PAEPARD Soja project receives Ministerial attention

From left to right: VODOUHE Gbèlidji ; 

Dr KOUDANDE Delphin, Ministre de l’Agriculture ; 
SEWADE Patrice ; AGBOTON Martin

26 July 2016. Cotonou.
The AAIN Newsletter July-August 2016 edition features on Page 5 the PAEPARD project ProSAM and the visit to the Minister of Agriculture of Benin.

Mr Patrice SEWADE, Coordinator of SOJAGNON -NGO; Mr Gbèlidji VODOUHE and Mr Martin AGBOTON respectively program officer and Research Assistant at SOJAGNON-NGO were received in audience by Dr. Delphin KOUDANDE, Minister of Agriculture, Animal husbandry and Fishery assisted by Mr Mignannou FANDY. . During the audience ProSAM project funded by FARA through PAEPARD project sponsored by the EC and the ProSeSS project funded by the NWO/Arf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; and the agribusiness project under AAIN were presented.

The purpose of the meeting was to present SOJAGNON-NGO, ProSAM-Benin and its national

partners, PAEPARD/FARA and its Partners to the Minister. The Competitive Research Fund (CRF) is project implemented by a consortium of Beninese institutions in partnership with European partners (Wageningen University and University of Lisbon).

At this occasion, the results/innovations achieved so far by ProSAM/CRF, the involvement of the private company Benin Agribusiness Incubation Hub (BAIH-Sarl) were presented. BAIH-Sarl aims at turning research results into business for job creation for young people and especially soybeans processors. The importance of soybean derived products in food and nutritional security and the strategy of dissemination of the results on a large scale have been addressed.

Posters and leaflets about stabilized milk, taste enhancers made with soybean "afitin" were presented and shared with the Minister and his Assistant. Constraints in soybean seed systems and the wish of the consortium to make the Ministry of Agriculture the flag bearer of the strategic plan for the development of soybean seeds sector were also raised with the Minister.

Related blog posts:

Progress of the Soybean Milk processing technology ... Apr 13, 2015 ... Association for the development of soybean in Benin (SOJAGNON-NGO). SOJAGNON is sensitising processors to get involved and participate ...

Re-engineered Soybean Milk processing technology Oct 31, 2014 ... SOJAGNON-NGO is the coordination organization for the implementation of the project, a R&D project of the PAEPARD led by the Forum for ...

Benin : Soyabean processing Jun 9, 2016 ... L'Association SOJAGNON du Bénin est une Organisation Non Gouvernementale. Elle est Leader du Consortium Soja du Bénin (CSB) et ...

1st continental Agri-Business Incubation Conference Sep 28, 2015 ... Patrice Sewade of Sojagnon ... SOJAGNON-NGO And ProSAM consortium of Benin. Exhibition of soybean products.

University of Abomey-Calavi wins Grants to Implement ... Jun 30, 2015 ... SOJAGNON-NGO, UAC/FSA, IITA. WU/MCB and REDAD will collaborate in this interdisciplinary and participatory project, and expect to deliver: ...

PAEPARD: Planning Meeting for the Competitive Research Fund ... Jun 26, 2015 ... Le schéma ci-dessous indique la technologie traditionnelle actuelle des femmes et la technologie améliorée vers laquelle le CRF- SOJAGNON ...

PAEPARD: Third edition of the Food Processing & Packaging ... Nov 4, 2015 ... Presentation by M. Patrice Lagnon SEWADE, Agro-industrial Coordinator of SOJAGNON, a consortium supported by PAEPARD since 2010.

Invest in Innovative Agricultural Training in Africa

25 July 2016. RUFORUM Press Release. The MasterCard Foundation and the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) will collaborate to test new models of agricultural education in Africa. The eight year commitment of US$ 27.1 Million from MasterCard will focus on smallholder farmers, connecting university education to the needs of rural communities to meaningfully contribute to Africa’s growth and development. Gulu University (Uganda) and Egerton University (Kenya), both early adopters of the RUFORUM approach, will be the key implementers of the program.

This eight year project will support the training of 220 (110 undergraduate and 110 post graduate) economically disadvantaged students from across Africa. Students will benefit from leadership training to ensure that they become Africa’s next generation of agricultural leaders. The Program will further provide opportunities for transformative action research using the expanded RUFORUM Community Action Research Program (CARP+) to enhance university-led community impact. The CARP+ will include supplemental focus on Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to enhance gains through greater collaboration and joint action between universities and TVET institutions. The Program will be scaled out through a series of competitive challenge programs and policy to other universities in Africa.

This funding supports RUFORUM’s broader objective to train the next generation of agricultural scientists within Africa. It also strengthens RUFORUM’s vision of achieving ‘a vibrant agricultural sector linked to African universities that can produce high-performing graduates and high-quality research, responsive to the demands of Africa’s farmers for innovations, and able to generate sustainable livelihoods and national economic development’. The partnership between RUFORUM and MasterCard Foundation will help fast track the achievement of this vision.

Click here to download full press release.

Malawi Agriculture Extension Week

25 - 29 July 2016. Malawi. Agriculture Extension Week organized by Malawi Forum for Agriculture Advisory Services (MaFAAS) and Farm Radio Trust. The extension

On Thursday 28 July is a special day during the extension week. There will be exhibitions of ICT4Ag Platforms by different organizations in Ag value chain and also a panel discussion on rebranding Agriculture to attract more youth. There will be side sessions to discuss new mode of delivering
information, monitoring and feedback from the farming community focusing on rural radio, Mobile phones and Apps, Internet and Video/TV. 

Community radio stations will cover and broadcast live all activities on this day to allow rural audience learn new innovations and extension methods.

More details here http://bit.ly/2alFQj0

Farmers can detect aflatoxins with a low-cost device

Low-cost device developed 

for rapid detection of aflatoxins in Medak

27 July 2017. A new technology that detects aflatoxins on location was developed by International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). The rapid test kit device is also affordable at under US$ 2.

This exciting advancement combined with a mobile extraction kit that will be ready in two months, will be the first portable cost-effective way for farmers and others to detect aflatoxins instantly.

With funding from the McKnight Foundation and in collaboration with partners including the National Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi-NASFAM, Farmers Union Malawi (FUM), Kamuzu Central Hospital and Nkhoma Hospital, Malawi, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) developed the rapid test kit for aflatoxins. It is a simple non-laboratory based kit that can be used directly by non-technical people such as farmers, agro-dealers and food processors. Currently, the test can be applied to detect aflatoxin in groundnuts.

The test kit launched officially by Dr. Wilkson Makumba, Director, Department of Agricultural Research Services (DARS), Lilongwe at ICRISAT-Malawi, requires limited technical knowledge or training and can be done on location.

The new test is simple to perform and can detect contamination at levels of 10 parts per billion (ppb) in less than 15 minutes. 

“The device will contribute to manage and reduce the entry of aflatoxins in the food value chains, improve diagnosis for local and export trade and support the food processing industry to maintain low exposure levels in food products in our local markets as well as for export markets,” said Dr. Anitha Seetha, Scientist, ICRISAT, Malawi. 

Groundnut, maize, sorghum, pearl millet, chilies, pistachios, cassava and other food products are contaminated by aflatoxin each year.

“ICRISAT has been working with smallholder farmers in Africa to combat the aflatoxin problem. This kit will enable rapid and cost-effective deployment by the government and private sector to protect public health and also improve the export prospects for African countries,” said Dr. David Bergvinson, Director General, ICRISAT.

How to Design and Facilitate Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships

The MSP Guide: How to Design and Facilitate Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships

 2016,  Pages: 188

Abstract:
In recent years, multi-stakeholder partnerships (MSPs) have become popular for tackling the complex challenges of sustainable development. This guide provides a practical framework for the design and facilitation of these collaborative processes that work across the boundaries of business, government, civil society and science. The guide links the underlying rationale for multi-stakeholder partnerships, with a clear four phase process model, a set of seven core principles, key ideas for facilitation and 60 participatory tools for analysis, planning and decision making.

The guide has been written for those directly involved in MSPs – as a stakeholder, leader, facilitator or funder – to provide both the conceptual foundations and practical tools that underpin successful partnerships.

The guide draws on the direct experience of staff from the Centre of Development Innovation (CDI), at Wageningen University & Research Centre, in supporting MSP processes in many countries around the world. It also compiles the ideas and materials behind CDI’s annual three week international course on facilitating MSPs and social learning. This work has been inspired by the motivation and passion that comes when people dare to “walk in each other’s shoes” to find new paths toward shared ambitions for the future.

Download this book (PDF 9.36MB)

Related PAEPARD blogpost:
Design and facilitation of multi-stakeholder partnerships (MSPs). 6 October 2015. Wageningen

6 farmer training videos on fruit fly management

25 July 2016. With support from CORAF, and in collaboration with the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin and the University of Ghana, Agro-Insight produced a series of 6 farmer training videos on fruit fly management, which will be of great relevance to all those involved in developing fruit value chains across Africa.

• Integrated approach against fruit flies
• Collecting fallen fruit against fruit flies
• Killing fruit flies with food baits
• Mass trapping of fruit flies
• Weaver ants against fruit flies
• Promoting weaver ants in your orchard

There is a related blog story: The smell of ants

All videos are freely downloadable as video, audio or 3gp file for mobile phone viewing from the Access Agriculture website, and come with one-page, farmer-friendly fact sheets that contain contact information of scientists involved.

These videos will become available in African languages in the near future.

Related PAEPARD projects:

ColeACP is seeking funding under the private sector Users' led programme (ULP) of PAEPARD in order to support research on mango residues / mango waste to combat the fruit fly.

• This includes research on the use of the kernel for cosmetics, bio gas, livestock feed and fertilizer. 
• In particular research funding is needed on the processing of mangoes infested with fruit fly larvae which may increase the protein value of poultry feed when transformed properly.
• Creating a revenue from waste may be a crucial incentive for farmers to collect infested mangoes.
• See presentation of Dr Timbilfou KIENDREBEOGO, Institute of Environmental and Agricultural Researches (INEAR), Department of Livestock Productions (DLP), Non Ruminants Program (NRP), Burkina Faso (Member of the ULP ColeACP consortium: Mango waste for feed): Use of production and transformation of the waste of mangoes for food of poultry in Burkina Faso.

ECOWAS is funding a Fruit Fly Project in 8 countries (including Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mali etc.) with a total amount of 23,312,000 USD for 3 years. Professor Kwame Afreh-Nuamah of the School of Agriculture, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, is the Chairman of the Fruit Fly National Committee of Ghana (and member of the PAEPARD and FARA/SSA-CP supported Citrus Innovation Platform of Ghana

CORAF/WECARD has funded the ARD component (research) of the Fruit Fly Project with 2.5 million USD. The project is coordinated by Dr Antonio Sinzogan from the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin. The Ghana country chapter is led by Dr Maxwell K. Billah of University of Ghana. The above mentioned videos are one of the outcomes for this research project.

Agribusiness TV

21st July 2016. Agribusiness TV has hit the nail on the head! 300,000 views, 6,000 shares! Watch the recording with Nawsheen and Inoussa about who the people are watching their videos. How they organise their operations and where they want to go with the project?

The main success is apparently achieved on Facebook. An overview over the videos produced is accessible on the Agribusiness TV LinkedIn account as well.

New sustainable livestock development report

1 July 2016. Rome. High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition launches sustainable livestock development report

In October 2014, the CFS requested the HLPE to prepare a report on sustainable agricultural development for food security and nutrition, including the role of livestock. An important planning meeting was held at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). Delia Grace, a veterinary epidemiologist and food safety expert at ILRI, served as one of ten members of the HLPE livestock project team members.

The report was launched at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on 1 Jul 2016, in Rome. ILRI Director General Jimmy Smith, who the day before gave a keynote presentation at a Partnerships Forum on Livestock at the Rome-based International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), attended the FAO launch of the report on the role of livestock in sustainable agricultural development.

Read the whole report:
HLPE. 2016. Sustainable agricultural development for food security and nutrition: What roles for livestock? A report by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security, Rome, 139 pp.

High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

12 July 2016. New York. High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
5th session.  Ensuring that no one is left behind - Food security and sustainable agriculture, climate action, sustainable oceans and terrestrial ecosystems - adopting a nexus approach.

The session identified important inter-linkages among the different nexus areas and enumerate possible threats to agriculture, the climate and the oceans and terrestrial ecosystems which are at the same time negatively affecting food security. The session elaborated on the necessity of using an integrated approach when dealing with this nexus at the sub-national, national, regional and global level.

• What are the most important inter-linkages among the different nexus areas?
• What are possible threats affecting agriculture, the climate, the oceans and terrestrial ecosystems and how do they affect food security?
• How can an integrated approach be used when dealing with this nexus at the sub-national, national, regional and global level to ensure that no one is left behind and what are good examples of such approach?

Panel members:

• Ms. Deborah Fulton, Secretary at the Committee on World Food Security (CFS)
• Ms. Evelyn Nguleka, President, World Farmers' Organization
• Ms. Omoyemen Lucia Odigie-Emmanuel, President of the Centre for Human Rights and Climate Change
• Mr. Jake Rice, Chief Scientist – Emeritus at the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)

Related:
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) participated in the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. This meeting was the first of many meetings and processes that took place to monitor progress in meeting the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Shirley Tarawali, assistant director general of ILRI, was one of five panel members who gave a short talk to frame the discussion. The other speakers were Dyborn Chibonga, CEO of the National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi; Jackie Klippenstein, vice president for Industry & Legislative Affairs at Dairy Farmers of America; Martha Hirpa, managing senior director atHeifer International; and Franck Berthe, leader of the Livestock Global Alliance that is facilitating joint communications of five of the world’s leading organizations focusing on global livestock issues.

Expert Network on Food and Non-food Biomass-based Value webs (BiomassNet)

21 July 2016. BiomassNet and the BiomassNet Dgroup are an initiative of the BiomassWeb project coordinated by the Center for Development Research (ZEF), an institute of the University of Bonn, Germany, and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), based in Accra, Ghana.

BiomassWeb investigates the production and utilization of biomass in Africa by looking at current and future biomass demand and supply. The project identifies innovation opportunities in pre- and post-harvest production technologies, institutional settings and governance structures. This is complemented by implementation activities focusing on joint learning and network building to create innovative capacity beyond the project duration.

BiomassWeb is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supported with funds from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development as part of the GlobE – Research for the global food supply program. the duration of the Project is: 2013-2016, with the prospect of continuation from 2016-2018 upon evaluation.

One feature of BiomassNet is the BiomassNet Dgroup, which promotes dialogue and cooperation amongst individuals and organisations working in food and non-food biomass production, processing and trading in African countries. The Dgroup welcomes all stakeholders who are interested in research and development issues related to biomass in Africa, such as scientists, policy makers, local, regional and national authorities, practitioners, civil society and development organisations, etc. The issues raised can refer to the broad range of food and non-food aspects of biomass, e.g., from agricultural production and nutritional value to innovative processing techniques and market analyses.

Related:

During a BiomassWeb Science Meeting in Ibadan, Nigeria, the participants visited parts of IITA's research campus. One part was the joint cassava peels processing plant. The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) tests different processes to find the best and efficient way to reuse cassava peels. This video shows some options what do to with the big amounts of cassava peels.

Smart and Affordable farming solutions

13 July 2016. Brussels. This Briefing was organised by the ACP-EU Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), in collaboration with the European Commission, the the European Commission / DEVCO, the ACP Secretariat, CONCORD, CEMA, Agricord and the PanAfrican Farmer’s Organisation (PAFO).

Panel 1: Setting the scene: Drivers of smart-farming in Africa
This panel discussed the available tools and approaches in support of smart-farming which can benefit the smallholders. It will also discuss public-private partnerships (PPPs) and multi-stakeholder alliances that aim at accelerating investments and transformative change in African agriculture.

• Smart-farming: trends and new opportunities benefiting small-holders; Josef Kienzle, Expert, Equipment and Institutions/Agro-Industries, Rural Infrastructure and Agro-Industries. Division (AGST), FAO [presentation|video]
• Connecting your farm: the future of Precision Agriculture in Africa; Louisa Parker, Manager Institutional Funding and Stakeholder Relations Africa and Middle EastAdvanced Technology Solutions AGCO Corporation (AGCO) [presentation|video]
• Contribution of unmanned aerial systems to precision farming; Giacomo Rambaldi, Senior Coordinator ICT, CTA; Damien van Eeckhout, Head of International Business Development, Airinov [presentation|video]
• Smart farming: a priority for farmers in Africa; Theo de Jager, President, Panafrican Farmers Organisation (PAFO) [presentation|video]

Panel 2: Scaling up successes in smart farming
This panel looked at specific examples of successful smart-farming applications at various levels. It will also show smart inclusive and sustainable PPPs.

• PPPs: Upscaling agribusiness successes in Africa; Chris Addison, Senior Coordinator, CTA; Stephen Muchiri, CEO, Eastern African Farmers Federation, Kenya [presentation|video]
• Proven successful smart-farming technologies: the case of Potato initiative Africa; Frank Nordmann, Grimme, Germany [presentation|video]
• Empowering women and youth through capacity building; Eric Kaduru, KadAfrica, Uganda [executive summary|video]
• Pooling forces: Machinery rings and cooperatives; Andreas Hastedt, Board member, German Association of Machinery Rings [presentation|video]

Programme and Background Note
Reader
Photos
Biodata of the speakers

A strategic approach to EU agricultural research & innovation final paper

A strategic approach to EU agricultural research & innovation final paper

July 2016. 40 pages

The year-long process to develop a strategic approach to EU agricultural research and innovation has successfully come to an end with the publication of the final paper.

This final paper incorporates the outcomes of the 'Designing the path' conference held in January 2016.

The strategy aims to harness EU investments in the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation in view of the following main objectives: ensure food security in the long term; address the environmental sustainability and resilience of competitive land-based primary production for food and non-food systems; and boost the sustainable growth of rural territories. In addition, the strategy seeks to improve the delivery of research results for policy use.

The strategy focuses on land-based primary production from agriculture and forestry and extends to food and non-food chains and the rural economy. Five priority areas for research and innovation have been identified, and clustered under two thematic headings.

Creating value from land - sustainable primary production: 

1. Priority 1: Resource management (notably soil, water and biodiversity) 
2. Priority 2: Healthier plants and animals 
3. Priority 3: Integrated ecological approaches from farm to landscape level. 

Enhancing rural innovation - modernising rural areas and policies:

1. Priority 4: New openings for rural growth 
2. Priority 5: Enhancing the human and social capital in rural areas.

Related PAEPARD blog posts:
Closing panel of the AU-EU Conference on Investing in a Food Secure Future

6 July 2016. Noordwijk, the Netherlands.

AU-EU Investing in a Food Secure Future

4 - 6 July 2016. Noordwijk, the Netherlands.
A strategic approach to EU agricultural research and innovation

26-28/01/2016. Brussels

Second Aflatoxin Biocontrol Workers’ Network Workshop

11 - 14 July 2016. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This expert meeting funded by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of USDA and IITA, brought together over 50 participants including researchers, farmers’ groups, national program partners, officials from regional and international organizations, policy makers, and donors. The workshop followed an earlier one held at the USDA-ARS labs at the University of Arizona, USA in 2012.

The participants of this Second Aflatoxin Biocontrol Workers’ Network Workshop focused on progress made in rolling out Aflasafe, an effective and safe biological control product which reduces the prevalence of aflatoxins in treated maize and groundnut by 80 - 99% from farm to fork.

“The workshop participants took stock of the current status of aflasafe development in various countries, discuss research protocols, and provide a platform to network and understand each other’s work. The result will be a shared understanding of the needs for future developments of biocontrol in Africa,” Dr Ranajit Bandyopadhyay, Senior Plant Pathologist, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)- Nigeria, and team leader of IITA’s aflasafe projects.

“Biological control products such as Aflasafe provide farmers with a safe, simple solution that protects their crops on the farm and in storage saving them a long list of tasks to carry out to prevent their crops from being contaminated with aflatoxins,” Prof Peter Cotty, a Research Plant Pathologist at USDA-ARS

Resource:
All Africa 19/07 Africa: Experts Meet to Tackle Killer Fungi in African Food Crops
Daily Nation 16/07 Experts meet to discuss how to tackle aflatoxin

Related:
J Food Prot. 2016 May; A Case for Regular Aflatoxin Monitoring in Peanut Butter in Sub-Saharan Africa: Lessons from a 3-Year Survey in Zambia.

Abstract
A 3-year comprehensive analysis of aflatoxin contamination in peanut butter was conducted in Zambia, sub-Saharan Africa. The study analyzed 954 containers of 24 local and imported peanut butter brands collected from shops in Chipata, Mambwe, Petauke, Katete, and Nyimba districts and also in Lusaka from 2012 to 2014. For analysis, a sample included six containers of a single brand, from the same processing batch number and the same shop. Each container was quantitatively analyzed for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in six replicates by using competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; thus, aflatoxin contamination level of a given sample was derived from an average of 36 test values. Results showed that 73% of the brands tested in 2012 were contaminated with AFB1 levels >20 μg/kg and ranged up to 130 μg/kg. In 2013, 80% of the brands were contaminated with AFB1 levels >20 μg/kg and ranged up to 10,740 μg/kg. Compared with brand data from 2012 and 2013, fewer brands in 2014, i.e., 53%, had aflatoxin B1 levels >20 μg/kg and ranged up to 1,000 μg/kg. Of the eight brands tested repeatedly across the 3-year period, none consistently averaged ≤20 μg/kg. Our survey clearly demonstrates the regular occurrence of high levels of AF B1 in peanut butter in Zambia. Considering that some of the brands tested originated from neighboring countries such as Malawi, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, the current findings provide a sub-Saharan regional perspective regarding the safety of peanut butter.

Sharing experiences from climate change and agriculture communities of practice

Guidebook for online facilitators – Sharing experiences from climate change and agriculture communities of practice
Nuutinen, M.; Neely, C.; García, C.; Avagyan, A.

FAO 2016, 80 p.

Abstract:
This guidebook synthesizes lessons learned from the FAO Mitigation of Climate Change in Agriculture programme’s work with online communities of practice. It aims to help others searching for effective ways to organize and facilitate online communities. The guidebook is a one-stop resource bank and background for establishing an online community of practice. It is hoped that it will encourage practitioners to organize online learning events. 

The book is targeted at people working on knowledge management, participatory approaches, stakeholder consultations and networks to enhance online capacity development efforts. The guidance is valid for all sectors, but focuses on challenges related to natural resource management under climate change in the development context.

Mainstreaming Ecosystem Services in East African Agriculture

5 July 2016. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) have released a joint document that provides technical and policy guidance to East African governments on measures promoting the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural production.

Year of publication: 2016

Publisher: FAO

Pages: 170 p.

The document titled, 'Mainstreaming Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity into Agricultural Production and Management in Eastern Africa,' Practical issues for consideration in National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans to minimize the use of agrochemicals, aims to promote mainstreaming through countries' National Biodiversity and Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). NBSAPs are the main policy tool for implementing the CBD's provisions at the national level and achieving the Convention's Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

The document features three parts, the first of which provides definitions and an overview of the international and African contexts. The second part provides detailed technical information on how ecosystem services and biodiversity can be used to minimize the use of agro-chemicals in agricultural production in East Africa. It describes ecosystem services, related practices, challenges and potential trade-offs in the following areas: pest and disease control; weed management; enhancing soil fertility; water conservation; pollination; management of agro-pastoral production systems; farm-level management of crop, tree and livestock integration; and farmers' traditional knowledge and innovation.

The third part of the document focuses on practical advice for policy makers in mainstreaming ecosystem services in agriculture. The first chapter of this section describes the international policy framework and gives examples and experiences of how agro-ecosystem services are being handled in the European Union (EU). The second chapter presents a case study of Kenya's national policy framework and policy instruments that are being used in various agricultural sectors in Kenya. The final chapter presents policy recommendations for promoting biodiversity and ecosystem services in agro-ecosystem management in NBSAPs as well as recommendations for policy entry points with regard to various national actors.

Améliorer l’accès des agriculteurs familiaux aux semences de qualité

12 - 14 juillet 2016. Goma, RDC. Dans le cadre du programme PAEPARD, le CSA et le Consortium des OP des Grands Lacs ont co-organisé à Goma (RDC) un atelier international sur le thème "Améliorer l’accès des agriculteurs familiaux aux semences de qualité".

L’atelier a rassemblé les multiples acteurs du système semenciers de la Région (organisations paysannes, institutions de recherche, secteur privé, acteurs gouvernementaux, ONG …) afin d’assurer un débat multi-acteurs autour de la question semencière et de dégager des pistes concrètes d’amélioration de l’accès des agriculteurs familiaux aux semences de qualité. La question des partenariats OP-recherche-secteur privé a été en particulier abordée.

Programme atelier semences Goma (PDF - 389.3 ko)

L’atelier visait à :

• Permettre un débat multi-acteurs sur les partenariats entre OP et autres acteurs des systèmes semenciers pour un accès durable aux semences de qualité ; 
• Partager et capitaliser les différentes expériences vécues par les OP dans leurs multiples collaborations avec les différents secteurs et acteurs ; 
• Susciter une réflexion collective sur les systèmes semenciers existant, sur base d’expériences pertinentes, afin de dégager leurs avantages et inconvénients pour les agriculteurs familiaux et les améliorations possibles ; 
• Envisager les conditions possibles pour une meilleure circulation du matériel semencier dans la
  
  Région des Grands Lacs ; Définir des lignes de plaidoyer pour améliorer la complémentarité entre les entreprises gouvernementales, commerciales et paysannes dans les domaines de la création variétale, de la production et de la distribution des semences tant au niveau national qu’au niveau régional ; 
• Etablir des mécanismes fiables et inclusifs devant faciliter les échanges d’informations et d’expertise entre les pays et les institutions de la Région des Grands Lacs dans le domaine des ressources phytogénétiques destinées à l’agriculture et du développement de la production semencière. 
• Enregistrer ceux-ci dans un document de plaidoyer et de capitalisation afin d’appuyer les actions de différentes OP actives sur le thème.

Presentations

INTRODUCTION
Présentation du contexte, objectif, résultats et méthodologie, par Jean Paul Yengayenge

(Consultant, Burundi)
Les systèmes semenciers en Afrique : enjeux pour les agriculteurs familiaux), par Mamadou Goita (IRPAD, Afrique)
Aperçu des systèmes semenciers dans la région des Grands Lacs, par Joseph Gafaranga (IMBARAGA, Rwanda)
  
SESSION 1. Contraintes et pistes d’amélioration autour du système semencier paysan
Enjeux pour les agriculteurs familiaux et leurs OP, partenariats possibles avec les acteurs : expérience de la CAPAD, par la CAPAD (Burundi)
Comment accompagner les OP pour améliorer les systèmes semenciers paysans, par Ernest Vyizigiro (ISABU, Burundi)
Expérience de la FOPAC SK dans l’amélioration du système semencier paysan, par la FOPAC SK

(Congo, Sud-Kivu)
Expérience de la LOFEPACO dans le système de la production locale de semences de qualité, par Vea Kaghoma (LOFEPACO, Congo)
Travaux de groupe, par Annick Sezibera (CAPAD, Burundi)
Présentation de PAEPARD (Plateforme pour les partenariats Afrique-Europe dans le domaine de la recherche et du développement agronomique), par Jonas Mugabe (PAEPARD)
 
SESSION 2. Contraintes et pistes d’amélioration autour du système semencier formel
Les systèmes semenciers formels dans la Région des Grands Lacs : importance, principaux acteurs et rôles, offre et demande, politiques semencières en place, par CEPGL/IRAZ
Les enjeux de la participation des OP dans la filière semencière formelle. Quel cadre légal pour permettre leur participation ?, par l’ASPRODEB
Accès des agriculteurs familiaux aux semences certifiées. Enseignements du seed Index, par Ido

Verhaegen (Access to Seed Index, Pays-Bas)
Quel rôle pour les OP dans le système semencier formel ? Quelles conditions pour permettre aux OP de jouer leur rôle ? Expérience de la Coopérative Agricole de Masisi, par la FOPAC NK (Congo, Nord-Kivu)
Quelles modalités et conditions de partenariat entre OP et autres acteurs de la filière semencière ? Expérience d’Imbaraga, par Joseph Gafaranga (IMBARAGA, Rwanda)
Quel rôle des institutions de recherche pour la participation des OP dans le système formel, par Ernest Vyizigiro (ISABU, Burundi)

Related:
Article : Comment améliorer l’offre semencière en Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre ?
Auteur : Philippe Massebiau, Chef de projet Politiques et marchés, Fondation pour l’agriculture et la ruralité dans le monde.

Face à la nécessité d’augmenter les rendements des cultures et la productivité du travail agricole en Afrique, les semences, intrant crucial pour l’efficacité des systèmes de production, suscitent une légitime attention. Le constat est sans appel : à l’inverse des pays développés voire émergents, plus de 80 % des semences utilisées en Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre sont des semences paysannes, c’est-à-dire issues de la sélection massale. Celles-ci sont majoritairement échangées, données ou vendues par l’agriculteur dans son environnement proche. Ces semences présentent des avantages mais ne permettent souvent de dégager qu’une valeur ajoutée limitée ; en outre, leur préservation peut être menacée en cas de crises climatiques ou sanitaires et de conflits. Dès lors, comment mettre en place une offre semencière appropriée, adoptable à grande échelle par les agriculteurs africains ? (Suite)

PAEPARD regional write-shops for the AUC Research Grants open call

11-15 July 2016. The African Union Commission launched in May 2016 Phase 2 of the African Union Research Grants programme with an open call for proposals for Research and Innovation in Africa supported by the European Union. The closing date for applications is 17 August 2016. All information and documents pertaining to the call are available on the AURG website.

PAEPARD management is organizing 2 regional write-shops to allow those who would like respond to the AUC Research Grants open call. The two write-shops are facilitated by Mr Gerard den Ouden who facilitated the 2012 African Union call.

• For Eastern and Southern Africa: Venue Entebbe. Dates: 11-15 July 2016
• For West-Africa consortia based: Venue Accra. Dates: 18-22 July 2016

Background:

Also in 2012 - taking advantage of the African Union Research Grants open call for proposal - PAEPARD organized 2 write-shops for consortia who had completed the partnership inception workshop. Besides the consortia initiated by PAEPARD.

• The first proposal write-shop, for Anglophones, took place in Entebbe from 18 to 22 March 2012. A total 24 participants attended the workshop excluding the facilitators and support staff. 
• The second proposal write-shop was devoted to Francophone participants and took place in Cotonou from 25 to 29 March 2012. A total 26 participants attended this workshop. 

The average cost per workshop was 40,000 Euro per workshop. 11 proposals focused on the AU Call (deadline 20 April 2012). The facilitator was: Gerard den Ouden (the Netherlands/Belgium). In 2012 none of the proposals was selected.

Evaluation African Union Research Grants 2011-2012
The focus was on socio-economic issues in the sectors of food security, sustainable energy and integrated water resources and waste management. Under the African Union Research Grant calls, there was a problem of high wastage and unmet demand with only 20 grants being made (with a further 11 reserves) against the 450 bids received (i.e., a success rate of about 5%). Funding available for the African Union Research Grants was very limited. As a consequence, the success rate for applying was low, and many potentially interesting projects did not receive funding. The available funding was thus not adequate to meet the strong demand for Africa-focused research grants.

Selected proposals: The two ARG calls (2001+2012) resulted in 20 grants up of to 750,000 (total value: EUR 13.8 million). The contracts all end between December 2015 and December 2016. Of the 20 projects funded, five were led by European and 15 by African organisations, (in contrast with FP7 consortia which are usually European led) although activities always take place in Africa. This funding was seen as a good preparation to be successful in FP7 calls, although it is too early to say whether AURGs will contribute to more success under H2020. The EU is pushing the AUC strongly to find other funding sources, including AU Member States, but this continues to be a struggle.

[See] Mackie, J., Engel, P., Bizzotto Molina, P., Deneckere, M., Spierings, E., Tondel, F. (et al.). 2016. Evaluation of EU support to Research and Innovation for development in partner countries (2007-2013). Volume 3. Page 136-137

Closing panel of the AU-EU Conference on Investing in a Food Secure Future

Closing panel

6 July 2016. High Level Ministerial segment.  The Government of the Netherlands, in its role as EU Presidency 2016, has taken the initiative to advance AU - EU cooperation in the field of agriculture, and place special emphasis on the role of agricultural policy cooperation in food security and nutrition improvement.

This agricultural policy cooperation seeks to support governments, farmers, private sector, scientists, businesses, and civil society, as well as regional blocs and international organizations, in adjusting agricultural, forestry and fisheries practices, food systems and social and economic policies in order to reach these goals.

Ministerial meeting

The Conference was built around a two-day Experts’ segment followed by a High Level Ministerial segment on the third day, giving political orientations to improve AU-EU agricultural cooperation and build on previous international efforts and existing structures.

Following Ministers participated in the High Level Ministerial meeting:

• H.E. Deo-Guige RUREMA, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of BURUNDI
• H.E. Henry Eyebe Ayissi, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of CAMEROON
• H.E. Henri DJOMBO, Ministre de l’Agriculture, de l’elevage et de la Pêche, Republique de CONGO
• H.E. Mboumba NzienguiI Mathieu, Ministre de l'Agriculture GABON
• H.E. Jacqueline Marthe Sultan, Ministre de l’Agriculture GUINEA
• H.E. Lisemelo 'Mapalesa MOTHOKHO, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security LESOTHO
• H.E. Audu I. Ogbeh OFR, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development NIGERIA
• H.E. Gerardine Mukeshimana, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources RWANDA
• H.E. Lam Akol Ajawin Agongdit, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security SOUTH SUDAN
• H.E. Ibrahim Adem Ahmed Eldekerei, Minister of Agriculture & Irrigation SUDAN
• H.E. Vincent Ssempijja, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fishery UGANDA

Themes of cooperation

• Climate smart agriculture
• Fighting Food Losses and Waste
• Improved Market Access
• Responsible Private Sector Investment
• Science and Innovation for Agricultural Development

The Conference put forward partnerships on the main themes of AU-EU cooperation, in order to accelerate the implementation of relevant agreements and actions as well as to strengthen the cooperation with privates sector, especially through public private partnerships. This will be a rolling agenda for the AU-EU cooperation the coming years.

• The Netherlands, as co-organizer of the AU-EU Investing in a Food Secure Future Conference,
  
  committed to funding two to four Agri-business incubators for Africa, and invited to further exploring this approach with other partners.
• The European Commission committed to deepen their work in the five thematic areas, especially via EC Funds, mainly EDF, ENI for North Africa, the Global Public Goods Fund, Agrifi, and Funds of the European Investment Bank.
• The Dutch Topsector Agri-food and Horticulture will support the set up of a AU-EU Business Forum involving Government, private sector, farmers organizations, and financial institutions;
• UNECA offered a platform for accelerating technology transfer on thematic issues, including
  
  on Food Loss and Waste.
• And as a next step facilitate the continued dialogue called for by the Conference, by bringing a biennial Ministerial AU-EU ‘Roundtable’ focused on implementation to life, aimed at a strong and lasting partnership of AU and EU around the five main themes of cooperation.

Highlight:

Creation of two new research-industry-public partnership incubators.

Set up a Africa-EU multistakeholder agricultural business platform focused on market access

• This proposal involves establishing two new incubator programs in each of the 54 countries. 
• A science-driven approach is the only way to transform agricultural markets quickly enough. In order to achieve this transformation, there needs to be a new paradigm for commercializing science to address critical questions asked of scientists. 
• Innovation systems require bringing relevant actors together to achieve the kind of big impact Africa is looking for. While a number of models have already been tested, only one of those models is implementing innovation platforms. 
• Furthermore, there is a need to engage the private sector, research universities, and policymakers in most effectively designing incubation programs. 
• Currently, there are a number of incubators around a variety of value chains, including coffee, banana, livestock, vegetables, and agroforestry products. 
• These incubators are creating direct jobs, supporting SMEs, and are often the basis for devleoping agribusiness curricula.

References:

• CHAIR‘S SUMMARY, 27 pages
• CHAIR‘S COMMUNIQUÉ, 6 pages
• See the pictures on Flickr

Highlight:

ColeACP announced at the Ministerial meeting the approval by the EC/DG-DevCo (Directorate General Development Cooperation) of the ColeACP programme on "Competitiveness through sustainable business" (European Development Fund/EDF).

“In our new programme, the economic dimension of the business is fundamental. So far, we have devoted ourselves to its technical dimension by supporting businesses in the field of food safety, traceability and the implementation of international standards. With the new programme, we also want to help them integrate all the economic data into their management and decisionmaking. The objective is competitiveness. In other words, ensure that the technical skills acquired by businesses are used to improve their economic performance and, in addition, to help unlock the potential of agro-industrial production in developing countries. 

The support of COLEACP will therefore extend to entrepreneurial development as a whole, including dimensions such as market analysis, marketing, the cold chain, logistics, invoicing and administration. This diversification is designed to set up a virtuous circle to resolve the main problem of SMEs in Southern countries - access to credit. By working to consolidate their economic pillar, COLEACP will help improve their bankability, to facilitate the raising of funds from financial institutions, and thus leverage their development. The aim, in fact, is to prepare ACP businesses so that they are in a position to take advantage of opportunities that will inevitably arise for them in the coming decades.”  Guy Stinglhamber, General Delegate of COLEACP

Farming for the future of Friends of the Earth

Farming for the Future: Organic and Agroecological Solutions to Feed the World

This report was written by Christopher D. Cook, Kari Hamerschlag, Friends of the Earth U.S. and Kendra Klein, Friends of the Earth U.S

2016, 23 pages

• Read the full report
• Read the executive summary

The science is clear: Feeding the world sustainably requires that we protect the ecological resources that are essential for producing food now and in the future. What’s more, research consistently shows that hunger is not a problem of overall supply of food, but results from poverty, lack of democracy and unequal access to land, water and other resources. 

Rather than producing more food under unequal and ecologically destructive conditions, the solution to hunger hinges on creating a more sustainable, democratic and fair food system for all.

Despite the many proven benefits of ecological farming, there is a massive disparity in research funding for organic in comparison to conventional agriculture. Of the $49 billion invested globally in agricultural research, less than one percent goes to organic farming.164 In the U.S., less than two percent of public agricultural research funding goes to organic and biologically diversified farming.165,166 Agroecological farming approaches have achieved high levels of environmental performance and productivity despite minimal funding. Increased research could improve yields and environmental gains beyond already proven success. (page 17)

Presentations

Learn from top scientists and thought leaders on the science of sustainable food production and a comprehensive approach to creating a healthy, resilient food system to feed all people, now and into the future.

• Kendra Klein, PhD, Staff Scientist, Friends of the Earth Can Organic Feed the World
• Frances Moore Lappe, Cofounder & Director, Small Planet Institute The Art of Creating Scarcity From Plenty
• Lauren Ponisio, PhD, UC Riverside How do Yields from Organic and Conventional Farming Systems Compare?
• John Reganold, PhD, Professor of Soil Science and Agroecology, Washington State University Beyond Yield: The Multiple Benefits of Organic Agriculture
• Marcia Ishii-Eiteman, PhD, Senior Scientist, Pesticide Action Network
• Agroecology Works: Towards Resilient Food and Farming Systems

The AfDB strategy for Africa’s agricultural transformation

22 May 2016. Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.  The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank

Group (AfDB) has approved an agricultural transformation strategy for a competitive and inclusive agribusiness sector that creates wealth, improves lives and secures the environment. The document was widely reviewed by global stakeholders, peer institutions and partners as well as through regional consultations held in Rabat, Kinshasa, Lusaka, Dar es Salaam and Accra.

Focusing on transformation, scaling up agriculture as a business through value addition, led by the private sector and enabled by the public sector, and using innovative financing mechanisms, the strategy aims to end hunger and rural poverty in Africa in the next decade.

It is the second of the Bank’s High 5 priorities – Light up and power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa – a blueprint for the implementation of its Ten Year Strategy 2013-2022.

Realizing the objectives of the strategy would involve increased productivity; value addition; investment in infrastructure; creating an enabling agribusiness environment; catalyzing capital flows; ensuring inclusivity, sustainability and effective nutrition; all in a coordinated manner.

• The idea is to drive transformation through 15 priority commodity value chains in given agro-ecological zones specifically to achieve self-sufficiency in key commodities such as rice, wheat, fish, palm oil, horticulture, cassava; move up the value chain in key export-oriented commodities like cocoa, coffee, cotton, cashew; create a food-secure Sahel in sorghum, millet, livestock; and realize the potential of the Guinea savannah in maize, soybean and livestock.
• The Feed Africa Strategy makes a strong case for reversing the situation of a continent that spends US $35.4 billion on food imports annually despite being home to 65% of the world’s undeveloped arable land.
• The total investment for the realization of the transformation agenda over 10 years is estimated at US $315-400 billion with annual returns of US $85 billion, when fully funded.
• The Bank will itself invest US $24 billion and leverage additional investments through equity, quasi equity, debt and risk instruments to catalyze investments at scale from the private sector and with co-financing from traditional donors and new players. 
• The identified financing gap estimated at US $23 billion can be met using innovative de-risking tools and blended financing from combined sovereign, pension and private equity funds.

Related PAEPARD blog post:

23-27 May 2016. Lusaka. 2016 AfDB Annual Meetings to focus on energy and climate change