WEBINAR: Critical Role of Research and Development in Achieving Resilient and Sustainable Food Systems.

7 July 2021. Side event to the Science Days for the UN Food Systems Summit.  The Critical Role of Research and Development in Achieving Resilient and Sustainable Food Systems. by the US Agency for International Development; Regional Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ReNAPRI); African Development Bank (AfDB); Alliance for African Partnership; World Bank.

The discussion reviewed evidence of evolving economic transformation and progress towards resilience in sub-Saharan Africa from the Board for International Food and Agriculture Development (BIFAD)-commissioned Agricultural Productivity Growth, Resilience, and Economic Transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa report and the World Bank publication, Harvesting Prosperity: Technology and Productivity Growth in Agriculture. 

Together, panelists and participants identified lessons learned from countries in which substantial investments in adaptive agricultural research and development and extension systems have shown the catalytic role of productivity-led agricultural growth in contributing to employment, resilience, and economic transformation.

• Richard Mkandawire Director, Africa Office, Alliance for African Partnership, Michigan State University & Chair, National Planning Commission Government of Malawi 
• Lulama Ndibongo Traub Technical Director, Regional Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes in Africa (ReNAPRI) 
• Kevin Chika Urama Senior Director, African Development Institute, AFDB Group 
• Louise Fox Nonresident Senior Fellow, African Growth Initiative, Brookings Institution Madhur Gautam Lead Economist, Agriculture Global Pracitice The World bank 
• Rob Bertram Chief Scientist, Bureau for Resilience and Food Security, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) 
• Thom Jayne University Foundation Professor of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Michigan State University 
• Usha Barwale Zehr Director and Chief Technology Officer, Mahyco Private Limited (MAHYCO), India and Executive Director, Grow Indigo Private Ltd 
• Natasha Santos Vice President of Global Stakeholder Strategy and Affairs, Bayer Crop Science Wandile Sihlobo Chief Economist, AgBiz, South Africa