Biosolutions in Afro-Eurasian Agricultural Innovation Systems

 21 July 2026. The EFARD/GFAiR/CAAE webinar examined the institutional conditions required to scale biopesticides and biofertilizers across Africa, Asia, and Europe. Drawing on evidence from thirteen countries, the presentation demonstrated that successful adoption of biological agricultural inputs depends not only on their biological effectiveness but also on the strength of agricultural innovation systems.

The comparative analysis showed that countries possessing abundant biodiversity do not necessarily achieve successful commercialization. Instead, adoption is determined by coordinated investments in research, regulation, manufacturing, commercialization, extension services, and quality assurance.

The webinar emphasized that effective regulatory systems, functioning markets, strong public-private partnerships, and farmer confidence are essential prerequisites for scaling biological solutions. Experiences from Kenya, South Africa, Spain, the Netherlands, India, China, and other countries illustrate different pathways toward successful adoption as well as persistent institutional bottlenecks.

The webinar reinforced that the transition toward sustainable agriculture is fundamentally an institutional challenge rather than solely a technological one. While biological products have demonstrated considerable potential to improve agricultural sustainability, widespread adoption requires coordinated investments across research, regulation, commercialization, manufacturing, extension, and governance. The comparative evidence from Africa, Asia, and Europe shows that countries are unlikely to achieve successful scaling through isolated interventions. Instead, integrated agricultural innovation systems that align scientific research with policy, markets, and farmer needs provide the strongest foundation for sustainable adoption.

The discussion concluded that scaling biological inputs requires systemic institutional transformation rather than isolated technological innovation. Strengthening agricultural innovation systems is therefore central to achieving sustainable food systems while reducing dependence on synthetic agricultural inputs.

• Moderator Darshika Senadheera, Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI)
• Keynote Speaker Emmanuel Tetteh Jumpah, Executive Secretary, European Forum on Agricultural Research for Development (EFARD), Project Coordinator, Beyond BioPest Project, Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (HSWT), Germany

Highlights from the 10th FARA General Assembly and 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week

27–30 July 2026. Abuja, Nigeria. Agricultural researchers, policymakers, farmers' organizations, private-sector leaders and development partners gathered for the 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW9) and the 10th Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) General Assembly. 

Under the theme of Innovations and Partnerships for Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems in Africa, the conference programme addressed four interconnected sub-themes: emerging agricultural technologies and innovations; climate-resilient agrifood systems; nutrition, health and urban food systems; and enabling impact at scale through policies, financing, capacities, institutions and inclusion. 

The programme included 25 side events and eight parallel or related sessions, with a cumulative attendance of 1,791 across the tracked sessions. Side events recorded 1,044 attendances, while parallel and other sessions attracted 747. An additional 312 participants joined selected sessions online. The exhibition brought together 35 exhibitors, including 20 national agricultural research institutes and federal colleges and 15 international and regional organisations. 

• 
  See programme
• See flickr pictures
• Article: From the Trenches to Transformation: AASW9 Sets a New Course for Agricultural
  Science, Innovation and Partnership in Africa
• Article: AASW9 Calls for African-Led Financing, Scalable Innovation and Stronger Partnerships for Agrifood Systems Transformation

27 July

• Welcome Address: Dr. Adamu Abubakar Dabban, Executive Secretary, ARCN
• Opening Remarks: Dr. Aggrey Agumya, Executive Director, FARA
• Context Presentation: “The State of African Agri-food System: Harnessing Innovation and Partnership to Achieve CAADP-Kampala Targets”: Dr. Debisi Araba, Managing Director, Akademiya2063
• Ms. Bongiwe Njobe, Chairperson of the FARA Board of Directors
• Dr. Babafemi Oyewole, CEO, PAFO
• Dr. Baboucarr Manneh, Director General, AfricaRice
• Obai Khalifa, Deputy Director, GF Africa
• Dr. Abebe Haile-Gabriel, Assistant Director General, FAO-RAF
• HE Moses Vilakati, Commissioner, AUC-ARBE
• Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Honorable Minister of Federal Livestock Development
• Abubakar Kyari CON, Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Nigeria
• Keynote Paper: “Innovation and Partnerships for resilient and sustainable agrifood systems in Africa.” - Dr. Simeon Ehui, Director General, IITA

28 July

Overview of Science & Partnership for Agriculture Conference (SPAC)

• Dr. Irene Annor-Frempong, DRI Emeritus, FARA
• SPAC Study: “State of Agricultural Research in Africa, highlights of key trends, challenges, and opportunities.” - presented by Dr. Emmanuel Njukwe, DRI, CORAF

Panel Discussion: “Optimizing Agricultural Research to Deliver CAADP-Kampala Outcomes at the Country Level”

• 
  Facilitator: Dr. Sylvester Dickson Baguma, ExeD, ASARECA
  
• Prof. Paul Pinnock Bonsu, DG, CSIR-Ghana
• Dr. Dumisami Kutywayo Okuku, Chief Director, DRSS Zimbabwe
• Dr. Ahmed Elmekass, Director, AU-SAFGRAD
• Prof. Maher Elmaghraby, VP Production, ARC Egypt Africa
• Dr. Patrick Ketiem, DG, KALRO
• Dr. Namukolo Covic, Head, CGIAR Liaison Office for Africa

Soil Health Panel: “Interphase of Science and Private Sector Partnerships for Restoration of Africa’s degraded Soil”

• Prof. Jibrin Jibrin, SSSN
• Dr. Kennedy Were, KALRO
• Eng. Clement Asana, OCP Africa
• Dr. Mel Oluoch, Sasakawa Africa

29 July Nigeria day

1. Keynote Address I: “Nigeria’s story of Science and Technology” Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh SAN, Hon. Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology
2. Keynote Address II: “Advances in Marine and Blue Economy in Nigeria” Adegboyega Oyetola, Hon. Minister of Marine and Blue Economy
3. Keynote Address III: “Advancing Nigeria’s Livestock Industry. Pushing the technologies that matter” Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Hon. Minister of Federal Livestock Development
4. Keynote Address IV: “Progress on Agricultural Research in Nigeria. The change is here.” Senator Abubakar Kyari CON, Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security

30 July: 10th FARA General Assembly

• Opening Remarks by FARA Chairperson Mad. Bongiwe Njobe, Chairperson of the FARA Board of Directors
• Synthesis of Outcomes of the 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week Prof. Wole Fatunbi, Ag. DRI, FARA
• The Board’s Accountability report Mad. Bongiwe Njobe, Chairperson of the FARA Board of Directors
• Highlights of the FARA Secretariat’s achievements over July 2023 – July 2026 Dr. Aggrey Agumya, Executive Director, FARA
• Amendments to the Constitution and Governance Manual Mad. Elizabeth Nsimadala, Chairperson of the Nominations and Governance Committee of the FARA Board of Directors

Side events 

Advancing Agroecology in Africa: Knowledge Exchange and Emerging Researcher Engagement uunder the Kampala CAADP Framework

Organised by the three Agroecology Regional Multi-Actor Research Networks (RMRNs - comprising RMRNEA, RADIUS in West Africa, and RAENS in Southern Africa), FARA, the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) in the framework of the GIZ-led Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology in Africa (KCOA) and RAENS projects, the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC) and other relevant stakeholders.

Set up of the Agroecology Regional Multi-Actor Research Networks (RMRNs) in Africa:

• Continental: Dr. Kwaku Antwi, FARA
• East Africa: Dr. Frank Chidawanyika, ICIPE
• Southern Africa: Dr. Sedera Norotiana Rasambo, CCARDESA
• West Africa: Dr. Fructueuse Ouidoh Agbodjogbe, CORAF/UCAD

Presentation of 10 RMRN Agroecology Studies/Methodologies

• Moderator: Prof. Majaliwa Mwanjololo, RUFORUM
• Dr. Irene Kadzere, FiBL
• Mr. Markus Arbenz, FiBL
• Dr. Pascal Tillie, EU-JRC
• Dr. Felix Rembold, EU-JRC
• Dr. Florence Nakayiwa, RUFORUM

Scaling Agricultural Innovations in Africa Through Integrated Innovation Ecosystems: Transforming Agrifood Systems in Nigeria and Across Africa

For four decades, the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) has worked across Africa to bridge the gap

between agricultural research and farmer adoption through practical, farmer-centered approaches. 

Gender Equality in Food, Land and Water Systems: Evidence and Solutions for Urgent Action

Despite their central contributions, women continue to face structural barriers in accessing

land, finance, markets, technologies, information, and decision-making opportunities.

Beyond Productivity: Building Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Food Systems for Africa’s Future

Moving beyond productivity means placing equal emphasis on innovation, entrepreneurship, research translation, strategic partnerships, responsible resource management and evidence-informed policymaking. These interconnected pillars are essential for building agrifood systems that are economically competitive, environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive.

4th Biennial Africa Climate Smart Agriculture Stakeholders Conference

The central objective of 2026 Biennial CSA Stakeholders Conferences was to establish the current state of CSA in Africa and the imperatives for agroecology transition, biodiversity conservation, and soil health on the continent.

Small Insects, Big Returns: Making the Business Case for Sustainable Feed in East Africa.

Despite growing interest, the large-scale production of insects as feed remains constrained by limited

access to finance and limited investment in scaling beyond pilot projects. As with most agricultural

value chains, access to credit for small and medium enterprises involved in insect farming is limited,

as financial institutions often perceive insect farming as high-risk due to limited understanding of this

new agricultural commodity value chain.

Catalyzing Country Investments for the Implementation of the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health-Action Plan (AFSH-AP): Pathways to Bankable National Delivery

The central objective of this session was to develop practical, bankable pathways for African countries to invest in and implement SIA and AFSH-AP at scale.

• Designing Bankable Soil Health Investment Pathways in Africa Anthony Chapoto, ANAPRI
• Country Case Presentation “Practical Implementation Experiences & Financing Pathways”
• Panel Discussion “Financing models, institutional coordination, & scaling pathways”

Strengthening Agricultural Innovation Systems for Scaling Technologies in Africa

The Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) Programme, established by the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the Feed Africa Strategy, was designed to accelerate the deployment and scaling of proven agricultural technologies capable of transforming productivity, strengthening resilience, improving food and nutrition security, generating employment and reducing poverty.

Harnessing AI-Enabled Digital Agricultural Extension and Advisory Systems to Accelerate Africa’s Agricultural Transformation

This event showcased AI-enabled digital extension initiatives, including the Nigeria Public Private

Partnership AI-enabled Digital Advisory Platform (NPPP AI-DAP) and the AFAAS

AIEnabled Digital User Platform, as scalable models for Africa. 

• Keynote address — “The Future of AI-Enabled Extension and Advisory Systems in Africa”: Dr Godwin Atswer – Sasakawa Association Africa 

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) — How continental stakeholders coordinate on DPI solutions to reduce fragmentation and build toward scale and adoption. 

• National government — Ayodele Olawunmi, Director, Federal Dept of Agricultural Extension Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Nigeria 
• Digital innovation & agritech — Tajudeen Yahaya (CEO, Extension Africa); Dev Afrique; Aisha Hadejia (Sahel Consulting Partner) 
• Farmer organisations — Representatives from Nigeria and SSA countries, NIFAAS
• AI ethics & digital governance — Chika Oke (DOA Law); Representative, NITDA, Bashira Hassan (Africa Practice)

Youth for Nutrition in Inclusive Science and Innovation from Soil to Plate — A Live Food Innovation Lab 

Advancing the Kampala CAADP Agenda through Evidence Based Policy Research: Bridging Science, Policy and Implementation for Scaled Agricultural Transformation 

The Pan-African Network for Economic Analysis of Policies (PANAP) members, through the

StEPPFoS Project have undertaken a range of policy studies which address priority areas aligned with the evolving CAADP agenda. These priority areas include sciencepolicy interface, climate resilience, agricultural research financing, regional trade, and inclusive agrifood systems. These studies are aimed at supporting countries to domesticate the Kampala CAADP Strategies to achieve the Agenda 2063. 

1. Topic 1: Using political economy tools to shape regional agricultural policy: A Co-lab Approach Dr. Koen Dekeyser, ECDPM
2. Topic 2: Data-Driven Policy Insights for CAADP: Evaluating AfCFTA Effects on AgriFood Systems and Food Security in Côte d’Ivoire Dr. Souleymane Diallo, CIRES
3. Topic 3: Building Sustainable and Synergistic Evidence Informed Policy Ecosystems in East and West Africa: Addressing Alignment Gaps Between the CAADP and Ghana’s National Agricultural and Food System Policies (CSIR-STEPRI) Dr. Gordon Akon Yamga, CSIR-STEPRI

Panel Discussion: “Translating Evidence into Policy Action for Food System Transformation in Africa”

• Mr. Patrick Kojo Ofori, Deputy Director in Charge of M&E(Former) & Currently National Project Coordinator of PROSPER
• Prof. Joseph Kieyah, Deputy Director, KIPPRA
• Dr. Dora Siliya, Fmr. Minister of Agriculture, Zambia
• Dr Beatrice Egulu, Policy Officer, AUC-DREA
• Dr. Emmanuel Njukwe, Director of Research & Innovation, CORAF
• Dr. Moustapha GUEYE, Director General, ISRA

Abuja Roundtable: High-Level Ministerial Dialogue on Sustainable Financing for Agriculture
Research, Development and Innovation (AR4D)

The establishment of Nigeria’s National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) presents an important

opportunity to demonstrate how domestic financing mechanisms can support long-term agricultural

transformation.

Strengthening Gender-Responsive Agricultural Policy through the AWARD–GRASP Fellowship

The Gender Responsive Agriculture Systems Policy (GRASP) Fellowship, an initiative of the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) and supported by theUnited States Agency for International Development (USAID), aims to accelerate the development and implementation of gender-responsive agricultural policies across Africa.

Farmer Centered Action Research and Innovation

The Side Event on Farmer-centered Action Research and Development for Sustainable Food Systems Transitions in Africa was jointly convened by: 1. The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) 2. Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) in partnership with the Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology in Africa (KCOA) project 3. AGRICORD 4. Network of Organic Agriculture Researchers in Africa (NOARA)

• Participatory research in organic and agroecology – insights from Sustain Sahel and SysCom (Mother-BabyTrials) Dr. Harun Cicek and Dr. Milka Kiboi - FiBL 
• Applied research for biofertilizer applications/agroecology Patrick Mwizero – CAPAD (Burundi)

Panel:

• Moderated by AGRICORD Katja Vuori
• Action research in and commercialising of agroforestry Kastory Timbula (TTGAU - Tanzania) - FORI Project 
• Farmer Field Schools as innovation platforms on sustainable agriculture and farmer managed seed systems Community Technology Development Organization (CTDO) and MASAP Project, Zimbabwe 
• The policy environment on sustainable agri-food systems in Africa – enablers and inhibitors Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) 
• Action research and processing in agroecology – sunflower value chain Damian Sulumo/Frank Ademba - (MWIWAARUSHA-We Effect) – FORI Project 
• How to scale agroecology and organic messages through Multipliers – experiences from the KCOA project Khaoula Mokrani (KCOA-KHNA) (with insights from Francis Nsanga (KCOA-KHEA) and Georges TADJIOTIO NGOUGNI (KCOA-KHCA)
• Organic and agroecology data, statistics, and knowledge management – the African context Markus Arbenz – FiBL and KCOA; Jude Obi – Oyo University, Nigeria, and KCOAKHWA
• Implications of farmer-centred research approaches and outcomes to PAFO and AfrONet members – some reflections PAFO and AfrONet 

Soil Intelligence for Climate-Resilient Agrifood Systems in Africa: The Role of the African Union
Soil Observatory (AUSO)

FARA, together with African, European and International partners, is implementing the African Union Soil Observatory (AUSO) project under the Horizon Europe Mission Soil Programme fully funded by the European Commission. AUSO aims to establish a continental soil observatory and digital soil intelligence platform, including a soil health dashboard, to support harmonized soil information systems, strengthen evidence-based decision-making, improve soil health monitoring, and promote sustainable and climate-resilient agrifood systems across Africa.

Envisioning the future of Africa’s livestock and fish sectors for targeted policies and investments

Participants’ feedback on the future of the livestock and fish sectors in Africa will be collated as input into an Animal Source Foods-focused outlook report being prepared by the Policy Innovations science program of the CGIAR (https://www.cgiar.org/cgiar-research-portfolio-2025-2030/policy-innovations), in collaboration with the science program on Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods (https://www.cgiar.org/cgiar-research-portfolio-2025-2030/sustainable-animal-and-aquatic-foods). 

Empowering youth as catalysts for transformative agriculture through mentorship, digital innovation and cooperative governance

Regional Agricultural Innovation Systems in sub-Saharan Africa: Current Status, Gaps and Future Prospects 

Launch of the Youth in Agrifood Systems Performance Index (YAPI) 

Bringing Scientific Evidence to Policymakers to Support the Agroecological Transition of Food Systems in Africa: The Example of MoSAFS

The Modelling Pathways for a Sustainable and Agroecological Transition of Food Systems in Africa (MoSAFS) project supports the transition to agro-ecological, climate resilient food systems in Africa by providing data-rich models and a science-policy interface for decision-makers. The first phase (April 2025 – April 2026) identified existing foresight studies and highlighted the need for multi-scale analysis (farm level and country level), based on three case studies in Senegal, Kenya and Mozambique, which are at different stages of national agro-ecological vision development. 

• Kwaku Antwi FARA
• Astou Camara ISRA-BAME (Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles - Bureau d'analyses macro-économiques)
• Beatrice Egulu African Union
• Guy Faure CIRAD / DeSIRA LIFT+
• Lisa Fuchs Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
• Alex Mutungi Biovision Africa
• Martin Oulu ISFAA (Intersectoral Forum on Agrobiodiversity and Agroecology)
• Pascal Tillie Joint Research Centre – European Commission
  

Investing in Extension and Advisory Services for Climate and Agroecological Transitions in Africa 

In understanding the Agroecological transition responsive extension approaches (ATREA), the ATREA project identified successful agroecological transition responsive extension approaches that are user centric, and enhance smallholder’s participation in the agri-food system transformation. The CANALLS initiative for example, leverages this to demonstrate an integrated approach to promoting agroecological transitions in the humid tropics of Central and Eastern Africa through multi-actor transdisciplinary Agroecology Living Labs that facilitate co-creation, participatory research, innovation testing,capacity strengthening for the uptake of the agroecological practices and policy engagement. Similarly, the GPSAEP initiative has generated valuable experiences in strengthening community-based advisory systems, supporting farmer-led agroecological innovation, enhancing inclusive extension approaches, and building local capacities for sustainable food systems transformation.

Institutional diagnostic for System Change - IGNITE Approach for Gender and Nutrition 

This masterclass provided participants with practical insights into the use of Tanager's Organizational Diagnostic Handbooks and Assessment Tools. Rather than focusing solely on theory, the session demonstrated how organizations can assess their institutional readiness, identify capacity gaps, and develop actionable improvement plans.

Africa Strategy Stakeholder Consultation on the Draft CGIAR Africa Strategy 

With the goal of shaping a strategy that reflects Africa's priorities, strengthens partnerships, and delivers greater impact, the consultation provided an opportunity to collectively refine a strategy that strengthens African institutions, accelerates science-based innovation, and supports sustainable agrifood systems transformation on the continent.

Dr. Simeon Ehui (IITA Director General and CGIAR Africa Continental Director), Dr. Aggrey Agumya (FARA Executive Director), Dr. Were Omamo (IFPRI Africa Director), and Dr. Namukolo Covic (Head, CGIAR Liaison Office for Africa).

Unlocking the Power of Vegetatively Propagated Crops in Africa: Empirical lessons from the PROSSIVA project 

Vegetatively propagated crops such as cassava, banana, and yam are critically important to Africa

because they serve as staple foods for hundreds of millions of people, contributing significantly to food

and nutrition security. However, these crops continue to suffer a setback in their seed systems, thus making it difficult for producers to get disease-free planting materials of improved varieties in a reliable manner. 

Strengthening Foresight Systems for Africa's Agrifood Transformation 

How Will Africa Feed 2.5 Billion People by 2050? A Strategic Foresight Study on Structural Barriers, Leadership Choices and Transformation Pathways for Africa's Agrifood Systems.

Advancing the Organic and Agroecology Research Agenda for Africa (OARAA 2036): Building
Partnerships for Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems

The Network of Organic Agriculture Researchers in Africa (NOARA) initiated the development of the Organic and Agroecology Research Agenda for Africa (OARAA 2036) in 2019, with initial reflections having started from as far back as 2015.

he Network of Organic Agriculture Researchers in Africa (NOARA) is a pan-African, membershipbased network established by African organic agriculture researchers to coordinate and advance organic

and ecological agriculture research; it evolved from discussions among researchers in 2005, was

launched at the 2009 African Organic Conference in Kampala, strengthened through the 2012 African

Organic Conference in Lusaka, revived and reorganized by the African Organic Network (AfrONet) in

2019, and today operates through a continental governance structure comprising a Board of Trustees,

Governing Council, Continental Secretariat, and members drawn from researchers and other

stakeholders across Africa and beyond.

African Youth Position Statement on the Future of Africa’s Agrifood Systems 

2nd AUSO Annual Consortium Meeting/ General Assembly

The African Union Soil Observatory (AUSO) and its contribution to Africa’s soil health agenda.

Webinars and events August 2026

3 - 6 August 2026. Malaysia. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY 2026,

4 - 8 August 2026. Cotonou, Benin World Social Forum 2026

• After more than a decade, Africa welcomes the World Social Forum to Benin.
• This 17th edition of the WSF reflects a strategic reading of the dynamics of struggles, resistances and alternative proposals carried by West African communities.

7-8 August 2026. African Food Research & Innovation Conference, online

• The Role of Industry in Funding African Food Research Plenary
• Winning Research Funding: Strategies for African Food Researchers
• The Role of Banks and Investors in Funding African Food Research Plenary
• The Role of International and Multilateral Organisations
• The Role of Development Finance and Government-Backed Institutions
• The Role of Academia in Advancing African Food Research

10-13 August 2026. Burgas, Bulgaria14th International Conference on Agriculture & Food

25 - 26 August 2026. Leuven, KU Leuven. Plant-Based Fermented Foods for Healthier and More Sustainable Diets - Health Farm Final Conference

31 August - 3 September 2026, Kigali, Rwanda. Africa Food Systems Forum 2026 Summit

• 02/09 Crop Life / GFAiR side event: Growing the movement: Scaling Opportunity Crops through policy, partnerships and Investment

8-10 September 2026, Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE. Agra Middle East 2026 (AgraME 2026)

11-12 September 2026. Accra. Phenomics in Plant Breeding

• The International Plant Phenotyping Network (IPPN) is organizing a symposium in Accra – Ghana, incl a 2-day workshop for which participants can apply for full cover of travel, stay and symposium costs via this Novo Nordisk sponsored event: the Phenotyping Innovation Sprint

14-16 September 2026, Rome, Italy. Global Conference on Agriculture & Horticulture

16 to 18 September 2026 in Göttingen (Germany) and online. TROPENTAG

• under the theme 'Towards multi-functional agro-ecosystems promoting climate-resilient future'.
• The call for workshops was open until 3 May 2026. 

15-17 September 2026 – Lagos, Nigeria Africa Food Manufacturing Nigeria & Western Africa

22–25 September 2026. Nairobi (Kenya). Smart Agriculture: Innovation, Digital Transformation, and Trade for a Climate-Challenged Africa.

• The event invites papers and proposals on topics like climate-smart ag, agri-finance, digital tech, value chains, and gender/youth in agriculture - by African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).

24–25 September, Brussels. EU AgRI 2040 Conference “Future-proofing EU Agri-Food through research and innovation”
Registrations closes 3 July

October 2026. FAO’s World Food Forum (WFF) Youth Assembly

• This is a year-round platform for youth engagement in agrifood systems. It includes ongoing virtual and thematic consultations throughout the year and typically culminates in activities around the flagship World Food Forum event in October.

13 - 17 October 2026. The 11th Conference on Mushroom Biology and Mushroom Products

19–23 October 2026. FAO HQ, Rome, Italy. CFS 54th Plenary Session

19-30 October 2026. Seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity

27 October 2026, Addis Ababa. AU-EU High-Level Policy Dialogue on Science, Technology and Innovation

31 October 2026. International Conference on Agroforestry Systems for Climate Adaptation and Biodiversity (ICASCAAB-2026)

• Focuses on agroforestry systems, climate adaptation, and biodiversity — a platform for researchers and practitioners to share developments in the field.

17 – 20 November 2026. 1st Eastern Africa Indigenous Seed Conference - EA-ISC 2026

• Building farmer managed seed system community of practice (COP) For a Resilient EASTERN AFRICA Region.
• Catholic university of Eastern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya

25 November 2026. Bari, Italy. AU-EU Innovation fair - focus on food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture

25-27 November 2026. Santiago, Chile. XI CONGRESSO LATINOAMERICANO DE AGROECOLOGIA

30 November - 3 December 2026 RUFORUM’s 22nd AGM

• To be held in Zambia, hosted by the Government of Zambia and RUFORUM member universities in Zambia.
• This AGM edition offers Zambia, the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), the rest of Africa, and partners an opportunity to discuss current development opportunities and challenges, and to co-create roadmaps for delivering solutions

Validating the 2026–2030 CAADP-XP4–CGIAR & AUC Knowledge Management Partnership Framework for AR4D in Africa.

Join the hashtag#KM4AgD Community of Practice on Thursday, as we bring together policymakers, researchers, development partners, academia, and knowledge practitioners to validate the 2026–2030 hashtag#CAADPXP4–CGIAR & African Union Knowledge Management Framework for Agricultural Research for Development hashtag#AR4D in Africa.
This interactive session presents a unique opportunity to contribute to a continental framework that will strengthen collaboration, knowledge sharing, innovation, and evidence-informed decision-making in support of Africa's agricultural transformation agenda.
📅 23 July 2026
🕙 10:00–11:30 GMT
Kindly register via 🔗 https://bit.ly/4veWMKM
Be part of shaping the future of Knowledge Management for Agricultural Development in Africa.
hashtag#CAADP hashtag#KnowledgeManagement hashtag#AgricultureInnovation hashtag#AUC hashtag#FARA

Sustainable Gastronomy as a Pathway to Food Transformation in Africa

16 July 2026. The webinar "Sustainable Gastronomy as a Pathway to Food Transformation in Africa" was organized by the Leading African Women in Food Fellowship (LAWFF) Alumni Network. It explored how Africa's indigenous foods and culinary traditions can become catalysts for transforming the continent's food systems by improving nutrition, preserving biodiversity, strengthening food sovereignty, and creating new economic opportunities. Rather than focusing solely on food production, the discussion examined gastronomy as a bridge between agriculture, culture, entrepreneurship, and sustainability, arguing that traditional African foods should be repositioned as premium, innovative products that contribute to healthier diets and more resilient local economies.

The webinar emphasized that indigenous foods are central to Africa's future food security. Speakers

discussed how traditional crops and recipes embody generations of knowledge on climate adaptation, sustainable farming, and nutrition, yet remain underutilized in formal food systems. They explored the connections between biodiversity conservation, cultural heritage, and culinary innovation, highlighting the role of chefs, food entrepreneurs, researchers, and policymakers in increasing consumer demand for indigenous ingredients. Particular attention was given to the leadership of women and youth, who are developing new businesses, value-added food products, and culinary experiences that celebrate African food heritage while creating employment and market opportunities.

The webinar also positioned

sustainable gastronomy as a practical pathway for achieving broader food systems transformation. Participants discussed how reconnecting consumers with indigenous foods can shorten supply chains, strengthen local food economies, encourage agroecological production, and reduce dependence on imported staples. By integrating culinary heritage with innovation, education, and entrepreneurship, the webinar argued that Africa can build more inclusive, nutritious, and climate-resilient food systems while elevating indigenous foods from marginalized crops to symbols of identity, health, and sustainable development.

• Moderator: Mercy Olorunfemi – Project Manager, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).
• Million Belay AFSA
• Dr. Annie Trevenen-Jones – Lead Technical Consultant, Urban-Rural Alliances, C40 Cities; discussed the relationship between sustainable cities, local food systems, and indigenous foods.
• Jodi-Ann Palmer – Founder, The Food Design Agency; explored food design, consumer
  
  behaviour, and how gastronomy can drive innovation in African food systems.
• Chiamaka Nwakalor-Egemba – Executive Chef, Dish L'Afrique; shared practical experiences of incorporating indigenous African ingredients into contemporary cuisine and elevating African gastronomy.
• Host: Jacinta Mwau – Head of Programs, Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC).

Impact of large-scale food fortification programmes

8 July 2026. A webinar marked the public launch of the report "Financing Nutrition at Scale: Capital Market Strategies for Investors" and brought its findings to life through a combination of author presentations and practitioner perspectives from those who have designed or operated the very instruments the report features.

SUN (2026) Financing Nutrition at Scale: Capital Market Strategies for Investors 82 p.

Despite the compelling economics of nutrition investment, nutrition receives less than 0.4% of global official development assistance and remains almost invisible in capital markets. As of 2023, only two nutrition-labelled bonds had been issued globally, mobilising under $500 million — against $625.8 billion in green bonds issued in 2024 alone.

The publication addresses this gap directly. The report provides ESG and impact investors with practical pathways to integrate nutrition into existing climate, agrifood and health investment theses. It maps the financing landscape, examines eleven real-world case studies — spanning blended finance facilities, bonds, trust funds, guarantees and debt swaps — and proposes a series of technical and partnership recommendations.

Developed by the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement in coordination with ATNi under the Initiative on Climate Action and Nutrition (I-CAN), this publication provides Environmental, social and governance (ESG) investments, and impact investors with practical pathways to integrate nutrition into existing climate, agrifood and health investment theses

[NOTE GFAiR]: 

The report is highly relevant for Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) because it reframes nutrition as an investable outcome within sustainable food systems rather than solely a public health intervention. It provides a strong rationale for positioning NUS value chains as nutrition-positive investment opportunities capable of attracting both development and private finance, particularly for smallholder farmers and SMEs in emerging markets

• By promoting nutrition-sensitive investments across agriculture, climate resilience, value chains, SMEs, and food systems, it creates new financing opportunities for NUS, which are naturally rich in micronutrients, climate-resilient, and biodiversity-friendly. 
• The report calls for mobilizing private capital through Environmental, social and governance (ESG) investments, blended finance, nutrition-linked bonds, and impact investing, while emphasizing diversified food production, climate-smart agriculture, women's empowerment, and improved access to affordable, nutritious foods—all areas where NUS can deliver measurable nutrition, environmental, and livelihood benefits. 

page 8: Nutrition remains chronically underfunded, receiving less than 0.4 percent of global official development assistance (ODA). For impact investors and other investors using environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics, this underfunding represents both a challenge and an untapped market opportunity. While nutrition-related health costs exceed $4 trillion annually from overweight and obesity alone,3 and while undernutrition imposes severe productivity losses, private capital flows remain minimal.

Related:

16 July 2026. New research "Impact of large-scale food fortification programmes on micronutrient inadequacies and their implementation costs: a modelling analysis" published in The Lancet Global Health shows it's not only possible, it is achievable.

Large-scale food fortification currently prevents 7 billion nutrient gaps every year at just $0.18 per person. Yet micronutrient deficiencies still affect 1 in 2 preschool-aged children and 2 in 3 women of reproductive age worldwide with serious consequences for health, development, and economic potential.

Impact of large-scale food fortification programmes on micronutrient inadequacies and their implementation costs: a modelling analysis - Published in: The Lancet Global Health, Volume 14, Issue 5 (May 2026)

This landmark study provides the first global estimate of how existing and improved large-scale food fortification (LSFF) programmes affect micronutrient inadequacies worldwide and what they cost to implement. The authors integrated dietary intake data from 185 countries with information on national fortification programmes from the Global Fortification Data Exchange, modelling the effects of fortifying wheat flour, maize flour, rice, edible oil and salt across 13 essential micronutrients

Accelerating product development through AI prototyping

15 July 2026. Accelerating product development through AI prototyping.

Building successful AI products isn't just about having the right technology. It requires testing ideas early, involving users throughout the design process and validating concepts before investing significant time and resources in development. The CGIAR AI Hub webinar series, Grown by AI Design, explores practical approaches to designing AI products with users at the center.

• Download the presentation.
• Check the answers to the Q&A.
• Try the Genebanks AI prototype

In this second session, the CGIAR AI Hub Service Design team demonstrated how AI-powered prototyping can dramatically accelerate product development. Rather than spending weeks refining concepts through meetings and documentation, teams can quickly create realistic prototypes, gather feedback and iterate before writing production code.

The Genebank AI prototype is an AI-powered platform being developed under the CGIAR AI Hub and the CGIAR Genebanks Accelerator to make the world's largest public collections of crop genetic resources easier to search and use. 

• The prototype integrates genetic, genomic, phenotypic, trait, and passport data from CGIAR's 11 genebanks—holding more than 700,000 accessions of over 3,000 plant species—into a single intelligent discovery platform. 
• By applying artificial intelligence to databases such as Genesys, GRIN-Global, and GIGWA, it enables breeders, researchers, and genebank managers to rapidly identify germplasm with desired characteristics, such as drought tolerance, disease resistance, or nutritional traits, thereby reducing the time and effort required to find climate-resilient crop diversity for breeding and research. 
• The prototype is currently under development, with its first joint design phase launched in early 2026 as part of CGIAR's Digital Transformation Accelerator.

Speakers:

• Lina Yassin CGIAR AI Hub Director CGIAR Digital Transformation Accelerator 
• Mohamed Sassi AI Service Designer CGIAR Digital Transformation Accelerator 
• Arwa Manzoor UX & Product Designer CGIAR Digital Transformation Accelerator

NOTE (GFAiR)

No comprehensive, interactive online map dedicated to Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) across Africa is currently available. While several initiatives have produced valuable spatial datasets, crop suitability maps, or country-level inventories, these are generally static maps or project-specific visualizations rather than a continent-wide interactive platform.

A continental interactive NUS Africa Map could integrate:

1. distribution of indigenous and underutilized crops by country and agroecological zone;
2. ex situ collections (CGIAR genebanks, national genebanks, botanical gardens);
3. in situ production hotspots;
4. nutritional profiles;
5. climate suitability under current and future scenarios;
6. value chains, SMEs, and markets;
7. research organizations, universities, and seed systems; and
8. ongoing projects and Communities of Practice.

Such a platform could build upon existing datasets from Genesys, CGIAR Genebanks Accelerator, FAO-WIEWS, GBIF, Crop Wild Relatives, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, and national agricultural research systems, while adding an interactive visualization layer. 

It would fill a significant gap in the current NUS landscape and would complement initiatives such as the CGIAR Genebanks AI prototype by providing a user-friendly geographic entry point for researchers, policymakers, extension services, investors, and value-chain actors.

AI for Healthy Diets – Applying AI in agrifood systems

16 May 2026. This first webinar in the AI knowledge exchange series of the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development explored how artificial intelligence is applied in agrifood systems, highlighting a practical example from GAIN to improve nutrition outcomes.

Download concept note

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming agrifood systems, offering new opportunities to strengthen food security, improve nutrition, and support rural development. However, donors and development partners face challenges in translating this potential into practice, including ensuring responsible data governance, addressing inequalities in access, and identifying effective entry points for investment and collaboration.

• Michelle Tang, GDPRD Secretariat
• Alessandra Roversi, Programme Officer, Food Systems Section, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
• Ty Beal, Senior Technical Specialist and global nutrition scientist, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) - Brief overview of GAIN’s AI Strategy, Concrete case studies
• Mduduzi Mbuya, Director, Knowledge Leadership, GAIN - implications for donors

Forgotten Foods Gain Momentum in Global Indigenous Food Systems Debate

The global conversation on Indigenous Peoples' food systems is increasingly recognizing that Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) are far more than "forgotten crops"—they are fundamental building blocks of biodiversity, nutrition, cultural identity, and climate resilience. 

The draft HLPE-FSN Report #21 on Preserving, strengthening and promoting Indigenous Peoples' food and knowledge systems and traditional practices for sustainable food systems (101 p.) provides an important step forward by emphasizing the central role of Indigenous knowledge, territories, biodiversity and food sovereignty in transforming global food systems. The draft recognizes that Indigenous food systems offer diverse, nutritious and resilient alternatives to the narrow dependence on a handful of staple crops and highlights their potential to inform sustainable agricultural transformation.

While the draft acknowledges biodiversity and references underutilized crops in its bibliography, the
public consultation  15 May to 26 June 2026  (DEADLINE EXTENDED) demonstrates that many experts believe the report should place NUS at the heart of its policy recommendations rather than treating them as supporting examples. 

Several contributors argue that Indigenous food systems represent living reservoirs of neglected crops whose nutritional, ecological and cultural values remain largely invisible in mainstream agricultural policies. 

• One contributor specifically recommends that agroecology and Neglected and Under-utilized Species should be framed as a policy bridge between Indigenous Peoples' food systems and conventional food systems, drawing on the IFAD–Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT framework and the accompanying "How-to-Do" notes on NUS. 
• The comments also recommend referencing the IFAD Digital Toolbox on Sustainable and Indigenous Peoples' Food Systems and strengthening the report's discussion of urban Indigenous food sovereignty and intercultural education.
  

Other submissions reinforce this message from different regional perspectives. 

• Contributors from India highlight how Indigenous farming systems maintain exceptional agrobiodiversity while reducing dependence on external inputs and improving climate resilience. They recommend that the report include stronger evidence linking crop diversity, heirloom seeds, dietary diversity, women's nutrition, youth engagement and resilience indicators, demonstrating that Indigenous food systems provide practical solutions to today's food system challenges rather than simply preserving cultural heritage.

The consultation also broadens the discussion from production to nutrition. 

• One contribution recommends explicitly recognizing the contribution of traditional neglected crops with nutraceutical properties—such as chia, epazote and stevia—to healthier diets and preventive healthcare. 
• These examples illustrate how many Indigenous foods combine cultural significance with scientifically recognized nutritional benefits, reinforcing the report's objective of connecting Indigenous knowledge with modern food system transformation.

Taken together, the draft report and the consultation responses send a clear signal: future food systems will require far greater investment in Indigenous knowledge and forgotten crops. 

For initiatives such as GFAiR's Collective Action on Forgotten Foods, the consultation provides strong international validation for promoting NUS through research, education, value-chain development and policy dialogue. 

• Rather than remaining niche crops, Bambara groundnut, finger millet, African leafy vegetables and many other Indigenous species can become strategic assets for addressing climate adaptation, dietary diversity, rural livelihoods and biodiversity conservation. 
• The forthcoming final HLPE-FSN report therefore represents an important opportunity to elevate NUS from an underrepresented theme to a central pillar of global food system transformation.