Platform for African – European Partnership in Agricultural Research for Development

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

AR4D Funding Opportunities for Africa : November 2026

Agriculture Fisheries Forestry

Women in Agriculture Leadership Program Fellowship

2026-11-06

African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) invites African women agricultural scientists to apply for a 24-month, non-residential leadership fellowship combining mentoring, leadership development, and technical training. Free to apply, no fees. Eligible countries: Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. Applicants need a minimum Master's degree and at least seven years of professional experience, working in national research systems, ministries of agriculture, universities, or research institutions. The deadline is 06 November 2026.

World Food Day Poster Contest (Age 5-19)

2026-11-06

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FOA) calls on children and teens from all over the world (ages 5 to 19) to use their imagination and create a poster of their water action for food. "Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow." shows us how innovation can help feed the world, protect the planet, and build a better future for everyone. Winners will be promoted by FAO offices around the world and receive a surprise gift bag. Entries have to be submitted by 06 November 2026.

FoodTech 500

2026-11-15

FoodTech 500 showcases the latest developments from international startup and scaleup companies across the food supply chain. FoodTech companies gain recognition in the AgriFoodTech industry and get the opportunity to be a speaker or exhibitor at international gatherings, conferences, and meetups. All companies from the Food Tech (or ‘AgriFoodTech’) sector can apply. The application deadline is 15 November 2026.

Agroforestry Value Chains in Uganda

2026-11-18

The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) invites proposals for Trees 4 Karamoja, a 36-month project to restore forest and tree cover in five districts of Uganda's Karamoja region (Moroto, Napak, Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk and Amudat). The project develops regenerative agroforestry value chains that raise incomes for communities, especially women and youth. AICS will award one grant of €1.78 million, covering 100% of project costs, with no co-financing required. Only non-profit organisations on Italy's register of civil society organisations can lead an application. Each applicant must work with at least one local civil society organisation. The call and all application documents are in Italian. The deadline is 18 November 2026.


Biodiversity Conservation Wildlife

Small Grants for Community Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Projects

2026-11-02

UNEP invites community-based organisations and associations, civil society organisations, local and national NGOs, government institutions and regional not-for-profits that work directly with coastal and island communities in Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States. Grants are up to US$100 thousand each, for community-led projects to restore coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass meadows, to develop blue carbon and carbon finance that improves coastal livelihoods, or to empower women, youth and Indigenous peoples in ecosystem management. Applicants must commit significant co-financing in cash or in kind. The deadline is 02 November 2026.

Conservation Grant Program

2026-11-02

The Sequoia Park Zoo supports field research, habitat restoration, rescue and rehabilitation efforts, public awareness campaigns, and annual lecture series. The Zoo also offers an annual Conservation Grant Program, awarding up to US$3,000 per project, for work that delivers clear, measurable impact on wildlife or habitat conservation. Applicants must be affiliated with a conservation-related organization or an education institution. Pre-proposals can be submitted until 02 November 2026.

Virtual Workshops on 30x30 and Marine Protected Areas

2026-11-02

The Earth Journalism Network invites journalists, content creators and other media professionals in Ghana, Mexico and the Philippines to apply for free three-day virtual workshops on the global target to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 and on marine protected areas. The Ghana workshop runs the week of 15 February 2027, Mexico the week of 22 February and the Philippines the week of 1 March. The network will accept 30 to 40 participants per country, and attendees who complete all sessions receive a certificate. A limited number of communication grants are available to people with unstable internet in remote areas. Participants get special consideration for the network’s reporting grants of US$1,500 each, of which it aims to award up to 35. Applications close on 02 November 2026.

Conservation Grants 2027

2026-11-13

The Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden offers competitive small grants up to $2,500 supporting research, education, or species preservation efforts. In 2026, funding is restricted to projects involving invertebrate conservation or research, and grants go exclusively to early-career professionals — those currently in a graduate program (MSc, PhD, DVM) or who received a graduate degree no earlier than 2021. No more than 20% of funds may go toward travel, and salaries aren't covered except for locally hired support staff. The deadline is 13 November 2026.

Teaching Innovation Award

2026-11-15

The Insect Welfare Research Society (IWRS) offers Teaching Innovation Awards supporting instructors who develop new approaches to teaching insect or invertebrate biology. Two awards of US$2,000 each are available annually, funding the creation and implementation of instructional materials and pedagogical approaches. Priority goes to proposals addressing common teaching practices with substantial welfare implications. The next application deadline is 15 November 2026.

Bio-Acoustics Product Grants

2026-11-15

Wildlife Acoustics aims to advance animal biology research, habitat monitoring and environmental conservation through bio-acoustics recording technology. The Wildlife Acoustics Scientific Product Grant Program offers US$4 thousand of product-in-kind grants to biologists, researchers, conservationists, and students who work for charitable, educational, and other tax-exempt organizations. Wildlife Acoustics provides additional support (up to US$1,000) for travel to present findings. There are no geographical limitations. Applications are evaluated quarterly with deadlines on 15 May, 15 August, and 15 November 2026.

Ocean Storytelling Photography Grant

2026-11-15

The Save Our Seas Foundation invites early-career and emerging photographers to apply for its 2026 Ocean Storytelling Photography Grant, which supports conservation photo stories about the ocean. Two winners each receive US$2,000 in cash and a paid three-week assignment to photograph an SOSF-supported marine research or conservation project. Winners are mentored by National Geographic photographer Thomas Peschak and two former National Geographic and Washington Post photo editors. They also get a chance to show their work at an international conference or exhibition, and their story is published as a photo essay. Applicants must have no more than five years of experience in a photography-related discipline. The deadline is 15 November 2026.

Environmental Conservation Grants 2027

2026-11-16

The Japan Fund for Global Environment makes grants to non-profit organizations in Japan and developing countries for field projects in environmental conservation. Grants are for grass-roots projects and range from 500 thousand to 3 million JPY. Each non-Japanese applicant needs to have an agent in Japan to communicate and apply in the Japanese language on behalf of the applicant. The application deadline is 16 November 2026.

Micro-Grants for Innovative Environmental Projects

2026-11-27

The Awesome Foundation invites individuals and small teams worldwide to apply for micro-grants. It backs innovative projects on wildlife conservation, habitat protection, climate change, ecotourism or environmental communication, especially ones that haven’t been done before or are done in a unique way. The chapter looks for projects where a grant of US$1,000 or less is the difference between happening and not happening. The next deadline is 27 November 2026.

Small Grants for Natural History and Environmental Work

2026-11-30

The Alice McCosh Trust awards one-off grants of around £1,000 to advance education in natural history and the environment. Grants can cover fieldwork for a research project or the cost of producing materials that increase understanding of the environment or encourage people to protect it. Individuals of any age and nationality can apply. The application deadline is 30 November each year.

International Terre des Femmes Award

2026-11-30

The Yves Rocher Foundation invites applications for the International Terre de Femmes Award to honor women for their achievements in environmental awareness, conservation, and solidarity. This year, the Foundation invites applications from women committed to concrete initiatives that put trees at the heart of cities. Examples include urban tree education projects, community orchards and forest gardens, protecting heritage trees, urban tree nurseries for native species, and re-greening dense or built-up areas. Two winners worldwide each receive a €10,000 grant for their project. The international award is open to women worldwide involved in a project that helps to protect the environment through a non-profit organization. The closing date for applications is 30 November 2026.

TROPIMUNDO Masters Program in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems 2025-2026

2026-11-30

TROPIMUNDO is a 2-year Erasmus Mundus master’s program in tropical biodiversity and ecosystems. Students alternate their semesters between consortium universities in Europe (Belgium, France, Italy) and tropical regions outside Europe (Australia, Cameroon, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Malaysia). Applicants should have an internationally accepted bachelor’s degree in biology, natural sciences, environmental sciences, or equivalent. The EC provides a certain number of scholarships for EU and non-EU students. The deadline for applications (for scholarship seekers or self-funded applicants) is 30 November 2026.

Ornithology Research

2026-11-30

The Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund supports ornithological research anywhere in the world. Chapman Research Grants are small short-term awards for research that are available to graduate students for expenses associated with projects primarily focused on the systematics and evolutionary biology of birds. Most grants range from US$1,000-US$3,500. The application deadline is 30 November 2026.


Crosscutting

Young Scientists Awards

2026-11-01

Bennington College offers cash prizes for work on the natural world by students in grades 9 to 12 worldwide: US$2,000 for first place, US$1,000 for second, US$500 for third, and US$250 for distinguished entries. Each student may submit one work, such as a scientific illustration, a field guide to local plants, animals or geology, a research poster or a process diagram, with an optional written explanation of up to 500 words. Winners and finalists who later enroll at Bennington also receive tuition scholarships. Submissions are open until 01 November 2026.

Local Letters for Global Change

2026-11-01

Local Letters for Global Change is a Pulitzer Center writing contest for students. Students are encouraged to write a letter to a local elected representative that explains the global issue they want them to prioritize (e.g., Climate and Environment), shows how it connects to their local community and proposes a solution. The Pulitzer Center welcomes entries from all current K-12 students across the globe. First-place winners will receive US$300 to support global community engagement. Educators working with groups of 50 or more students can also schedule a free, virtual workshop facilitated by a member of the Pulitzer Center Education team. The application deadline is 01 November 2026.

Funding for Social Ventures

2026-11-02

The 100x Impact Accelerator selects social ventures that can scale proven solutions to reach hundreds of millions of people. Each selected venture receives £150 thousand in catalytic funding, a long-term partnership that begins with a tailored 16-week program on funding strategy. Ventures can be for-profit or non-profit and based anywhere, and must show evidence that their solution works, a distinctive model and a credible path to mass adoption. They work in one of eight impact areas, including climate and environment. Applications are open until 02 November 2026.

Global Scholars

2026-11-04

The CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars program provides funding, skills training, mentorship, and opportunities for research collaboration. CIFAR invites early-career researchers pursuing the most exciting and important research questions across the natural, biomedical and social sciences and the humanities to join an interdisciplinary research program. As part of the program, scholars receive C$100 thousand in unrestricted research support over two years. To be eligible for this program, applicants must hold a PhD (or equivalent) and be within the first five years of starting a full-time research position at an institution of higher education or research. The deadline for applications is 04 November 2026.

Funding for Women in PhD and Postdoctoral Studies

2026-11-07

Schlumberger Foundation's 'Faculty of the Future' supports women in developing and emerging economies in pursuing PhD and postdoctoral studies at the international level. Grants are in the physical sciences, engineering, and related fields -- including past grants in subjects such as ecology and environment. Grants can be up to US$50 thousand per year for PhD courses and a maximum of US$40 thousand for post-doc research programs. The deadline to submit new applications is 07 November 2026.

Anzisha Prize for Young Innovators

2026-11-10

The Anzisha Prize seeks young innovators ages 15-22 in Africa who develop and implement innovative solutions to challenges facing their communities. Past awards include innovations in energy, agriculture, and ecological consumer products. The grand prize winners will share prizes worth US$140 thousand. Applicants must be nationals of an African country with a business based in Africa for African customers/beneficiaries. The next application closes on 10 November 2026.

Mentorship for Emerging Leaders

2026-11-11

The Dalai Lama Fellowship offers emerging leaders from all around the world mentorship and coaching to design and implement their own original field projects addressing a global challenge. Project areas include environmental sustainability, among others. The fellowship does not offer funding for projects, instead, it offers coaching and a global community. This program is open to next-generation leaders (20-35 years old). The deadline for applications is 11 November 2026.

Poster Contest

2026-11-15

The International Compost Awareness Week Committee invites submissions for its annual poster contest. This year’s theme is "All Paths Lead to Compost". The winning poster will serve as the promotional piece of the 2026 International Compost Awareness Week and the winner will receive US$500. The contest is open to anyone from 9th grade (age 14) or older from anywhere in the world. The deadline is 15 November 2026.

Youth Leadership Program

2026-11-15

The Knowles Educational and Charitable Trust for International Leadership (Kectil) Program is a one-year web-based mentoring program in youth leadership. The program consists of multiple-week modules with assignments to address issues facing youth globally. Youth (aged 17-26) from developing countries are eligible to apply. The deadline is 15 November 2026.

Prizes for Energy and Environmental Science

2026-11-20

The 2027 Eni Award includes two prizes relevant to environmental research. The Advanced Environmental Solutions Prize gives one indivisible €200,000 award to a researcher or a pair of joint main authors with internationally significant results from the past ten years in environmental stewardship, such as biodiversity and habitat protection, nature-based solutions, ecosystem restoration, remediation, water stewardship, air quality or sustainable use of natural resources. The Young Talents from Africa Prize gives two African PhD students €25,000 each for research in energy and environment such as renewables, decarbonisation, circular economy, water treatment, biodiversity, nature-based solutions or sustainable agriculture. For both prizes, the deadline is 20 November 2026.

Leadership Fellowships

2026-11-20

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation invites young African professionals, mid-career and new executives to apply for a 12-month fellowship working in the executive office of the African Development Bank, the UN Economic Commission for Africa, or the International Trade Centre, with a stipend of $100,000, direct mentorship from the host organisation's head, and lifelong membership in the Foundation's Now Generation Network. Applicants must be African nationals with at least 7 years of relevant work experience, a master's degree, and be under 40, or under 45 for women with children. Each host institution runs its own separate application process. The deadline is 20 November 2026.

Youth Ecopreneur Program

2026-11-22

The Youth Ecopreneur Program welcomes young entrepreneurs to submit their green business initiatives. The program includes a global boot camp, and accelerator phase, and concludes with the celebrated Youth Ecopreneur Awards. The winner of the Youth Ecopreneur Award receives US$10 thousand in prize money. Applicants must be under the age of 35 and lead businesses that promote land restoration, sustainability, circularity, and/or the green economy. Applications close on 22 November 2026.

Research Professorships in Least-Developed Countries

2026-11-23

TWAS funds selected TWAS members to assist with building research capacity in the least-developed countries (LDCs). During a period of five years, each funded professor will be expected to make three visits to a host institution in a partner LDC, for a minimum stay of one month each visit. TWAS will provide travel support while living expenses are covered by the host institution. Requests need to be submitted by research groups and scientific institutions in the LDCs. The application deadline is 23 November 2026.

Visiting Expert Program

2026-11-23

The TWAS Visiting Expert Programme supports visits of internationally renowned scientists to research institutions located in developing countries, especially least-developed countries. Only persons who have attained international recognition in their fields of science will be considered for support. Nominations of women are particularly welcome. Applications are made jointly by the host institution in the developing country and the visiting expert. The deadline for applications is 23 November 2026.

Awards for Young Scientists in STEM

2026-11-30

UNESCO awards US$50 thousand to each of five laureates, one from each world region (Africa, the Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and North America, and Latin America and the Caribbean), in recognition of young scientists under 40 whose work in STEM research, STEM education and innovation, or international cooperation advances the Sustainable Development Goals. Applications and nominations are submitted in English or French through the prize portal by 30 November 2026.

Prize for Young Scientists

2026-11-30

UNESCO invites nominations for the third edition of the UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize for the Promotion of Young Scientists in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The prize recognizes five outstanding young researchers from any country who have made significant contributions to STEM education, research, or international cooperation. Eligible nominees must be under 40 years of age at the time of nomination and must be put forward by official nominators, such as national commissions, academic institutions, or international organizations. Each of the five laureates receives a cash award of US$50 thousand alongside a diploma and a medal. The deadline for nominations is 30 November 2026.

Research in Community Forestry 2026

2026-11-30

The John G. Bene Fellowship is awarded to graduate students at Canadian universities who hold Canadian citizenship or permanent residency. The grant is for research on the relationship between forest resources and the social, economic, cultural, and environmental welfare of people in developing countries. Therefore, the student must spend a minimum of 10 consecutive weeks in the field in the following regions: Middle East, North Africa, West Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Far Eastern Asia, Caribbean, Central America, South America, or Oceania. The award covers field research expenses up to CA$30 thousand per year. The deadline for submitting applications has been extended to 30 November 2026.

Thursday, October 22, 2026

10th AFRICAN DIASPORA AGROFOOD FORUM



23-24 October 2026. ADAF26 - 10th AFRICAN DIASPORA AGROFOOD FORUM - REIMAGINING REMITTANCES Mobilizing Diaspora Wealth for Food Systems Transformation. 

OFFICIAL OPENING :  

  • Moderator Paddy Siyanga Knudsen - African Non-state Actors Platform on Migration & Development 
  • Welcome remarks from Food Bridge vzw  - Dr. Maureen Duru, Founder The Food Bridge vzw 

Opening Remarks 

  • Mr.  Rob de Lobel — Head of Labour
    Mobility Unit, International Organization for Migration (IOM), Belgium and Luxembourg 
  • Mr. Raschad Al- Khafaji — Director, FAO Liaison Office with the European Union and Belgium.
  • His Excellency, Dr Adebayo Emmanuel Adeyemi— Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Kingdom of Belgium. 
  • Keynote Speech: His Excellency Henry Tachie-Menson, Ambassador of Ghana to the Kingdom of Belgium 

High - level Panel Discussion 

  • Mauro Martini, Senior Technical Specialist - Remittances, Migration and Development at the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) 
  • Francois Stepman, Advisor Global Forum on Agricultural Innovation and Research  
  • Esther M. Mbidi, Founder- Credassur Group Europe  
  • Latifa Ait-Baala, Member of Brussels Parliament 

PANEL 1  African Diaspora Entrepreneurs: Building the Future of Africa's Food Systems 

Diaspora entrepreneurs are creating businesses, introducing African products to new markets, investing in processing and agriculture, and connecting African producers to international consumers. 

Central question: What will it take for African diaspora entrepreneurs to move from individual business success to becoming major drivers of Africa's food systems transformation? 
  • Nana Adjoa Sifa Amponsah, Founder, Guzakuza & WiFAI Global United Kingdom 
  • Nvenakeng Suzanne Awung, Deputy CEO Suzy-Farms Ltd Cameroon 
  • Kamogelo Thumankwe, Founder & CEO, Tsarona Germany 
  • Ana Tavares, AECV France


SPECIAL PRESENTATION - Launch of the 2026 Compendium of African Diaspora Agrofood Entrepreneurs  

Official presentation highlighting entrepreneurs, innovations, businesses and emerging opportunities across the diaspora agrofood ecosystem. 


Special African Diaspora Agrofood Entrepreneur Award 

Recognition of an outstanding African diaspora entrepreneur demonstrating innovation, impact, entrepreneurship and contribution to African food systems. 


PANEL 2 - INVESTMENT & FINANCE 

From Remittances to Investment: Mobilizing
Diaspora Capital for Africa's Agrofood Growth Central question: What will it take to move diaspora capital from remittances and savings into investable, scalable and profitable African agrofood enterprises? 
  • Ayele Sikavi Gabiam, Co-founder & Director of partnerships LadyAgri Impact Investment Hub Belgium 
  • Jaona Ravaloson, Partner Arborenscence Capital France 
  • Kizito Odhiambo, Founder & CEO agriBORA , Germany 
  • Giulia Castro, Project Coordinator, Migration Team, FAO-Headquarters Rome Italy
  • Moderator: Fridah Ntarangwi- Co founder, ZidiCircle 

10 Years of Building Diaspora Agrofood

Bridges: Moving from Community Initiatives to Global Agrofood Ecosystem 

A retrospective and forward-looking conversation about diaspora entrepreneurship ecosystem, marking the 10th edition of ADAF. 

24/10 INNOVATION WORKSHOP & PRODUCT SHOWCASE 

Taste the Future: From African Crop to Global

Product; Reinventing Indigenous African Foods - By Collective Action on Forgotten Foods 

DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS' ROUNDTABLE 

Beyond Remittances: Rethinking the Role of
Development Agencies in Diaspora-Led Agrofood 
Projects. Central question: How can development agencies move from engaging diasporas primarily as remittance senders to partnering with them as development actors, investors, entrepreneurs, innovators and market connectors? 

CLOSING SESSION 

From Conversation to Action: Building the Diaspora Agrofood Investment Ecosystem. Representatives from the workshops briefly present 3-5 actions or recommendations emerging from their sessions. Closing remarks, acknowledgements, partner recognition and announcement of next steps.

Borlaug Dialogue 2026: African Indigenous Crops Take Global Stage

20–22 October 2026
| Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The 2026 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, organized by the World Food Prize Foundation, marked the 40th anniversary of the World Food Prize. Under the theme “Before Hunger Wins,” the conference brought together more than 1,200 participants from over 65 countries, including policymakers, agricultural scientists, farmers, development organizations, private-sector leaders and young innovators.

The Dialogue examined how agricultural research, technological innovation, sustainable farming practices, international cooperation and investment could address hunger, climate change, conflict and food insecurity. The programme featured Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai, 1994 World Food Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus, Tanzanian Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, Rockefeller Foundation President Rajiv Shah and representatives of leading African agricultural institutions.

Tuesday, 20 October – Farmers, natural resources and global food security


The opening day recognized Pamela Afokpe, a plant breeder from Benin, Product Development Specialist, East-West Seed International and recipient of the 2026 Norman E. Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application. African Indigenous Crops Take Global Stage as she wins the Prestigious 2026 Borlaug Field Award.

Afokpe’s work directly exemplifies the core mission of the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) initiative, a global partnership led by the U.S. State Department, the FAO, and the African Union that champions “opportunity crops” as essential to climate-resilient nutrition and soil health.

See her acceptance of the award @12:37





Opening keynote – Finding the Next Norman E. Borlaug

  • Martin Sheen – Actor and activist; opening keynote speaker.


What If Her Harvest Changes Everything?


The panel highlighted the contributions of women farmers to agricultural transformation, coinciding with the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
  • Facilitator: Daphne Ewing-Chow | Senior Contributor, Forbes
  • Jana Gäbert | Farmer from Germany | Member, Global Farmer Network and Managing Director for Livestock and Grassland, Agrargenossenschaft Trebbin eG
  • April Hemmes | Farmer from United States | Owner-Operator, Hemmes Farms
  • Nelius Kariuki | Farmer from Kenya | Director, Kenya Vineyards
  • Josselyn Veronica Vega Rojas | Farmer from Ecuador | 2026 Top Agri-food Pioneer and Coordinator, Association of Agroecological Producers of Cotopaxi



What If the Land Stops Giving?


The discussion explored the restoration of agricultural landscapes, soil health, regenerative farming and the future of sustainable food production.
  • Nick Offerman – Actor, author and advocate for sustainable land stewardship.
  • Mary Berry – Executive Director, The Berry Center.
  • Robert Montgomery – Professor and researcher.
  • James Rebanks – Farmer, writer and advocate for regenerative farming.


When Food Is On The Line, Who Draws It?

The session addressed the disruption of food systems by conflict and emphasized the importance of agricultural development, fertilizer access and international cooperation.
  • Facilitator: Cary Fowler | 2024 World Food Prize Laureate and President, Food Security Leadership Council
  • David Beckmann | 2010 World Food Prize Laureate and Coordinator, Circle of Protection
  • Henk van Duijn | President and Chief Executive Officer, International Fertilizer Development Center
  • Purvi Mehta | Member, World Food Prize Foundation Council of Advisors
  • Michael Werz | Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations

What Do We Owe the Next Harvest?

  • Tom Vilsack – CEO, World Food Prize Foundation.
  • Laura Turner Seydel – Chair, Turner Foundation.


What If the Water Runs Out?

This session examined water scarcity and agricultural resilience.
  • Facilitator: Travis Frey | Chief Technology Officer, Pivot Bio 
  • Surinder Makhija | Senior Vice President, Jain Irrigation Systems 
  • Edgar Sandoval | President and Chief Executive Officer, World Vision
  • Amit Trikha | Vice President, Global Sustainability Partnerships & Strategy, Bayer AG

Wednesday 21 October: Main sessions and speakers


When Does a Voice Become a Movement?
  • Speaker: Malala Yousafzai.
  • The keynote connected the role of leadership and public mobilisation with the broader challenge of securing a better future for the next generation.
Global leadership and food-system transformation
  • Featured speaker: Princess Tatjana of Liechtenstein.
  • Her participation was part of the high-level dialogue on mobilising leadership, investment and partnerships to address global food insecurity. 
Inclusive development and innovative approaches
  • Featured speaker: Muhammad Yunus.
  • Yunus is among the headline participants announced for the 2026 Dialogue. His participation brought a social-enterprise and inclusive-development perspective; the exact 21 October session details require confirmation


Beyond Irrigation: The Growing Agenda for Agricultural Water and Better Health


How to meet farmers’ irrigation needs while protecting shared water resources and public health. Co-hosted by IFPRI and University of Nebraska institutions.
  • Claudia Ringler — IFPRI
  • Shibani Ghosh
  • Ian Moore
  • Jesse Bell
  • Kyle Davis

Addressing Global Hunger and Food Security: A Time to Adopt New Paradigms

Rethinking approaches to global hunger and food security, including the need for new policy and development approaches.
  • John M. Ulimwengu — Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI.


Dawn of a New Era: How Sequencing Crop Genomes Can Usher Agriculture’s Next Great Leap Forward

A proposed major investment in sequencing the genetic material held in crop germplasm collections. The goal is to accelerate breeding, strengthen agricultural supply chains and improve farmer profitability, food security and nutrition.
  • Judy Chambers, Director – Program for Biosafety Systems, IFPRI


Iowa Master Farmer panel

A farmer-led discussion on agricultural practice, land stewardship and the contribution of experienced farmers to food production. The event also marks the centennial of the Iowa Master Farmer award.
  • Steve Berger — Iowa Master Farmer
  • Jeff Jorgenson — Iowa Master Farmer
  • Larry Buss — Iowa Master Farmer
  • Kirk Leeds — CEO, Iowa Soybean Association; facilitator

Broken by design? Rewiring investment & partnership models for research and innovation

15 October 2026. The panel discussion, “Broken by Design? Rewiring Investmentand Partnership Models for Research and Innovation,” was moderated by Prof. Charles Spillane, Chief Scientist of FAO, and included Joanna Kane-Potaka, Executive Secretary of the Global Forum on Agricultural Innovation and Research (GFAiR).

Charles Spillane framed the discussion around a fundamental paradox: agricultural research and development (R&D) generates exceptionally high economic returns, estimated at approximately 16% annually, yet public investment growth has slowed and research intensity remains stagnant in many low- and middle-income countries.

He challenged the panelists to consider four interconnected questions:
  1. How much should be invested? Why does agricultural R&D remain underfunded despite its demonstrated returns?
  2. Which financing instruments and partnerships work best? How can development finance, philanthropy, private investment and innovative funding models be mobilised?
  3. How should research funding be allocated and spent? Are short-term projects, competitive grants and conventional institutional arrangements delivering sufficient impact?
  4. Who decides what is researched? How can farmers, national research systems and underrepresented stakeholders gain greater influence over research priorities and investment decisions?
The responses revealed that transforming agricultural research requires more than mobilising additional resources. It also demands changes in incentives, institutional capacities, accountability and the distribution of power.

MAIN STATEMENT by Joanna Kane-Potaka:

Meeting agricultural R&D investment targets requires not only increased and better- tracked funding, but also equitable partnerships, stronger national research capacity, meaningful participation of farmers, women and young people, and greater transparency and accountability in decision-making to ensure local leadership and equitable research priorities.

Full transcript:


Many of us are aware of the pledges and calls for greater investment in agricultural research and innovation. The problem is that there is a long list of pledges and calls, stretching back decades. These include countries’ own investment targets and official development assistance (ODA) targets. To name a few, there have been the 2003 Maputo Declaration, the Malabo Declaration, African Union strategies, G20 calls, the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, and the Kampala CAADP Declaration in 2025. The UN has also had longstanding targets. Most of these targets have not been met. Many are broken promises. 

I am supposed to talk about money today, but I cannot help raising something that may be as important as the amount of money spent: the way we work. Reaching the targets will not have the desired impact if our approach is wrong. Are we delivering through equitable partnerships? Is innovation locally led? Are national systems and capacities being strengthened enough to deliver and lead? Have we moved from consulting stakeholders to forming genuine partnerships with them? Are all relevant stakeholders at the table? Are farmers at the centre? Are women and young people included? Ultimately, this is about power—and being prepared to shift it. Whoever controls the money has the opportunity to exert greater influence. They can determine even which research questions are answered. Are we measuring whether partnerships are equitable and leadership is local? Are we tracking who holds decision-making power? 

At present, not adequately. There have been not only quantitative investment targets, but also commitments about how we work. These include the Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations; the 2010 GCARD Road Map, which focused on equitable partnerships and locally led decision-making; the OECD’s 2011 Busan Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation, which emphasised country ownership, information-sharing and shared responsibilities; and the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, which called for country-led transformation, inclusive national pathways, multi-stakeholder participation and better-coordinated investment in science and innovation. The Kampala declaration also emphasises strengthening national capacities. 

We are not there yet. There are broken promises in these qualitative areas, too. So what should we do to support equitable partnerships and local leadership? We need to create an enabling environment in which these approaches can work in practice. We need better methodologies. Funders represented here today need to consider how their methods can support this shift. International organisations and governments also have a role. Do we have key performance indicators (KPIs) for this? Not adequately. We also need more evidence that these approaches lead to greater and more sustainable impact. 

I will finish with two recommendations. 
  1. First, track the money and the commitments more accurately and transparently. We should also track power and decision-making. Some financial tracking already exists, and some commitment tracking is under way, but tracking who holds power is largely missing. This would be a bold and necessary step. 
  2. Second, connect quantitative targets with qualitative targets on equity and leadership. That would help us understand which types of financing genuinely shift power and support locally led research.

See also: Science & Innovation @ FAO’s World Food Forum

Scaling Innovations for Sustainable Development


20 - 21 October 2026. The Scaling Forum 2026 of ENABEL (Belgian Agency for International Cooperation), brought together development agencies, research organisations, innovation funders, investors, public institutions and social entrepreneurs to explore how promising innovations can achieve sustainable impact at scale. 

The Forum addressed a persistent challenge in international development: while many innovative solutions demonstrate positive results during pilot phases, relatively few achieve widespread adoption, long-term financing and institutional sustainability.

Building on Enabel's experience supporting more than 50 innovations, the Forum explored pathways for moving beyond fragmented projects and short-term grant funding towards sustainable business models, strategic partnerships, institutional adoption and coordinated financing. Discussions were structured around four interconnected transitions: 

  1. from projects to organisations built for scale; 
  2. from scale-ready to investor- or funder-ready; 
  3. from supply-ready to adoption-ready; 
  4. and from fragmented support to collective action.


Highlights from Enabel’s Scaling Forum 2026


1. Shifting the Funding Paradigm: Beyond Grant Dependency

Speakers: Nadait Gebremedhen, Michael Gilligan and Sonja Betschart — Catalyst Now, Shifting the Funding Paradigm working group.

This session explored alternatives to conventional grant-dependent development financing. It addressed how social enterprises and development organisations can diversify their funding sources, strengthen their financial sustainability and develop business models capable of supporting long-term growth. The discussion was particularly relevant to organisations seeking to move from donor-funded pilot projects towards sustainable operations and systemic impact.


2. Connecting Grant Funders and Social Investors

Speaker: Lucia Santirso Richards — Bridges Outcomes Partnerships.

The session examined opportunities to strengthen collaboration between grant-making organisations, philanthropic institutions and social investors. It explored how different forms of capital can complement one another throughout the innovation lifecycle, from experimentation and validation to expansion and institutionalisation. Particular attention was given to overcoming financing gaps that often prevent successful innovations from progressing beyond the pilot stage.


3. Venture Clienting and Public-Sector Innovation Procurement

Speakers: Alessandra Celani de Macedo and Adnan Šerić — United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

This session focused on the role of governments and public institutions as early adopters and customers of innovative solutions. Rather than relying exclusively on grants and subsidies, public procurement can generate demand, create markets and accelerate the adoption of innovations. Venture clienting offers an alternative pathway through which public institutions can test, purchase and integrate solutions that respond to development challenges.


4. Strategic Collaborations for Scaling

Speakers: Timothy J. Krupnik and Iddo Dror — CGIAR; Shailaja Annamraju and Shreya Das — Global Innovation Fund.

The session explored how strategic partnerships can accelerate the scaling of innovations by connecting research institutions, development agencies, financing organisations and implementation partners. It highlighted the importance of moving beyond isolated interventions towards coordinated approaches that combine scientific evidence, financial resources, institutional capacities and local ownership.

The participation of CGIAR and the Global Innovation Fund was particularly relevant to agricultural research and innovation, where scaling requires collaboration among researchers, national agricultural research systems, governments, farmers, private enterprises and development partners.


Implications for agricultural research and innovation


First, scaling agricultural innovations requires more than successful research outputs or technology demonstrations. It depends on creating enabling environments, strengthening national and regional institutional capacities, mobilising financing and ensuring that innovations respond to the priorities of farmers, communities and markets.

Second, the discussions on public-sector innovation procurement and institutional adoption offer important perspectives for National Agricultural Research Systems can play a central role in adapting, validating and disseminating innovations, while helping governments integrate successful approaches into national programmes and investment strategies.

From promising innovations to systemic transformation

A central message from this meeting is that scaling is not simply about replicating successful projects, but about building the institutional, financial and collaborative conditions that allow innovations to become sustainable and widely adopted.

For agricultural research and innovation, this means moving beyond isolated research projects towards partnerships that connect scientific knowledge with farmers' needs, market demand, public policies and investment opportunities. 

Further information: Enabel Scaling Forum 2026 – Event announcement


Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Global NARS Consortium Launches Results-Based Agricultural Research Management Training in Türkiye

21–23 October 2026
| TAGEM, Ankara, Türkiye. The Global NARS Consortium (GNC), in collaboration with Türkiye’s General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA), is organising a three-day training workshop on Results-Based Programmatic Agricultural Research Management (RBP-ARM). 

The workshop brings together researchers and research managers from Turkish agricultural research institutes to introduce and test a new methodology designed to strengthen the planning, implementation and evaluation of agricultural research.

RBP-ARM is a results-oriented methodology specifically developed around the nature of agricultural research. It establishes a coherent connection between the problems research seeks to address, research objectives, expected results, activities, budgets and performance indicators. Applicable to individual research studies, programmes and entire research portfolios, the approach aims to make agricultural research more strategic, accountable and responsive to farmers' needs and wider agrifood system challenges.

The Ankara workshop marks the first practical presentation and testing of the RBP-ARM methodology with researchers and research managers. Rather than relying on hypothetical exercises, participants will work in groups on actual research cases, applying the methodology to existing projects and programmes. Following each training module, structured feedback sessions will assess the clarity, relevance and completeness of the approach. Participants' experiences and recommendations will contribute directly to refining the methodology and strengthening its practical applicability.

The training will be facilitated by Dr Botir Dosov, Coordinator of the Global NARS Consortium, together with Dr Didem Kökden, GNC Focal Point and GNC Near East and North Africa Regional Coordinator. Their joint facilitation reflects the collaboration between Türkiye's national agricultural research system, AARINENA and GNC in promoting research management capacities and institutional learning.

The initiative represents an important step in the GNC's efforts to strengthen National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) through capacity development, knowledge exchange and cooperation among regional agricultural research fora. By connecting research planning and resource allocation to measurable results, RBP-ARM has the potential to support more effective research investments, stronger institutional performance and greater impact on agricultural development. Lessons from the Ankara workshop could also inform future capacity-building initiatives across the wider GNC network.

Discovering the World Food Map: An Interactive Atlas of Edible Biodiversity

20 October 2026. Global launch event introducing the World Food Map, an interactive atlas of edible biodiversity. 

It draws together data from diet surveys, genebanks, botanical and crop databases, and eaters - to highlight how diets can be improved with locally available foods that are culturally relevant, climate resilient, and nutritionally rich.

The map is also a platform for storytelling. It is a place to elevate and share the efforts of people everywhere to protect, conserve, and celebrate food diversity for healthy diets. Through stories and perspectives from various regions and sectors, we will explore ways agriculture can recognize, value, and elevate edible biodiversity to create healthier, more resilient food systems.

Everyone has a story of food. Please submit yours at this link so that it can be included on the map! Share A Story of Food for the World Food Map

Monday, October 19, 2026

Side event at the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) meeting

The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) is holding its 54th Plenary Session (CFS 54) at FAO headquarters in Rome, from 19 to 23 October 2026.

The side events cover food systems transformation, agroecology, Indigenous Peoples' food systems, agricultural innovation, nutrition, gender equality, climate resilience, digital agriculture and food governance.

Extract of the programme

Tuesday, 20 October — 10 side events

1. Activating the heart of food systems transformation: outcomes of the first global conscious food systems summit in Bhutan
2. Making a difference with aquatic foods: from resilient production to nutritious school meals
3. From CAADP Kampala commitment to country-level impact: advancing the right to food, food safety, resilience and equity
4. Ultra-processed foods and One Health: connecting global evidence, regional perspectives and coherent policy action
5. Building resilient food systems through One Health
6. Financing food system resilience: building coherence across global forums
7. Women and agriculture in Latin America and the Caribbean
8. Tackling land inequality and tenure insecurity: advancing VGGT uptake and monitoring after ICARRD+20
9. Convergence and coherence in action: policy lessons and partnerships for resilient food systems
10. Bridging data gaps to scale agroecology: from local knowledge to national policy through evidence and digital innovation


Wednesday, 21 October — 9 side events

11. Driving change together: gender-transformative approaches to build resilient agrifood systems in rural and maritime areas
12. Brazil's rain-harvesting cisterns: climate-resilient water access for family farming and food security
13. Preserving, strengthening and promoting Indigenous Peoples' food and knowledge systems: a policy discussion
14. Local solutions to global disruptions: towards healthy, resilient and agroecological food systems
15. Catalysing CFS uptake: a guide to philanthropic funders using CFS policy to transform food systems
16. Participatory governance in CPLP and CELAC: lessons for implementing the right to food and CFS policy products
17. From carbon to One Health: turning soil, biomass and biodiversity data into farmer value, food security and public policy
18. Investing smarter: a return on investment case for agrifood systems
19. No resilience without rights: a human rights-based approach to resilient food systems, agroecology, family farming, women farmers and youth


Thursday, 22 October — 8 side events

20. International Year of the Woman Farmer: from forward-looking evidence to gender-transformative policy and legislation
21. The power of Indigenous Peoples' food systems: lessons from the field and a call to action
22. Rooted and mobile: pastoral systems leading the way to resilience
23. Financing Africa's agricultural future: mobilising public, concessional and domestic capital
24. From vulnerability to collective action: strengthening nutrition and food resilience through data systems
25. Indigenous Peoples' food systems and resilience: from Indigenous knowledge systems to policy action in the Global South
26. Enabling better access to healthy diets: insights from cities and FAO's forthcoming report on healthy diets
27. Securing her land, securing our food: gender-responsive pathways for climate resilience


Friday, 23 October — 12 side events

28. Food systems and innovation in the digital age: governance, equity and emerging dependencies
29. Feeding the future fairly: advancing decent work in aquaculture
30. Advancing CFS policy recommendations on youth through intergenerational partnerships and local action
31. Reclaiming food systems governance: strengthening democracy and accountability through the right to food
32. Structural investments in women's entrepreneurship: leadership, childcare and resilient rural ecosystems
33. Innovation and lessons on whole-of-food-system governance across four continents
34. From land rights to resilient food systems: advancing agroecology, women's empowerment and territorial food policies
35. From evidence to action: strengthening innovation intelligence for resilient and inclusive agrifood systems
36. No water, no food: governing the water–food–ecosystems nexus
37. Science-policy interfaces and tools for equitably transformative pathways to resilient food systems
38. Catalysing transformation: multilateral, country-led and local action for agrifood systems and nutrition in complex settings
39. Managing market shocks and input cost pressures: implications for food security

Highlights:



SE 10 (20 October, 18:15–19:30) Bridging data gaps to scale agroecology: from local knowledge to national policy through evidence and digital innovation


This will examine how the TAPE+ project generates comparable evidence on agroecological transitions, including national-level work in Burundi, Cabo Verde and Kenya. It directly connects European Commission-supported research with policy applications. 



SE 35 (23 October, 12:00–13:15) From evidence to action: strengthening innovation intelligence for resilient and inclusive agrifood systems

This event will feature FAO's Agrifood Systems Technologies and Innovations Outlook (ATIO) initiative, addressing innovation intelligence, interoperability, AI, farmer-led innovation and the connections between research, policy and practice.