes with a grounded, honest imagining of what African food systems could look like by 2045, structured around eleven pillars of food sovereignty in practice. It celebrates real victories and names real defeats. Its conclusion is neither triumphant nor defeated: “The question now isn’t whether food sovereignty is possible. We’ve demonstrated it is. The question is how fast we can scale.”

My Food is African: Volume 2 is available in English and French (Je Mange Africain: Volume 2). It is a guide for organising, advocacy, public education, and movement-building — for citizens, researchers, policymakers, educators, journalists, chefs, and everyone committed to African food sovereignty.

“When we say My Food is African, we’re reclaiming power over our bodies, our communities, and our future. This is about who we choose to be as a continent.”

📥 Download the guide:
My Food is African: Volume 2 — How Citizens Are Reclaiming African Food Systems

FCI4Africa Grant Application Open Call 1

FCI4Africa aims to enhance sustainable, fair, and healthy food systems within Africa, focusing on free and fair trade, Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) harmonization, and digitization in food systems, alongside promoting knowledge development through open science and digital platforms. In order to provide financial support to third parties activities, the Consortium will

launch two Open Calls for single applicants:

1. Open Call 1 (OC1) (CALL DEADLINE 30^th JUNE) addressed to research and technology stakeholders (start-ups, SMEs, research organisations, and other multidisciplinary actors) to test, validate and enhance the business concepts and tools of the project or develop ideas and tools or prepare data sets that contribute to project’s objectives, which can then be introduced to the market.
2. Open Call 2 (OC2) to innovation hubs in order to train use case partners, open call beneficiaries by providing mentoring and accelerating innovative business concepts, including social innovation and upscaling in view of African or European food business entrepreneurs and start-ups. The activities can be either virtual or in-person.

The 2 Open Calls will result in 12 sub-projects in total.

● Eight (8) sub-projects (max) will be selected for OC1 (total OC1 budget €400k – up to €50k for each third party)

● Four (4) sub-projects (max) will be selected for OC2 (total OC2 budget €200k – up to €50k for each third party

The following use cases will enable testing and co-development of climate-neutral, fair, and just food system innovations and business models in the real world.

1. Promoting a healthy, safe, and profitable food system through scaling proven food safety technologies: Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria
2. Deploying digital solutions for trade facilitation through compliance with integrated quality standards and non-tariff measures (NTMs): Kenya, Nigeria
3. Elaborate approaches to increase resilience of rural communities against shocks Senegal, Nigeria 

The Outlook for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Americas

2 June 2026. The report “The Outlook for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Americas 2025–2026: A Perspective on Latin America and the Caribbean” was officially launched by the three organizations that jointly produce the report: the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. 

The report focuses on sustainable agricultural productivity, resilient agrifood systems, rural development, and regional cooperation across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Main themes presented in the report

1. Sustainable and resilient agricultural productivity.
2. Food security and nutrition.
3. Rural development and territorial transformation.
4. Climate change adaptation and resilience.
5. Regional cooperation and integration.
6. Investment and innovation in agrifood systems.
7. Inclusive development for rural communities.

4th Africa Regional Food Systems Transformation Meeting

18–20 May 2026 in Accra, Ghana.

The 4th Africa Regional Food Systems Transformation Meeting brought together National Food Systems Convenors, governments, regional institutions, UN agencies, development partners, researchers, civil society, youth organizations, and the private sector. The meeting focused on accelerating implementation of national food systems transformation pathways following the adoption of the CAADP-Kampala Declaration and the outcomes of the UN Food Systems Summit +4 (UNFSS+4). Participants reviewed progress made since previous regional meetings, shared lessons from implementation, and identified opportunities for stronger collaboration, investment, and accountability across Africa.

A central theme throughout the meeting was moving from planning to delivery. Discussions emphasized improving governance, financing, monitoring systems, science and innovation, private-sector engagement, and youth leadership to transform African food systems into more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable systems. The meeting also sought to align national actions with continental frameworks such as Agenda 2063 and CAADP-Kampala, while strengthening regional cooperation to address common challenges including climate change, food insecurity, economic shocks, and unemployment.

1. High-Level Roundtable 1 Opportunities for Better Synergy Between National Pathways, Global and Continental Policy Frameworks

Purpose: To explore how national food systems transformation pathways can be aligned with continental frameworks such as CAADP and Agenda 2063, while ensuring that country priorities shape regional and global agendas.

• Clement Adjorlolo (Moderator) Principal Programme Officer, Agriculture and Rural Transformation, AUDA-NEPAD
• Mokganedi Mokopasetso National Food Systems Convenor, Botswana
• Leon Baïkoua National Food Systems Convenor, Central African Republic
• Chantal Ingabire Director General for Planning, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), Rwanda
• Victor Mbumwae National Food Systems Convenor, Zambia
• Lorenz Franken Institution Building Specialist, Committee on World Food Security

2. Panel Discussion How to Unlock Financing and Investment for Food Systems Transformation?

Purpose: To identify practical financing mechanisms and investment approaches that can accelerate implementation of food systems transformation pathways.

• Max von Bonsdorff (Moderator) Chief, Global and Multilateral Engagement, International Fund for Agricultural Development IFAD
• Arsene Bationo Private Sector and Grants Management & Compliance Expert, African Development Bank AFDB
• Athur (Arthur) Mabiso Lead Regional Economist, International Fund for Agricultural Development IFAD
• Gabriel Ferrero Senior Strategic Advisor, Global Agriculture and Food Security Program
• Zak Bleicher Senior Advisor and Global Coordinator, Agrifood Systems Accelerator
• Tobie Ondoa Manga Inspector General of Agricultural Development, Government of Cameroon
• Mohamed Abdi Yusuf National Food Systems Convenor, Somalia
• Chantal Ingabire Director General for Planning, MINAGRI, Rwanda

3. Roundtable: How Can the Private Sector Support Food Systems Transformation?

Purpose: To discuss how businesses can help drive innovation, investment, and scaling of food systems transformation initiatives.

• Carolin Busch (Moderator) Junior Professional Officer, UN Food Systems Coordination Hub
• Tolu Kweku Lacroix Executive Director, UN Global Compact Ghana
• Worlali Senyo Senior Vice President, Farmerline
• Anthony Selorm Morrison President and CEO, Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana
• Aleksa Mirkovic Project Administrator, United Nations Industrial Development Organization UNIDO

4. Panel: Strengthening Accountability in Food Systems Transformation

Purpose: To explore monitoring, reporting, and accountability mechanisms that can improve implementation and track progress toward food systems goals.

• Medhat Elhelepi (Moderator) Regional Coordinator for Africa, UN Food Systems Coordination Hub*
• Clement Adjorlolo Principal Programme Officer, AUDA-NEPAD
• Fatmata Lucia Seiwoh National Food Systems Convenor, Sierra Leone
• Thembani Malapela Knowledge Management Officer, UN Food Systems Coordination Hub
• Victor Mbumwae National Food Systems Convenor, Zambia
• Faisal Munkaila Director, Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana

5. High-Level Roundtable 2: Leveraging Science, Innovation and Data for Evidence-Based Food Systems Transformation in Africa

Purpose: To examine how science, research, innovation, and data systems can improve decision-making and accelerate food systems transformation.

• Günter Hemrich (Moderator) Strategic Lead, Food Systems Coordination, UN Food Systems Coordination Hub
• Abdulrazak Ibrahim Director, Research and Innovation (Food Systems), Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana
• Amira Abdelrahim Ali Mohammed Food Systems and Agricultural Policy Specialist, Sudan*
• Demba Sabally National Food Systems Convenor, The Gambia
• Roza Fachi Mbilizi Food Systems and Nutrition Expert, Malawi
• Samira Hotobah-During Executive Secretary and Director Alliance African Local Food and Nutrition Supply Chains 
• Richard Tweneboa Kodua Director, Science and Innovation, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ghana

6. Panel Discussion: How to Capitalize on the Youth Dividend and Promote Co-Leadership for Food Systems Transformation?

Purpose: To explore how young people can be empowered as leaders, innovators, and decision-makers in food systems transformation.

• Caesar Vulley (Moderator) Youth and Food Systems Advocate, Ghana
• Haroun Moussa (Opening Remarks) Technical Adviser on Youth and Skills Development, AUDA-NEPAD
• Delfina Hlashway (Keynote) Youth Food Systems Champion, Namibia
• Kefilwe Roba Moalosi Senior Nutrition and Food Safety Officer, AUDA-NEPAD
• Mirirai Tembo Youth Representative, Food Systems Movement, Zambia
• Fatmata Binta Founder and Executive Director, Community Agenda for Sustainable Development, Sierra Leone

Related:

 22 May 2026. Farmer cooperatives play a critical role in strengthening inclusive, resilient, and sustainable food systems by organizing smallholder producers and enhancing access to markets, finance, technology, and knowledge, while increasing farmers’ bargaining power and income security and supporting local value chain development. 

The session brought together practitioners, policymakers, development partners, and cooperative leaders to share practical experiences and lessons learned from cooperative-led initiatives, examine how cooperatives enhance smallholder inclusion in food systems, and identify policy, institutional, and investment pathways to strengthen cooperative models, as well as opportunities to scale cooperative-driven solutions across diverse contexts, ultimately generating actionable insights on how to effectively support cooperatives in accelerating food systems transformation at both national and global levels.

Biological Control, Biopesticides and Sustainable Food Systems in Afro-Eurasia

1 June 2026. Biological Control, Biopesticides and Sustainable Food Systems in Afro-Eurasia

Biological control and biopesticides are increasingly recognized as important tools for reducing dependence on synthetic pesticides, improving integrated pest management (IPM), supporting agroecological approaches, and enhancing compliance with residue-sensitive export markets. At the same time, adoption of bio-solutions remains uneven due to regulatory fragmentation, quality-control challenges, commercialization barriers, limited farmer awareness, and weak extension systems.

In response to these issues, regional and international organizations have intensified efforts to strengthen collaboration on biological control, sustainable pest management, regulatory harmonization, and knowledge exchange. One important initiative is the Asia-Pacific Biopesticide Community of Practice (ABCoP), established by the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI) in 2024 following the STDF-funded regional project on pesticide residue mitigation through promotion of biopesticides.

This webinar provide a platform for researchers, regulators, development organizations, private-sector actors, students, and policymakers to discuss emerging developments in biological control and bio-solutions in Africa and Asia. The webinar will also contribute to broader discussions on sustainable agriculture, regulatory systems, trade opportunities, innovation platforms, and farmer adoption pathways.

Speaker 1: Darshik Prasadani Senadheera, Dr. Ravi Khetarpal - Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI)

Advancing Biological Control and Adoption in the Asia-Pacific Region: Insights from the Asia-Pacific Biopesticide Community of Practice (ABCoP)

The presentation discussed regional efforts to strengthen biological control and biopesticide adoption in the Asia-Pacific region through the Asia-Pacific Biopesticide Community of Practice (ABCoP). It will examine experiences related to biological control, microbial biopesticides, integrated pest management, regulatory harmonization, commercialization, digital knowledge platforms, and sustainable pest management under tropical and subtropical agricultural systems.

The Asia-Pacific region faces increasing pressure to reduce pesticide residues, strengthen sustainable agricultural practices, and comply with evolving international trade standards, highlighting the growing importance of biological control and biopesticides. In response to these challenges, the Asia-Pacific Biopesticide Community of Practice (ABCoP) was launched by APAARI in May 2024 as a sustainability initiative emerging from the successful STDF-funded project, Asia Pesticide Residue Mitigation Through the Promotion of Biopesticides and Enhancement of Trade Opportunities, implemented by APAARI in partnership with AgAligned Global, USA, during 2020–2023.

The project established important foundations for promoting biopesticides in the Asia-Pacific region through the development of best practices and standardized protocols, while strengthening technical and functional capacities in maximum residue limit (MRL) data generation, biopesticide production, and regulatory harmonization among participating National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs). To sustain and expand these achievements, ABCoP was established as a regional knowledge-sharing and networking platform bringing together researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, government agencies, academia, private-sector stakeholders, and development partners. Supported by NPPOs, FAO, STDF, AARINENA, FARA, and other collaborators, the platform promotes regional cooperation, knowledge exchange, and sustainable pest management in the Asia-Pacific region.

The ABCoP 2024 and 2025 discussions primarily focused on biological control and biopesticide-related practices relevant to Asia-Pacific agroecosystems, including rice, horticultural, and diversified cropping systems. Key themes included classical biological control, microbial biological control, entomopathogenic biological control, integrated pest management (IPM), regulatory and policy aspects of biological control, commercialization and private-sector engagement, and digital knowledge platforms supporting biopesticide adoption. Discussions also addressed invasive pests, residue mitigation strategies, regulatory harmonization, and practical implementation challenges under tropical and subtropical agricultural conditions.

Emerging themes such as microbiome-based disease management, AI-supported biocontrol research, and digital bioprotection platforms further highlighted the evolving role of biological control in sustainable agriculture. ABCoP continues to serve as an inclusive regional platform supporting innovation, policy dialogue, capacity development, and multi-stakeholder collaboration for advancing environmentally responsible pest management and safe agricultural trade across the Asia-Pacific region.

Speaker 2: Stella Simiyu Wafukho - CropLife Africa & Middle East Region

Accelerating Registration Processes for Biopesticides & Biocontrol agents in Africa and the Middle East Region and BioCOPPA Index Process

The presentation addressed regulatory perspectives, private-sector engagement, and policy considerations shaping the development and adoption of biological crop-protection solutions in Africa and the Middle East. It will also include the BioCOPPA Index Process.

Background documents:

BioCOPPA Index Pilot Report.pdf (4 p)
The BioCOPPA Kenya pilot workshop successfully validated the relevance and applicability of the BioCOPPA Index in the Kenyan context.

ABCOP-2024-The-Rewind.pdf (18 p)
APAARI launched the Asia-Pacific Biopesticide Community of Practice (ABCoP) in May 2024, with the support of FAO, STDF, government agencies, private sector and international organizations such as AARINENA and FARA, to bring together stakeholders from the biopesticide sector, including industry leaders, researchers, policymakers, national representatives and other key actors.

ABCOP-2025-The-Rewinds.pdf (23 p)
The Asia-Pacific Biopesticide Community of Practice (ABCoP) builds on the momentum of 2024–25 as it moves into 2026, focusing on strengthening regulatory systems, accelerating adoption, and fostering an enabling innovation ecosystem for biologicals.

 

Upcoming:

10-11 June 2026. Biopesticides Europe 2026
Biopesticides Europe 2026 brings together the full biological crop protection value chain to focus on turning regulatory change, climate pressure and market demand into real, scalable opportunities for biologicals.