FONTAGRO Knowledge Week

8 - 10 July 2026. FONTAGRO Knowledge Week

The event combines the XXI Annual Technical Monitoring Workshop of FONTAGRO Projects with scientific presentations showcasing research and innovation across Latin America and the Caribbean. 

It is supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), IICA, the Government of New Zealand, the Global Research Alliance, Global Methane Hub, INTA Costa Rica, and other partners.

The opening session set the stage for three days of scientific exchange and regional collaboration by bringing together researchers, policymakers, development partners, and innovation leaders from across Latin America and the Caribbean. It highlighted FONTAGRO's vision of transforming agri-food systems through science, technology, and international partnerships, emphasizing the importance of collaborative research in addressing climate change, food security, and sustainable rural development.

08/07 Flagship Program 1 – Transformation of resilient and carbon-neutral crop systems

This session addressed the growing pressures of climate change, resource scarcity, and increasing food demand on agricultural production. Presenters showcased innovative approaches to improving crop resilience while reducing agriculture's environmental footprint, covering advances in soil management, biological inputs, nutrient-use efficiency, crop protection, sustainable irrigation, and climate-resilient cropping systems.

• Pablo Mamani (PROINPA, Bolivia) – Nanotechnology in agricultural soil moisture management
• Juliana Gómez Valderrama (AGROSAVIA, Colombia) – Leveraging biological products to build climate resilience
• Francisco Salazar (INIA, Chile) – Nitrogen optimization for climate-smart food production
• Víctor Hugo Sánchez (INIAP, Ecuador) – Managing potato purple top disease
• Hugo Montero (INTA, Costa Rica) – Biologicals for sustainable agriculture
• Ignacio Hisse (University of Florida, USA) – Integrating sorghum into Latin American production systems
• Carolina Lizana (Universidad Austral, Chile) – Sustainable irrigation and fertilization in quinoa

08/07 Flagship Program 2 – Livestock and animal protein systems

This session examined how livestock systems could become more productive while reducing their environmental impact. Presentations focused on climate-smart livestock production, methane mitigation, sustainable grazing systems, resilient farm management, animal welfare, and tropical dairy production, demonstrating practical pathways toward more sustainable animal production systems.

• Carlos Gómez (Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Peru) – Sustainable livestock in the Amazon
• Yury Granja Salcedo (AGROSAVIA, Colombia) – Methane reduction in ruminants
• Marcelo Cesar Contreras (INTA, Argentina) – Resilient farm networks
• Natalia Aguilar (INTA, Argentina) – One Welfare approaches
• Nelson Vivas (Universidad del Cauca, Colombia) – Tropical dairy systems
• Alejandro Radrizzani (INTA, Argentina) – Gran Chaco cattle and methane reduction

09/07 Flagship Program 3 – Impact 2030

This session demonstrated how scientific innovation was translated into practical benefits for farmers and rural communities. Speakers presented successful examples of scaling agricultural innovations through extension services, public-private partnerships, participatory research, and regional collaboration, highlighting approaches that accelerated the adoption of climate-smart technologies across Latin America and the Caribbean.

• Carlos Hernández (Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica) – Geographical indications for Mesoamerican cacao
• Romina Romaniuk (INTA, Argentina) – Integrated production systems for climate adaptation
• Sebastián Villagra (INTA, Argentina) – Climate-smart research with Indigenous communities
• Gina Garzón (AGROSAVIA, Colombia) – Climate-resilient potatoes for the Andes

09/07 Flagship Program 4 – Digital revolution in agriculture

This session explored how digital technologies were transforming agricultural management and decision-making. Presentations highlighted the use of satellite observations, precision agriculture, artificial intelligence, digital decision-support platforms, and AgTech innovations to improve productivity while enhancing environmental sustainability.

• Martín Durante (INTA, Argentina) – Satellite monitoring of pasture biomass
• Liliana Ríos (AGROSAVIA, Colombia) – Tropical Agriculture 4.0 and water management
• Fernando Lattanzi (INIA, Uruguay) – Scaling AgTech innovation
• Álvaro Roel (INIA, Uruguay) – Satellite monitoring and verification of methane emissions
• Patricio Sandaña (Universidad Austral, Chile) – Online crop management platforms

10/07 Flagship Program 5 – The Future Food Basket

This session focused on agricultural diversification and innovations that contributed to resilient and nutritious food systems. Speakers presented research on biodiversity, sustainable horticulture, biological technologies, post-harvest protection, value-added products, and crop improvement, demonstrating how these innovations strengthened food security and agricultural competitiveness.

• Javier Pitti (IDIAP, Panama) – Vertical farming technologies
• Federico Battistoni (IIBCE, Uruguay) – Biologicals platform for Latin American farms
• Gabriela Nicoleta Tenea (Universidad Técnica del Norte, Ecuador) – Postharvest bio-protectors
• Ivonne Ximena Ceron Salazar (Universidad de Tolima, Colombia) – Value-added mango products
• Fabián Jiménez (INTA, Costa Rica) – Regional genetic improvement network

10/07 Project Presentations

The finalist project presentations showcased some of the most promising research initiatives supported by FONTAGRO. The projects addressed topics including gene editing, climate-smart livestock systems, biofortified crops, disease management, soil carbon sequestration, and greenhouse gas mitigation, illustrating their potential to generate meaningful benefits for farmers, consumers, and the environment.

• Sergio Feingold (INTA, Argentina) – Gene editing for plants and animals
• Nelson Pérez (AGROSAVIA, Colombia) – Multipurpose silvopastoral systems
• Maika Barría (IDIAP, Panama) – Iron-rich bean alliances
• Mónica Betancourt (AGROSAVIA, Colombia) – Fusarium wilt prevention
• Verónica Ciganda (INIA, Uruguay) – Soil carbon sequestration
• Nicolás Ayub (INTA, Argentina) – Reducing nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture

Leveraging Digital Solutions for Strengthening the Seed Systems in Africa

9 July 2026. Leveraging Digital Solutions for Strengthening the Seed Systems in Africa

As African countries seek to strengthen food security, resilience and sustainable agrifood systems, the digitalization of seed systems is emerging as a critical enabler of transformation. Digital tools can improve seed traceability, certification, regulatory services, information management and market access, while helping address challenges such as counterfeit seeds, fragmented processes and weak sector coordination.

The event was organized by the FAO Regional Office for Africa, FAO Country Offices in DR Congo, Somalia and South Sudan, with the support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and in collaboration with AGRA and other partners. The webinar will bring together policymakers, seed authorities, researchers, development partners, private sector actors and digital agriculture specialists to explore how digital technologies are strengthening seed systems across Africa.

Participants learned from country experiences and innovative initiatives, including FAO's EmergenSys project, digital seed certification and traceability systems in Kenya, and electronic phytosanitary certification (e-Phyto) systems. Discussions will focus on practical lessons, sustainability, interoperability, governance and opportunities for scaling digital seed solutions.

The webinar was organized as part of the EmergenSys project activities, FAO RAF’s periodic digital agriculture knowledge-sharing events, and as a contribution to the preparations for the Digitalization Thematic Area of the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) 2026.

Moderation - Priya Gujadhur, FAO Representative in Ghana (a.i.); Senior Regional Resilience Officer, FAO, Regional Office for Africa

• Opening Remarks, Meshack Malo, Deputy Regional Representative, FAO Regional Office for Africa
• Remarks by the African Development Bank (AfDB), Jeffrey Kwesiga, Senior Agribusiness Officer, AHAI.4 (RDGE) Africa Development Bank
• Digital Seed Systems Initiatives under the EmergenSys Project in Somalia, South Sudan & DRCongo, Kiprotich Chemweno, Head of Information & Systems Management & Digital Innovation FAO Somalia
• Digital Seed Certification and Traceability Systems in Kenya, Ephraim Wachira, Deputy Director, Seed Certification Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), Kenya 
  
  @Ephraim: how can digitalisation protect IP rights on indigenous seeds?
  ANSWER: This can at least document the indigenous variety establishing the fact that it is a variety of common knowledge so that no one can later on claim it. More work can then be done to facilitate community ownership of the indigenous seed.
  

@Ephraim: How does KEPHIS support Kenyan Seed Savers with digitalisation?

We are currently working on legislation for community seed production and certification, we shall definitely come up with a digital format for it.

• The Ethio-Seed digital platform, Ato Tefera Zeray, Technical Advisor Seed Systems, Ministry of Agriculture, Ethiopia
• e-Phyto implementation in Uganda, Remco Kibago, Information Technologist, Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries, Uganda
• Presentation of the AU Biotech and Seed Partnership Platform, Catherine Langat, Seed system specialist FAOSFE
• Poll / Questions and Answers / Interactive Discussion Ken Lohento, Digital Agriculture Specialist, FAO Regional Office for Africa

Related: 1st Eastern Africa Indigenous Seed Conference EA-ISC 2026

Building farmer managed seed system community of practice (COP) For a Resilient EASTERN AFRICA Region.

📅

17th – 20th November 2026

📍

Catholic university of Eastern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya

How Farmers Organizations are reclaiming Indigenous knowledge and research

8 July 2026. Roots of resilience: How Farmers Organizations are reclaiming Indigenous knowledge and research to tackle breadfruit and banana value chains challenges in the Pacific and Philippine

Hosted by AgriCord, this webinar showcased how farmers are utilizing indigenous knowledge and participatory research to combat climate change, crop diseases, and food insecurity.

Indigenous and local knowledge systems have long played a vital role in sustainable land management, biodiversity conservation, and climate adaptation. Yet these practices often remain under-recognized in agricultural development and research agendas.

At the same time, farmer organizations are increasingly demonstrating their capacity to generate solutions that are locally adapted, environmentally sustainable, and socially inclusive.

By bringing together farmer organizations, researchers, development practitioners, cooperatives, and policy actors, this webinar explored how farmer-led research and indigenous knowledge can contribute to building more resilient agroecological food systems.

• Katja Vuori, CEO of AgriCord – Welcome Remarks
• Mohinesh Reddy, Pacific Farmer Organisations (PFO) – Revitalizing Breadfruit Systems through Farmer-Led Agroecological Innovation and Indigenous Knowledge
• Kahlil Apuzen-Ito, FARMCOOP – Tackling TR4 Disease in the Banana Value Chain through Participatory Agroecological Research and Innovation: Experience from the Philippines

Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

8 - 10 July 2026. Thirteenth Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

The primary focus of the meeting is the Revision of the Second Global Plan of Action for Plant Genetic Resources.

This Working Group meeting operates under the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) and serves several core functions:

• Reviewing Draft Guidelines: Deliberating on the Draft Revised Second Global Plan of Action for Plant Genetic Resources.
• Evaluating Global Reports: Using findings from the Third Report on the State of the World's Plant Genetic Resources to identify key policy priorities.
• Cross-Sectoral Discussions: Addressing how plant genetic resources contribute to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and broader biodiversity for food and agriculture initiatives.

Contributions:

• Review of the Strategic Plan and Multi-Year Programme of Work for the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
• Cooperation with international organizations and instruments: present a draft stakeholder engagement needs assessment and a proposal for the process to develop a stakeholder engagement action plan

Partners:

• Report from the Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
• Report from the International Seed Federation
• Report from the Global Forum on Agricultural Innovation and Research
• Report from the CGIAR system
• Report from the Global Crop Diversity Trust

Empowering Youth and Women in Agrifood: Bridging Entrepreneurship and Job Creation

7 July 2026. Empowering Youth and Women in Agrifood: Bridging Entrepreneurship and Job Creation for Sustainable Impact - Organizers: PAFO and COLEAD

The 27th PAFO–COLEAD Innovations Session discussed how agrifood systems and the organisations, cooperatives, MSMEs and support ecosystems can better serve youth and women as both entrepreneurs and jobseekers, and how strengthening one pathway can reinforce the other for sustainable, inclusive impact.

• Moderator: Aimable Twagirayezu, Programs Officer, PAFO
• Laura Wauters , Head of Training Department, COLEAD
• Babafemi Oyewole, CEO, PAFO
• Olusola Adeyemo , Lead Sustainable Farming , Distribution and Extension , AGRA

Panel 1: youth - and women -led agrifood businesses creating value and quality work 

Practical experiences across the entrepreneurship and employment pathways

• Chiamaka Ndukwu, CEO , AgroHive
• Akejo Gordon Victor, CEO , Gordon Agricultural Organisation
• Fatoumatta Joof , Director of Programs, The Woman Boss

Panel 2: Building support ecosystems for inclusive growth

strengthening skills, entrepreneurship and quality employment

• Genna Tesdall, Director of Young Professionals for Agricultural Development
• (YPARD)
• Mathabo Tsepa, Women Leader, SACAU, PAFO
• Key takeaways and conclusion Ahoefa Soklou, Project officer, Networks and
• Alliances, COLEAD

Program Links

📄English
📄French
📄Portuguese

Biodata Links

📄English
📄French

East-West Seed transformed indigenous vegetable production across West Africa.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 30. The Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, endowed by The Rockefeller Foundation, was presented to plant breeder Pamela Afokpe of East-West Seed for pioneering research that has transformed indigenous vegetable production across West Africa.

Afokpe was recognised for combining scientific plant breeding with farmer training and market development, including the creation of the Sika Gboma variety of a traditional West African leafy vegetable that has been adopted by thousands of smallholder farmers in Benin neighbouring ring countries.

Afokpe recognized the untapped potential of crops with proven nutritional value, deep cultural significance and established consumer demand. She not only built a research station from scratch to address this need, she pioneered a commercial market across West and Central Africa, leading to the sale of thousands of tons of vegetables that the global seed industry had largely neglected.

Her research also precipitated East-West Seed becoming a Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) Champion. This global partnership recognizes “opportunity crops,” including traditional African vegetables, as critical to climate resilience and nutrition, a policy shift that Afokpe’s field work has helped validate. She led the effort for East-West Seed to join the African Vegetable Breeding Consortium headed by the World Vegetable Center, and she was selected as a 2024 One Planet Fellow by African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) in recognition of her research leadership in helping Africa’s smallholder farmers adapt to a changing climate.

Afokpe and her mentor, the late Simon Groot (2019 World Food Prize Laureate), shared the vision that high quality seeds, combined with knowledge of good agricultural practices and connection to markets, are the most effective tools for smallholders to improve their livelihoods. Afokpe extended this conviction to vegetables that Groot’s mission had not yet reached, leveraging groundbreaking research and development for oft-overlooked opportunity crops to give growers a resilient, high-yielding future.

Honoring the women whose hands shaped America's food system

Who fed America?

For more than 250 years, Black women have grown, harvested, cooked, researched, taught, organized, and nourished a nation often without recognition. "We Belong at the Table" is a cinematic musical tribute honoring the women whose hands shaped America's food system and whose legacy continues to inspire future generations.

Created by WANDA (Women Advancing Nutrition, Dietetics and Agriculture) during its 10th anniversary and in recognition of America's 250th anniversary, this song celebrates the food sheroes who transformed recipes into resistance, gardens into freedom, and meals into movements.

From Harriet Tubman and Georgia Gilmore to Edna Lewis, Jessica B. Harris, Flemmie Kittrell, Leah Chase, Karen Washington, Toni Tipton Martin, Psyche Williams-Forson, Carla Hall, Lena Richard, Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor, Evelyn Crayton, Fannie Lou Hamer, and **Tambra Raye Stevenson, this film reminds us that food is more than nourishment; it is heritage, leadership, community, and democracy.

At WANDA, we believe:

🌱 Food is a human right.
🤝 Belonging is the foundation of democracy.
🍽️ Every table has the power to build healthier communities.

This is more than a song. It is an invitation to remember those who came before us—and to become the next generation of Food Citizens. Because we belong. And so does our food.

Join the Movement
❤️ Support the WANDA Scholars Fund and help prepare the next generation of food leaders.
🌍 Learn more about WANDA: https://www.iamwanda.org​

Follow WANDA:
Instagram: @_iamwandaorg
LinkedIn / Facebook / X: @iamwandaorg
Website: https://www.iamwanda.org​

Lyrics Written in Honor of America's Food Sheroes

Honoring the enduring contributions of Black women who have nourished families, strengthened communities, advanced science, preserved culture, and shaped democracy through food.

The Financing Agri-Food Systems Sustainably (FINAS) 2026 Dialogue

30 June–2 July 2026 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre. The Financing Agri-Food Systems Sustainably (FINAS) 2026 Dialogue was held from under the theme "Towards Sustainable Financial Architecture for Africa's Food Systems." 

The summit brought together governments, development banks, financial institutions, agribusinesses, farmer organizations, investors, research organizations, and development partners to explore how Africa can mobilize and better align finance for food systems transformation.

Dr. Charity Mutegi, Director: "Agriculture continues to power Africa’s economies, yet financing models
remain stuck in the past. Despite donor funding and countless initiatives, the numbers have not shifted. This question is at the heart of #FINASSummit dialogue. That stagnation tells us one thing: we must do something differently."

By aligning policy, innovating finance models, and forging partnerships, we can unlock inclusive, de‑risked solutions for Africa’s food systems.

Programme

Overall, FINAS 2026 featured more than 50 plenary sessions, side events, deal rooms and masterclasses, with speakers drawn from African governments, the private financial sector, development finance institutions, farmer organizations, international organizations, research institutions and development partners. The programme emphasized practical financing solutions for policy alignment, inclusive finance, climate resilience, agrifood SMEs and investment mobilization across Africa.

The programme was organized around four major thematic pillars.

1. Policy Alignment and Coordination

This track focused on creating coherent financing frameworks that support implementation of the Kampala CAADP Declaration and national agricultural investment plans.

Main sessions included:

• 
  Continental Roundtable: Policy Alignment and Coordination for Financing the Kampala
  CAADP Declaration
• Using National Agrifood Systems Investment Plans (NASIPs) to mobilize, coordinate and monitor investments
• Launch of the Kenya National Agrifood Systems Investment Plan (NASIP) 2026–2030

Key discussion themes

• Harmonizing national and continental investment strategies
• Public finance reforms
• Improving accountability for agricultural expenditure
• Better coordination among governments, donors and private investors.

2. Innovative and Inclusive Finance Models

One of the largest streams examined how to unlock finance for farmers, cooperatives and agrifood SMEs. Panels and side events covered:

• Making Agricultural Development Funds work
• Public Development Banks and agricultural finance
• Wholesale lending for agricultural financial inclusion
• Agri-SME finance and prudential reforms
• Finance linked with agricultural skills development
• Blended finance mechanisms
• Cooperatives and rural financial services

The discussions emphasized reducing investment risks while expanding affordable credit to smallholders, women, youth and agricultural enterprises.

3. Green, Climate and Resilient Finance

A major focus of FINAS 2026 was integrating climate resilience into agricultural finance. Major sessions included:

• Embedding Climate Risk Intelligence into Agricultural Value Chain Financing (plenary keynote)
• Carbon finance under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement
• 
  Embedding insurance into agricultural lending
• Climate-resilient finance for crop and livestock systems
• Sustainable financing for resilient agrifood systems
• Financing feed and fodder systems
• Cold-chain financing and reducing food loss and waste
  

These sessions explored insurance, climate data, carbon markets, blended finance and innovative risk-sharing mechanisms that can attract private capital into climate-smart agriculture.

4. Trade, Investment and Partnerships

The final thematic stream examined how finance can strengthen regional markets and agricultural competitiveness. Topics included:

• Trade and investment frameworks
  
• Regional value chains
• Public-private partnerships
• Cross-border investments
• Deal rooms connecting investors with agribusinesses
• Business-to-business matchmaking
• Scaling agricultural innovations

Special emphasis was placed on mobilizing domestic capital, strengthening African financial markets and reducing dependence on external aid.

Side events: extracts

02/07 Unlocking Sustainable Financing for Nutrition-Sensitive Food Systems: Evidence, Partnerships and Sub-national Level Innovations — Stock Take of Financial Flows for Food Systems (3FS)

The panel emphasized that transformation requires deliberate alignment of policy frameworks,
financing instruments, and institutional will.

• Faraya Constance Zimudzi @FAO (#F𝗔𝗢, 𝗨𝗡): Nutrition-sensitive investment must be embedded into agrifood systems at country level.   
• Ruth Okowa (#𝗚𝗔𝗜𝗡): Policies must translate into practice, ensuring SMEs can scale nutrition-focused solutions.   
• Anna Tavina Eivin (#𝗙𝗔𝗢, 𝗨𝗡): Stronger institutional coherence is essential to sustain impact.     
• Peter Chepata (𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗜𝗖): Financing instruments must be tailored to SME realities.    
• Joseph Nderitu (𝗞-𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬): Local financial institutions play a critical role in bridging access gaps.     
• Blessings Mutheu (𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗻): Investors must see SMEs as viable partners in nutrition transformation.    
• Samuel Ndonga (𝗙𝗔𝗢, 𝗨𝗡): Coordinated approaches are key to embedding nutrition into agrifood finance.   

2/07 Beyond Donor Funding: Advancing AI-Enabled Finance for Africa’s Smallholder Farmers

At FINAS 2026, SAFIC convened a high-impact side event themed “Beyond Donor Funding: Sustainable Business Models and AI-Enabled Finance for Africa’s Smallholder Farmers,” bringing together leaders from government, academia, development, technology, and the private sector to explore practical pathways for transforming African agriculture.

Prof. Simon Ndiritu, The Center Director of SAFIC, opened by challenging participants to rethink the agricultural ecosystem, noting that Kenya does not lack technology or innovation. Rather, the real opportunity lies in integrating advisory services, finance, quality inputs, insurance, and market access into a coordinated system that delivers tangible value for farmers.

In his keynote remarks, Amb. Philip Thigo, Special Envoy on Technology, emphasized the importance of building trusted mechanisms for data exchange across the agricultural ecosystem. He encouraged stakeholders to begin with practical, scalable proof points, highlighting food systems as a compelling use case for shared data infrastructure and collaborative innovation.

Moderating the discussion, Richard Migwalla of Baobab Impact framed the conversation around three critical questions:

• Can we meet farmers at their point of need?
• Can we deliver these solutions sustainably?
• Can artificial intelligence improve the commercial equation for smallholder agriculture?

𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 (𝗧𝗪𝗧)

At #FINAS2026, leaders from across finance, policy, and development have launched the 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 (𝗧𝗪𝗧,) a permanent mechanism designed to move evidence into policy, and policy into action.
Key highlights from the speeches:
David Sajabi, 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 & 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁: “Good ideas must not remain reports. Reforms must be followed through.” He emphasized that success will be measured not by discussions, but by real change in agricultural lending.
Dr. Samuel Tiriongo, 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Stressed the importance of evidence-based advocacy, better data, and exploring alternative collateral beyond land to unlock lending opportunities for farmers.
Titian Donda, 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿, 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆, 𝗔𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗶 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 Reflected on the journey of collaboration, noting that fragmented approaches have slowed progress. The TWT is a product of partnership and coordination, designed to transform data into evidence and evidence into reforms.
Petra Jacoby, 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿, 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗚𝗜𝗭 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮 Called the launch a reaffirmation of collective commitment. She highlighted the need for sound policies, reliable data, effective risk-sharing mechanisms, and strong coordination to build confidence among financial institutions and expand access to finance for farmers.

FINAS 2026 post-summit field visits 

From cold storage to food processing, the FINAS 2026 post-summit field visits continued with a stop at ItalNovis Group SEZ Limited in Tatu City, Kenya.

‎‎Delegates explored the company's modern pasta manufacturing facility, gaining firsthand insight into the journey from raw materials to finished products. The visit demonstrated how technology, efficient production systems, and value addition are driving competitiveness in Africa's food manufacturing sector.

‎‎With roots dating back to the 1950s, ItalNovis Group reflects the impact of sustained industrial investment and innovation in building resilient agrifood value chains.

Rethinking Mushroom Production in Ghana Through the Cold Chlorine Method

Opinion: Rethinking Mushroom Production in Ghana Through the Cold Chlorine Method

By  Gideon Adotey

Ghana’s agricultural sector is being asked to do more with less. It must feed a growing population, create decent employment, reduce post-harvest waste, and adapt to a changing climate, all within a context of rising production costs and persistent energy challenges. Within this broader national agenda, mushroom cultivation presents a practical and underutilized opportunity.

Mushrooms offer an efficient way of converting agricultural residues into nutritious food and income. They require limited land, have relatively short production cycles, and can be integrated into both rural and peri-urban economies. Yet despite these advantages, the mushroom industry in Ghana remains small compared to its potential.

A major constraint lies in the preparation of growing substrates. Most producers rely on steam or pressure-based sterilization, or hot water pasteurization, to reduce contamination before inoculation. While effective, these methods are capital intensive. They depend on boilers, fuel, electricity, and skilled operation, all of which increase the cost of production and limit expansion, particularly for small and medium-scale farmers.

In response to these limitations, alternative approaches have emerged, among them the Cold Chlorine Method developed by Dr. John Holliday. This system introduces a chemical approach to substrate sanitation that avoids the need for heat-based treatment.

Rather than relying on temperature, agricultural materials such as straw, maize stalks, sawdust blends, and other crop residues are immersed in a chlorine solution at ambient conditions. The active chlorine compounds generate hypochlorous acid in water, which disrupts and destroys a wide range of microorganisms including bacteria, moulds, and fungal spores. The outcome is a substantially reduced microbial load that allows mushroom mycelium to establish dominance quickly.

For Ghana, the implications of this approach are significant.

One of the most immediate benefits is the reduction in energy demand. By eliminating the need for steaming or boiling, farmers can drastically cut fuel and electricity consumption. This is particularly important in an environment where energy costs are unstable and often high, especially for emerging agribusinesses.

Equally important is the accessibility of the system. The Cold Chlorine Method lowers the entry barrier into commercial mushroom production. Farmers and youth-led enterprises do not need to invest in expensive sterilization equipment before starting production. This opens up opportunities for wider participation, particularly among young people, women, and community-based organizations.

From an environmental perspective, the method also aligns with climate-smart agriculture principles. Reducing reliance on fuel-based sterilization contributes to lower greenhouse gas emissions and supports more sustainable production systems. At scale, such shifts in practice can contribute meaningfully to greener agricultural value chains.

Ghana also possesses a strong comparative advantage in raw materials. Large volumes of agricultural residues such as rice straw, maize stalks, cocoa pod husks, plantain leaves, sugarcane bagasse, and sawdust are generated annually, much of which is underutilized or burned. Mushroom production provides a pathway to convert these materials into valuable protein-rich food and economic activity.

The approach is particularly relevant for emerging climate-controlled mushroom farms, university-based production systems, and innovation-driven agricultural enterprises that are seeking cost-efficient methods of scaling production.

However, it is important to acknowledge that this method is not universally applicable. Highly enriched substrates used for specialty mushrooms such as lion’s mane, reishi, and shiitake often require stricter sterilization procedures due to their susceptibility to contamination. In such cases, conventional thermal sterilization may still be necessary.

A key technical consideration in the Cold Chlorine Method is the management of residual chlorine after treatment. While chlorine is effective in reducing contamination, any remaining chemical must be carefully addressed before inoculation. Excess chlorine can inhibit or damage mushroom mycelium.

For this reason, it is essential that residual chlorine levels are reduced to safe thresholds prior to spawning. This can occur naturally through aeration and time, but in more controlled production systems, chemical neutralization provides a more reliable solution. Sodium thiosulphate is widely recognized as an effective neutralizing agent, converting residual chlorine into harmless chloride compounds. This step is particularly important in commercial operations where consistency, spawn protection, and yield stability are essential.

Field reports and experimental observations suggest that properly treated substrates can support rapid colonization and reduced contamination rates. In some cases, production cycles may be shortened, allowing for faster turnover and improved overall productivity. These outcomes, while promising, still require systematic validation under Ghanaian conditions.

This is where the real opportunity lies. The question is not whether the Cold Chlorine Method should replace all existing systems, but whether it can be adapted, tested, and optimized within local production environments. Universities, research institutions, and commercial farms have a role to play in generating evidence on optimal chlorine concentrations, treatment durations, substrate suitability, and neutralization protocols using agents such as sodium thiosulphate.

Ultimately, the future of mushroom production in Ghana will depend on innovation that reduces cost while maintaining productivity and food safety. Technologies that simplify production without compromising yield deserve serious attention.

The Cold Chlorine Method is not a universal solution, but it represents a practical and thought-provoking approach to one of the most expensive stages of mushroom cultivation. In a country striving to expand agricultural entrepreneurship, improve food security, and create sustainable livelihoods, such innovations should not be overlooked.

A modern mushroom industry will be built not only on infrastructure, but also on the willingness to adopt, test, and refine simpler and more accessible technologies.

Announcement:

The Applied Research Conference of Accra Technical University (ARCATU 2026) is the premier annual research event at Accra Technical University, bringing together academics, researchers, industry experts, and students to discuss cutting-edge innovations and sustainable solutions for the future. This year, ARCATU 2026 will take place from September 16-18, 2026, at Accra Technical University, Ghana.

Side event: High Speed Culture Blender Technique to Advance Mushroom Production in Africa: ICMBMP 2026 Hands on Workshop at Accra Technical University Carson City, Nevada 

Mushroom Consulting LLC has introduced a new technical guideline on a high speed culture blender technique aimed at improving mushroom production efficiency, especially for growers in Africa. The method is designed to address common challenges in the region such as slow spawn production, contamination losses, and limited access to advanced laboratory facilities.

The technique is based on a simple idea. Instead of using multiple steps to multiply mushroom cultures on grain, a fully grown agar culture is directly turned into a liquid inoculum. This is done by blending the culture in a sterile solution under very clean conditions. The liquid produced contains small fragments of healthy mycelium that can be used immediately to inoculate grain or other growing materials. This removes several intermediate stages and saves a lot of production time.

The system uses basic equipment that is easy to find and use. A one liter or one quart glass jar serves as the blending container. The jar is filled with sterile water or a mild nutrient solution, fitted with a blender lid, and sterilized before use. After cooling in a clean environment, a selected agar culture is added and blended for a short time. The result is a smooth liquid inoculum that can be used right away for mushroom production.

This simple setup makes the method suitable for many African mushroom farms. Most growers already use tools such as pressure cookers, jars, and simple clean work areas. Because of this, the technique can be added to existing systems without major investment in expensive laboratory equipment. It offers a practical way to improve production speed and efficiency at both small and medium scale levels.

However, the guideline clearly stresses that cleanliness is very important. The blending process must be done in a sterile environment such as a laminar flow hood or a well prepared clean workspace. If contamination enters the system at this stage, it can spread quickly through the liquid inoculum and affect the whole production batch, leading to serious losses.

To help the culture recover quickly after blending, the method recommends adding a small amount of light malt extract, about twenty grams per liter, to the solution. This provides simple nutrients that help the mycelium recover and start growing faster. In places where malt extract is not available, other clean sugar sources may be used, but only if proper sterilization is followed.

One major advantage of this technique is the reduction in production time. By removing several traditional spawn expansion steps, growers can shorten the full cultivation cycle by several weeks. In good conditions, grain can be fully colonized within a few days after inoculation. Fast growing mushroom species may even reach fruiting much sooner than with conventional methods.

For African mushroom farmers, this can bring important benefits. It means more production cycles in a year, faster response to market demand, and improved income opportunities. It is especially useful for youth and women involved in small scale and community based mushroom farming.

Mushroom Consulting LLC has also announced that practical hands on training on this technique will be offered at Accra Technical University as part of the ICMBMP 2026 pre conference workshop. The training will focus on sterile techniques, preparation of liquid inoculum, proper use of the culture blender system, and how to prevent contamination. The aim is to help African growers, technicians, and students learn how to safely apply the method in real production settings.

Even though the technique is simple in design, it requires careful handling and good discipline. Success depends mainly on maintaining strict cleanliness during every step. Without proper training, contamination can easily reduce its effectiveness.

Overall, the high speed culture blender technique offers a practical and low cost way to improve mushroom production in Africa. By combining simple tools, faster biological processing, and practical training at Accra Technical University under ICMBMP 2026, it provides a clear pathway toward more efficient and modern mushroom farming across the continent.

Major events in June 2026

CIRAWA Agroecology Conference

1–3 July 2026. Accra, Ghana. Together, four Horizon Europe projects represent a coordinated investment of approximately €30 million in agroecological research and innovation across West, Central, East and North Africa.

The Financing Agri-Food Systems Sustainably (FINAS) 2026 Dialogue 

30 June–2 July 2026. This was held  at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre under the theme "Towards Sustainable Financial Architecture for Africa's Food Systems." 

DialogueNEXT in Africa: Born To Feed the Future

30 June - 1 July 2026. Nairobi, Kenya. Although DialogueNEXT Africa was not a dedicated NARS conference, it reflected many of the principles underpinning the Global NARS Consortium (GNC). The programme emphasized: stronger collaboration between national research institutes, CGIAR centres and universities; translating agricultural research into farmer-centred innovations and scalable businesses; strengthening links among research, extension, policy and the private sector; and investing in African scientific leadership, particularly through youth and women researchers and entrepreneurs.

Asia-Pacific Biopesticides Community of Practice

1 July 2026. This webinar focused on how nature-based pest management and biopesticides can strengthen climate-resilient agriculture across Asia and Africa, with particular attention to dryland farming systems and fragile mountain ecosystems. 

NUS in Odisha: Strategies for Revival, Conservation

1 July 2026. This webinar brought together 130 online participants: experts, researchers, practitioners, and community representatives to share experiences, innovations, and strategies for conserving, promoting, and scaling up forgotten foods.

Agribusiness, Agro-Processing & Food Value Chains

27 June 2026. Rather than concentrating solely on farming, the webinar emphasized the need to transform entire agrifood systems by strengthening agro-processing, investment, logistics, technology adoption, and intra-African trade so that agriculture becomes a driver of industrialization, employment, and economic sovereignty. 

The Memory of the Land: Women, Partnership, and Agriculture

26 June 2026. This webinar was the second webinar in AgroSpectrum Asia's global series marking the International Year of Women Farmers 2026. 

Climate week London and agricultural research for development

20-28 June 2026. During London Climate Action Week 2026, agricultural research for development featured prominently in discussions on climate resilience, food security, sustainable finance, and science partnerships.

RAMP - Research and Market Pathways

26 June 2026. The RAMP (Research and Market Pathways) webinar held served as the Demo Day and culmination of the six-month RAMP-Accelerate programme, an initiative of the CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform (A4IP). 

The growing investment potential of the organic fertilizers

25 June 2026. The Monthly Talks on Agroecology webinar focused on the growing investment potential of the organic fertilizer sector in Africa as a strategic component of the continent's agroecological transition.

Crop Trust Roundtable: Safeguarding Crop Diversity

25 June 2026 in Brussels. This Roundtable brought together representatives of the Crop Trust, the European Commission, the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) of South Africa

Advancing National, Regional and Global policies for NUS

24 June 2026. Advancing National, Regional and Global policies for the World's most overlooked Superfoods.

2nd KALRO Scientic Conference and Innovation Expo ...

15 - 19 June 2026. The 2nd KALRO Scientific Conference and Innovation Expo 2026 is organized around the theme “Innovations for Sustainable Agri-food Systems, Climate Change Resilience and Improved Livelihoods.” 

Advancing Biological Control in Asia, the Middle East

11 June 2026. experts from more than 75 countries gathered for a regional webinar organized by CABI and the International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNET).

From Pesticide Reduction to Agricultural Transformation

10 June 2026. Responsible Pesticide Use and Agricultural Transition in Tropical Agriculture

Agroecology, Climate Resilience, and Indigenous and  indigenous and underutilized crops

9–11 June 2026 | University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany

• AFRICAN OPPORTUNITY CROPS WORKING GROUP

Africa's regional stakeholders conference on Neglected Species

9 - 11 June 2026. Accra, Ghana. NUS Africa's regional stakeholders conference. Co-organized by FARA & FAO, the hybrid event focused on integrating neglected and underutilized “forgotten foods” (like millets, fonio, and sorghum) into African food systems.

• Mugala Naturals: Organic food venture
• Heirloom Seed Agriculture Company in Ghana
• Bambara Groundnut cultivation and processing 12 June 2026. Field visit of GFAiR and Foodbridge (which leads GFAiR's Collective Action on Forgotten Foods) 
• Ghana Investment Promotion Council The study titled “A Research on the African Diaspora Food Market in the United Kingdom: Understanding Market Dynamics, Opportunities and Indigenous Food Systems” (25 pages) was presented

GFAiR Regional Fora and Steering Committee meeting

7 - 8 June 2026. Antalya, Turkey. Assessing new ways to accelerate more effective and equitable agrifood research and innovation systems - GFAiR Regional Fora and Steering Committee meeting

AgriCord Partners' Forum 2026

4 June 2026. Nairobi. The AgriCord Partners' Forum 2026 highlighted critical strategies for agricultural development. 

The Outlook for Agriculture and Rural Development

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

International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS)

2–3 June 2026. The International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) and the Federation of African Nutrition Societies (FANUS) successfully hosted their second joint regional webinar.

Biological Control, Biopesticides and Sustainable Food Systems

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

NUS Open-Source Curriculum Network

The four-session CBE Curriculum Co-Design Training was delivered virtually on 11, 15, 20, and 25 May 2026. 

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