Thursday, September 30, 2021

REPORT: Insight on France-CGIAR research

"les dossiers d'Agropolis International" - Special Partnership Issue, n° 26, September 2021,147 pages
"Agroecological transformation for sustainable food systems : Insight on France-CGIAR research"

The French Commission for International Agricultural Research (CRAI) and Agropolis International, on behalf of CIRAD, INRAE and IRD and in partnership with CGIAR, has produced this new issue in the ‘Les dossiers d’Agropolis international’ series devoted to agroecology. This publication has been produced within the framework of the Action Plan signed by CGIAR and the French government on February 4th 2021 to strengthen French collaboration with CGIAR, where agroecology is highlighted as one of the three key priorities (alongside climate change, nutrition and food systems).

Some 500 French and CGIAR agroecology scientistist and experts from around 100 national and international universities and research organizations from France (among others CIRAD, INRAE and IRD) and abroad and from all CGIAR Centers.

This Dossier is not meant to be exhaustive, the research examples presented reflect the diversity and dynamism of scientific and technological research at national and international levels.
at No comments:

FANRPAN 2021 Annual Policy Dialogue

28 -30 September 2021. FANRPAN 2021 Annual Policy Dialogue Catalysing Action to Transform Africa’s Food Systems. 

The objective of this dialogue was to convene a multistakeholder platform for meaningful dialogue and interaction among food systems actors inorder to catalyse action on the urgent implementation of coherent policies, strategies and innovative programmes to transform Africa’s food systems to deliver sustainable and healthy food for all.
The year 2021 is critical for food system transformation. Over the past 18 months, FANRPAN and its partners have responded to the United Nations Secretary General’s call to support a dynamic and harmonized global push to leverage changes in our food systems to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 through the Food Systems Summit Dialogue process. FANRPAN and its partners participanted in and convened 6 independent United Nations Food System Summit (UNFSS) dialogues where challenges, opportunities, lessons and gamechanging solutions to Africa’s food systems were discussed. 

This year’s FANRPAN Annual Regional Multistakeholder Policy Dialogue is being held a week after the UN Food Systems Summit and is critical for Africa’s food systems. It offers an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss the outcomes of the Summit and consider its implications for advancing the commitments made at the Malabo Heads of State Summit and the achievement of SDGs.

Policy and programmatic actions for sustainable supply of diverse, safe and nutritious food

  • Moderator - Dr Jemimah Njuki IFPRI
  • The role of input suppliers (e.g. seed systems, agro-chemicals), trade and food markets: incentivising markets to provide nutritious and safe food - Dr John Mukuka ACTESA
  • Technologies to improve supply of diverse, safe and nutritious foods across the value chain - Ms Nancy Muchiri AATF 
  • Enhancing agro-biodiversity - African indigenous smart foods and neglected and orphan crops -  Ms Joanna Kane-Potaka ICRISAT
  • Smart use of policy instruments, e.g. subsidies and tariffs, to promote production of diverse and nutritious food - Dr Cuthbert Kambanje FAOSFS 
  • Building the capacity of consumers to demand diverse, safe and nutritious food - Prof Hettie Schönfeldt UP 
  • Farmers’ Voice – Role of family farms in food and nutrition security - Dr Theo de Jager SAAI/FANRPAN Board/WFO

Climate Action Pathways to unlock food systems transformations to achieve a zero carbon future

  • Moderator - Mr Mahamadou Nassirou Ba UNECA
  • Acting on evidence and lessons from ‘future scenario modelling’ to inform policies - Dr Nalishebo Meebelo ReNAPRI & iFEED Regional Champion 
  • Actions for mitigating GHG emissions from African food systems - Dr Ackim Mwape GRA
  • Nature based solutions - For resilience, mitigation and sustainable development (biocontrol, agroecology) - Dr Chrysantus M. Tanga ICIPE 
  • Towards a green economy - climate proofing investments in support of the water – nutrition -youth and women nexus - Dr Robson Mutandi IFAD 
  • The role of ICT in agriculture and food systems - Dr Tom Routen Logiak

Strengthening AR4D and mobilising African voices for resilient and sustainable food systems

  • Moderator – Prof Lindiwe Majele Sibanda
  • Immediate actions for AR4D to deliver resilient and sustainable food systems Dr Yemi Akinbamijo FARA 
  • Youth engagement in agricultural and food system value chains - Mr Kofi Acquaye YPARD 
  • Role of One CGIAR - Scaling up, out, and deeper for wider impact - Dr Inga Jacobs-Mata IWMI 
  • Using big data and policy research evidence to transform Africa’s food systems Dr Racine LY AKADEMIYA2063 
  • Regional Economic Communities – coordinated policies for inclusive food systems - Ms Providence Mavubi COMESA 
  • Building trans/multi-disciplinary capacity for Africa’s resilient and sustainable food systems - Dr Anthony Egeru RUFORUM 
  • Circular economy - Prof James Pittock ANU 
  • Promoting innovative financing – the role of philanthropy - Dr Bheki Moyo Wits Centre in African Philanthropy & Social Investment

at No comments:

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Agri4D Online Conference of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)

28-30 September 2021. Agri4D Online Conference 2021. Food Systems for New Realities. by SLU/Sweden. 
  • Theme 2 of the Agri4D conference focuses on the role for smallholders within inclusive food systems that will enable rural and urban (producer and consumer) food and nutrition security. There is tremendous potential for smallholders to benefit from the current changes occurring within rural-urban food systems as greater proportions of developing country populations shift to being net purchasers of food, and as rural populations increasingly consolidate into new small towns, and as existing urban populations grow.
  • There are also high risks and many barriers, particularly in the face of changing land markets, declining plot sizes, rising agribusiness-Big Food industry interactions and changing dietary needs and preferences, not to mention changing climatic and environmental conditions, or disruptive pandemic health threats.

Extract of the programme

Welcome address by Maria Knutson Wedel, Vice-Chancellor SLU Opening address by Janine Alm
Ericson, Sweden´s State Secretary to the Minister for International Development Cooperation Per Olsson Fridh Plenary Keynote 1 - Ana María Loboguerrero, CIAT Plenary Keynote 2 - Rhoda Mofya-Mukuka, FAO

Plenary keynote speakers 
  • Scaling-up action for transformative change of the world's food systems Martien van Nieuwkoop, World Bank Group, Agriculture Global Practice 
  • Food systems: Challenges and solutions from a Farmers perspective Stephen Muchiri, Eastern African Farmers Federation (EAFF)
  • Sustainable livestock opportunities and new food system realities Shirley Tarawali, ILRI

Smallholder-inclusive Food and Nutrition Security - Panel 

  • Vermi-composting improved the livelihood of women-headed households through increased agricultural productivity in northern Ethiopia Kassa Teka et al.
  • Adoption constraints and impacts of training sources and consumption behavior on supply of edible crickets in Kenya Arnold Musungu et al.
  • The relations of maize- an interdisciplinary understanding of crop-led agriculture development in Africa Klara Fischer

Agroecology - Panel 1

Agroecology - Panel 2

  • Muneezay Jaffery Agroecology for new realities 
  • Artur Granstedt and Olof Thomsson Food for the future! Agriculture Scenarios for climate and environment
    The impact of low input example farms on  climate - per hectare of agricultural area on average - was 82 to 88 % lower , taking into account the carbon sequestration in the soil in each cultivation system and the nitrogen surplus 43 % lower than today's average conventional agriculture in Sweden. Two scenarios, based on two different diets, showed that national self-sufficiency (for 11 million inhabitants by 2030) based on the example farms, using mainly local and renewable resources, could be produced on a total of 2.7 to 3.1 million ha (available today 3 million ha but historically 3.5). It requires however a radical dietary change with a 44 % reduction from today’s average consumption of meat from ruminants and at least 90 % less meat from monogastric animals
Acroecology - Poster session 
  • Livestock Cafés; experimental research and co-learning hubs in Dryland Transform Gert Nyberg et al. 
  • Innovations for agroecological sustainability by rural youth; a case study Dheeraj Singh et al. 
  • Analysis of seed and ware potato production systems and yield constraints in Zimbabwe: towards sustainable production, food security and improved livelihoods. Oniward Svubure and T Chapman 
  • Resource Use Efficiency and Value Chain Analysis in Smallholder Irish Potato Production in Zimbabwe: toward ecological sustainability for household food security 
  • Embracing the whole farm approach as a way of promoting economic, environmental and socially sustainable food production Perez K. Katambala 
  • Growth and yield of amaranth crop (Amaranthus cruentus L.) as affected by Siam weed compost tea Judicaël Dandjlessa et al. 
  • Impacts of Long-term Integrated Nutrient Management on Crop Yield and Soil Health in Northern Ghana Edwin K. Akley et al. 
  • Arbuscular mycorrhiza for Striga control in smallholder farming systems John Baptist Tumuhairwe and Sigrun Dahlin

Resilience against shocks: COVID-19 & Climate change 

Chair Julius Adewopo, IITA - moderator
  • Keynote speaker Elisabeth Simelton, ICRAF 
  • Building Organizational Resilience for Food System Transformation during COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of Extension System in Nigeria Ifeoma Anugwa et al. 
  • Climate change mitigation through community managed conservation: a case study from arid zone of Pali, India Dheeraj Singh et al. 
  • Climate Change and Maize Production in Zambia: Time Series Analysis Byrne Kaulu 
  • Recovery and building resilience during and after pandemics: How gender responsive are the policy measures? Linda Etale et al.
at No comments:

REPORT: Seed Markets for Agroecology

30 September 2021. 14:00 until 16:00 CET. Seed Markets for Agroecology

Webinar organised by Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World) / Brot für Alle (Bread for All) on the 30th September from to discuss the ACT Alliance EU PCD Discussion paper on "Seed Markets for Agroecology" which was published in December 2020, and translated into French.

With this briefing (15 p.), ACT Alliance EU intends to share insights on the forthcoming reform in 2021 of EU seed legislation with partners in the global South. The new EU Organic Regulation and the recent adoption of the European Green Deal are expected to have far reaching impacts on EU seed legislation.

The increasing concentration and global reach of the commercial seed breeding industry has contributed to the erosion of crop diversity. The few remaining EU, US and China-based seed companies are driving market expansion and are using their power in the market to influence political and legal (seed) frameworks. The EU itself has wide ranging influence as a donor, a standard setter and as a global actor in international food and agricultural fora. In particular, the EU’s trade policy continues to contribute to the loss of agrobiodiversity. Yet, despite its commercial value, the industrial food chain produces just 30 percent of global food supply. 70 percent of the world’s food comes from smallholder farming and the peasant food web supplies, which rely on seed produced and distributed through farm-based seed systems. (page 3)
Presentation of the ACT Alliance EU PCD Discussion Paper “Seed Markets for Agroecology” 
  1. Stig TANZMANN, Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World) 
  2. Tina GOETHE, Brot für Alle (Bread for All) 
EU Seed Law Reform : Institutions & Timeline 
  • Fulya BATUR, Consultant, Kybele 
  • Reactions from Partners Organisations in the Global South 
  • Discussion, Questions & Answers Moderator: Karin ULMER
at No comments:

REPORT: Are livestock always bad for the planet?

Are livestock always bad for the planet? Are livestock bad for the planet? Rethinking the protein transition and climate change debate. by Ella Houzer and Ian Scoones
PASTRES, September 2021

This report warns that the dominant picture of livestock’s impacts on climate change has been distorted by faulty assumptions that focus on intensive, industrial farming in rich countries. Millions of people worldwide who depend on extensive livestock production, with relatively lower climate impacts, are being ignored by debates on the future of food.

The report identifies ten flaws in the way that livestock’s climate impacts have been assessed, and suggests how pastoralists could be better included in future debates about food and the climate.

The report is published by the European Research Council-supported PASTRES programme and 13 collaborating organisations

A launch event to discuss the report was held on 27 September.

Speakers included Ian Scoones (PASTRES), Veronique Ancey (UN FAO), Fernando Garcia Dory (Rangelands Initiative/European Shepherds Network), Fiona Flintan (International Livestock Research Institute) and Engin Yılmaz (Alliance for Mediterranean Nature & Culture/Yolda Initiative). The event was held as part of the Italian government’s All4Climate series ahead of the COP26 pre-summit.

Download the accompanying briefing: Are livestock always bad for the planet?

Information sheets:


at No comments:

EU announces €140 million to support research in sustainable food systems

25 September 2021. Speaking at the Global Citizen Live event, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced that the European Union is pledging €140 million to support research in sustainable food systems and tackle food hunger via CGIAR, formerly also known as Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research.

Why research in food systems transformation is key to ending hunger

The global climate crises, depletion of natural resources, and biodiversity loss are existential threats to humankind and the defining global challenges of our century. They are leading threats to providing sustainable food and nutrition security for all. Together, they propel poor health, inequalities, social upheaval, and conflicts.

Food systems are both a driver and a victim of these challenges. Yet — if managed and governed differently — they can be part of the solutions and a champion of change, leading other sectors with solutions and inspiration.

To succeed, knowledge, capacities, quality in the partnerships, contextualised innovations and coordinated global actions are of utmost importance.

A radical realignment of food systems around the world could accomplish an end to hunger and malnutrition in all its forms, while promoting gender equality, job creation, prosperous livelihoods, opportunities for youth, climate solutions, and environmental health. This is what CGIAR proposes to achieve through its 2030 Research and Innovation Strategy.

The EU support will strengthen CGIAR capacities and interventions to renew its research and innovation portfolio to address production methods, practices and related policies; and to scale up nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based approaches (e.g. agro-ecological and regenerative approaches, agroforestry, sustainable land management, etc.) to improve productivity based on ecological processes to contribute to economic, social and environmental sustainability.

at No comments:

New documentary The Ants and the Grasshopper

26 September. New documentary The Ants and the Grasshopper This new documentary follows Anita Chitaya’s journey from her drought-hit village in Malawi to meet farmers and politicians in the US. For ten years, this documentary has been under production in Malawi and the United States. 

Raj Patel, a professor of public affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and a member of the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems,  worked with the Soils, Food and Healthy Communities (SFHC) team for more than a decade, documenting Chitaya’s work in a film called The Ants & the Grasshopper. 


Chitaya had first met Lupafya when she visited the pediatric nutrition clinic. The older woman, MamaLupafya as she is called, had supported her in a difficult marriage, one into which Chitaya had been coerced. Through attending workshops hosted by the SFHC, then by finding work as one of its trainers, and through long and difficult work in her home, Chitaya has transformed her marriage into one characterized by equality.
There are times when her husband, Christopher Nyoni, struggles to pull his weight in the house. He is afflicted by night blindness, a possible consequence of his own malnutrition early in life. When it gets dark, he is no longer able to cook or clean and needs help finding his way around the house. But by the light of day, he can be seen hunched over a stove or doing laundry or fetching water—all of which are traditionally women’s work. It is a sign of Chitaya’s success thatNyoni is keen to break with patriarchal tradition: “I do not want my son to get married the way I did,” he told me.

The pathway to transforming this and other gender relationships in Bwabwa lay through changing the culture around food. An initial effort to achieve this shift involved door-to-door organizing. Members of the SFHC would visit households with an expert and offer to teach men how to cook novel foods, such as soy. After an enthusiastic afternoon gathered around a stove, surrounded by exhortations to do better, the men promised they would change. They did not. So the SFHC farmers brainstormed an alternative.

A constant worry for men was the social stigma of doing the effeminate work of cooking. “What if my
friends see me?” asked Winston Zgambo. Having tried to cater to men’s embarrassment by offering private cooking lessons, the SFHC team tried the opposite. They held public cooking competitions for whole families. On Recipe Days, all men were involved in cooking—and it was fun. By gamifying the change in behavior through offering prizes and social recognition for success, the women cracked open the possibilities for changing not just food culture, but inequalities in power within the home.

Data from the SFHC’s work speak for themselves. Participation in the program moved children from being below the average weight for their age to surpassing the average. A recent study in which women farmers showed other mothers how to farm led to a range of benefits, from increased dietary diversity for children to lower maternal depression rates and higher rates of fathers’ participation in chores.

Full story: 22/09 Scientific American Agroecology Is the Solution to World Hunger
at No comments:

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Upcoming webinars during the month of October and beyond

1 October 2021. 13:00 to 14:30 CEST Agri-food systems transformation in times of climate change and pandemics: what role for science? Recording forthcoming
  • The outcomes of the UNFSS 21 (including the Science Days and the Pre-Summit) fed into this panel discussion at pre-COP26 Recording forthcoming
1-5 October 2021. World Food Forum 2021.
  • 05/10 Youth transforming world’s food systems (EU/CIRAD/FAO)  Recording forthcoming
  • Since 2020, national governments and food systems actors in 50 countries have collaborated with the EU, FAO and CIRAD to carry out participatory food systems assessments in support of the transition to more sustainable food systems.
4 October 2021. European Parliament Plenary in Strasbourg on biodiversity and INTPA Recording available
4 October 2021. Agroforestry and transition to gender equal sustainable food systems Recording forthcoming?
  • The webinar was organised by Agroforestry Network, the Swedish Agricultural University (SLU) and Vi Agroforestry (Vi-skogen), in partnership with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
4-6 October 2021. Nature for Live opening by UNDP and UNEP Recording available Recording available
  • 05/10 This day focused on the need to transform how we grow and trade in commodities, especially those commodities that have the biggest impacts on the planet, and on the need to reposition communities at the heart of sustainable food production. Sessions: (a) Transforming food production systems; (b) Transforming food systems for nature and people - making changes happen; (c) Shifting the balance: Putting communities at the center of sustainable production
4-7 October 2021. Montpellier Global days Recording forthcoming?
  • The University of Montpellier and its I-SITE MUSE partners offered four days devoted to higher education, research and innovation on the eve of the New Africa France Summit to be held in Montpellier on October 8, 2021.
  • 4/10: Agroecological transitions Recording forthcoming? The Round table "cocoa economic and political actors" brought together producers, professional organizations, cocoa companies, public authorities, and researchers. Four African countries (Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria) supply more than 70% of the world's cocoa.
  • 7/10 VIRTUAL EVENT: Competitive funding, evaluation, impact, accountability
5 October 2021. Global Food 50/50: Inaugural report on gender, diversity and power in the global food system Recording available

5 October 2021. The aim of the WTO Trade Dialogues on Food is to create a conversation around the role of international trade in food security. Recording available

5 October 2021. 3 p.m. CEST Launch of 'Livestock for a Small Planet'

5 October 2021. 2:00 PM CEST Accelerating clean energy access in rural areas
Presenting WLE energy research that can help countries enhance smallholder access to clean energy, address climate adaptation/mitigation challenges, and transform food, land and water systems.
By CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE)

5 October 2021. NENA Regional network on nutrition: virtual event on "Addressing healthy diets and climate change.

6 October 2021. How to develop a sustainable cotton to clothing value chain in Africa.
To celebrate World Cotton Day, ITC and the World Trade Organization - WTO hosted a high-level webinar with authorities, experts, fashion and environmental activists to discuss "how to develop a sustainable cotton to clothing value chain in Africa".

7 October 2021. “Water for Food Global Forum” a virtual series of events in October that will convene leading international experts, growers and organizations to focus on achieving global water and food security. 07/10 Water and Food Systems Panel; 14/10 Women innovators working to solve farming challenges; 14/10 The future of the farmer-led irrigation development experience in sub-Saharan Africa; 14/10 From climate models to farmer decision support: An introduction to the DAWN project

7 October 2021. 2:00 PM CEST Drought and flood risk reduction strategies
Introducing several WLE-supported risk management initiatives and solutions that have been implemented across South Asia. The webinar will enhance the knowledge and awareness of disaster risk management professionals and provide an opportunity for south–south learning.
By CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE)

7 October 2021. Updating the Global Food Security Research Strategy: New Evidence and Opportunities
  • U.S. Government agencies that are part of the Feed the Future initiative will develop an updated U.S. Government’s Global Food Security Research Strategy to help achieve sustainable reductions in hunger, poverty and malnutrition through science, technology and innovation.
11 -15 October 2021. UN Biodiversity Conference
  • The Fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP-15) in Kunming, China is being held in two phases.
  • Phase one takes place virtually, from 11 to 15 October and will include a High-Level Segment from 12 to 13 October. Phase two will be an in-person meeting in Kunming, from 25 April to 8 May 2022.
12 October 2021. 4-5 PM CEST. Launch of the Digital Agri Hub, a multiactor knowledge broker and matchmaking platform

12 October 2021. BBC follow the food
  • The hour long event will include a key note interview as well as interviews with the team behind the Global Food Security Index to explain the findings and ten year trends as well as regional “breakout” segments covering Asia, Middle East and Africa, North America, Latin America and Europe.
  • BBC Global News invites organises this special webinar event hosted by James Wong, ethnobotanist and presenter of the BBC series, Follow the Food, which examines the biggest challenges facing the world food system.
12 October 2021. 2 PM CEST. Towards resilient city region food systems
  • This webinar will introduce key tools developed by the RUAF Global Partnership and WLE to assess the climate-resilience of urban areas.
  • It will outline the action plans, policies and programs required to develop innovative and resilience-strengthening water and food solutions.
  • By CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE)
11 -12 October 2021. Farmer Research Film Festival Reimaging research for agroecology
Films will be screened on YouTube Live Stream simultaneously in three different languages (English, Spanish, and French)

11-15 October 2021. CFS 49/The 49th Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS)
  • 11/05 SIDE EVENT 1 Transforming Food, Land and Water Systems for Sustainable Healthy Diets Organizers: Stanford University, WorldFish, Environmental Defense Fund, UN Nutrition, CGIAR, ILRI
  • 11/05 SIDE EVENT 2 Food for Our Future: Youth Leading Radical Transformations Toward Economies of Well-being Organizers: CSM (Youth working group), UN Special Rapporteur on Right to Food
  • 11/05 SIDE EVENT 3 Development Finance and Land Rights: Leveraging the VGGT to Enhance Food Systems, Climate Resilience, and Land Degradation Neutrality Organizers: Land Portal Foundation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands – RVO, UNCCD, GIZ, FAO, USAID
  • 11/05 SIDE EVENT 4 Prioritizing Climate Resilience: Building a New Policy Consensus with Smallholder Farmers Organizers: GAFSP, IISD, SDG2 Advocacy Hub, Asian Farmers Association (TBC), Réseau des organisations paysannes et de producteurs de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (ROPPA) (TBC), Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany (TBC)
  • 12/05 SIDE EVENT 5 From Commitments to Action: The Importance of the CFS Voluntary Guidelines for a Coalition for Action on Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems Organizers: World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), World Health Organization (WHO), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), CARE, EAT, The Club of Rome, FAO, Mexico, Indonesia, Sweden, Ghana , Centre for Food Policy at City University of London
  • 12/05 SIDE EVENT 6 Healthy Diets at the Nexus of Food Systems, Biodiversity, Climate and Nutrition: Global Summits, Local Transformation and the CFS VGFSYN Organizers: UN Nutrition, WFP, FAO, World Bank (Agriculture and Food Global Practice)
  • 12/05 SIDE EVENT 7 Addressing Nutrition and Environmental Challenges: The Role of Urban and Territorial Governance for Inclusive and Sustainable Food Systems Transformation Organizers: Urban Food Systems Working Group, Ad Hoc Working Group on Territorial Governance, FAO (UN), GAIN, UCLG, UN Habitat
  • 12/05 SIDE EVENT 8 Women farmers and Indigenous women’s views on climate change, Covid-19 and the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality and Women’s and Girls’ Empowerment Organizers: SEWA, IFPRI, FAO
  • 13/05 SIDE EVENT 9 Human Rights, Nutrition and Law: Keys to Transform Food Systems Organizers: Chaire de recherche en droit sur la diversité et la sécurité alimentaires; WHO; UNICEF; IDLO intergovernmental organization; FAO; UN-Nutrition
  • 13/05 SIDE EVENT 10 Bridging Agroecology and Biodiversity Action: Coalitions, Evidence, Policy Frameworks Organizers: Global Alliance for the Future of Food, UNESCO, Laurier Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, Member Country (TBC), IPES-Food, AgroEcology Fund, Biovision Foundation, WWF International, Bioversity-CIAT
  • 13/05 SIDE EVENT 11 Youth Leadership for a Better Food Future: The World Food Forum (WFF) as a Movement by Youth and for Youth to Transform Agri-food Systems Organizers: World Food Forum (Coordination Team), FAO Youth Committee, Major Group for Children and Youth, Youth Alliance of Zero Hunger, WFP Youth network, IFAD Youth Network, Young Farmers Association - representative, Indigenous Youth - representation, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates (TBD)
  • 13/05 SIDE EVENT 12 Water Tenure Approaches for Securing Rights, Advancing Climate Resilience and Food Security Organizers: FAO, Environmental Law Institute, International Water Management Institute, Government of Rwanda, Government of Senegal, Government of Sri Lanka, German Ministry of Food and Agriculture
  • 14/05 SIDE EVENT 13 Innovation as a Force for Good in the Fight against Climate Change and Malnutrition Organizers: FAO; United Kingdom; CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security; Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture ; Italy
  • 14/05 SIDE EVENT 14 How can data and digital technology support small-holder farmers and enable more equitable, inclusive and sustainable food systems? Organizers: Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Government of Kenya (TBC), FAO (TBC), USAID, Digital Agriculture Association?
  • 14/05 SIDE EVENT 15 Advancing Equitable Livelihoods for All Food Systems Workers Organizers: CARE, IFAD, FAO, ILO, PSM, Antigua and Barbuda, Indonesia, Malawi, Republic of Turkey, Argentina, Hungary
  • 14/05 SIDE EVENT 16 Rethink > Repurpose > Reform: Why and how we Need to Overhaul Agricultural Support for Better Food Security and Nutrition Organizers: FAO; UNDP; UNEP; World Bank
13-15 October 2021. 1st Conference on Farmer-Centric On-Farm Experimentation by INRAE14-15 October 2021. Farm to Fork 2021 Conference - Building sustainable food systems together

13 October 2021 at 15:30 CEST. Webinar on "Data Governance in Agriculture: Including Farmers"
  • Organized by GODAN and supported by GFAR and the initial partners in the Collective Action: FORAGRO, COPROFAM and AgGateway.
  • “Putting farmers at the center of a sustainable and equitable digital transformation of agriculture” is the core objective of the GFAR Collective Action on Inclusive Digital Transformation of Agriculture.
14 October 2021. 4PM – 6PM CEST or 2PM-5PM GMT Youth‘s key role in the #digital transformation of Africa’s agriculture
  • This event is organized by the United Community of African Students (UCAS) with the support of the Digital Agri Hub.
14-16 October 2021 Agro-Food Ethiopia 2021 A viable opportunity to generate valuable business contacts in Africa. 


14 October 2021. 2 PM CEST. Innovation investment for impact
  • The WLE-supported Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification (CoSAI) will present insights on enabling behavior change in innovation investors and policymakers – and how this can be used to underpin the investment approach for innovation of future food systems.
  • By CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE)
15 October 2021. 15:00 to 16:30 Diverging food production systems & the role of ICT by International Partnerships InfoPoint

15 October 2021. Join from 10:00 CEST. World Food Day with FAO - Our Actions are our Future

16 October 2021. World Food Day

16 October 2021. Regenerating the culture of food in Africa
16 October 2021. World Food Day with Expo 2020 - Connecting Minds, Creating the Future
  • World Food Day 2021 will be the first international Day to be celebrated at Expo Dubai, under the theme 'Connecting Minds, Creating the Future', as a series of activities and events which call for global solidarity in rethinking and reshaping food systems for people and the planet. 
  • A site-wide celebration will unite Expo’s stakeholders and visitors in a commitment to build forward better.
18-23 October 2021 PAFO General Assembly and events (extracts)

19 October 2021. 15:45-17:00 BST / 10:45 – 12:00 ET. CHILD LABOUR IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

19 October 2021. 2 PM CEST. Managing water for climate adaptation and mitigation
  • The session will outline an evidence-based framework to help decision makers understand and remove the technical, economic, social, financial and institutional barriers that prevent the adoption of sound water adaptation options.
  • By CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE)
19-21 October 2021. 7TH GLOBAL FORUM OF THE MILAN URBAN FOOD POLICY PAC
  • 19/10 15:00-16:15 Opening ceremony with FAO
  • 19/10 16:30-18:15 Regionalisation policy Africa
18-22 October 2021  The International Borlaug Dialogue (see below extracts)
  • For more info about the Leap4FNSSA event
  • An inclusive array of private sector actors, from smallholder farmers to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and large industries, will be influential in driving the food transformation.
20 October 2021. 16:00 CEST. The Importance of Science, Technology and Innovation in the Transformation of African Economies under AfCFTA, Fifth Annual Babacar Ndiaye Lecture

20-22 October 2021 - Global Symposium on Salt-Affected Soils

21 October 2021. 2 PM CEST. Boosting synergies and managing trade-offs in food systems
  • This webinar discusses evidence, actions and lessons learned on how to leverage biodiversity in our food systems for people and planet.
  • By CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE)


25-27 October 2021. Reimagining Research for Agroecology - Farmer-centered Research for Agroecology
  • The Collaborative Crop Research Program (CCRP) of the of the McKnight Foundation is hosting an online gathering on transforming research and reimagining food systems. 
  • Participants will hear stories, perspectives, experiences and evidence from farmers, researchers and the organizations that collaborate with them.
  • 25/10 Panel discussion Using creative audio and visual content to share learning by/for/about farmers
  • 25/10 Workshop: Engaging farmers, researchers and support organizations in participatory research and shared action on seed systems
  • 25/10 Thematic session: Emerging approaches for closing organic matter and nutrient loops at farm, landscape and territorial scales
  • 25/10 Learning Lab: The R in FRNs: Experience and thoughts on what it means to do research within an FRN
  • 25/10 Workshop: Facilitating farmer-centered research: Sharing approaches and lessons 
  • 26/10 Panel discussion Agroecology from the land: research and conservation of agrobiodiversity by peasant communities and indigenous peoples
  • 26/10 Thematic session: Working with FRNs on ecological pest and disease management
  • 26/10 Thematic session: FRNs as an approach to work with communities, territories and landscapes
  • 26/10 Learning Lab: Soil Health with FRNs: principles and place-based approaches
  • 26/10 Thematic session: Gender and inclusion in FRNs 
  • 27/10 Workshop: Moving from practice towards research: AFSA’s Healthy Soil Healthy Food (HSHF) experience trying out biofertilizers with farmers
  • 27/10 Thematic session: Learning networks as a means for influencing policy processes 
  • 27/10 Thematic session: Establishing stronger linkages between rural and urban spaces to create more robust food systems
  • 27/10 Thematic session: FRNs and AE as a path to strengthen nutrition and food security 
25-26 October 2021.  Grassland & International Rangeland Kenya 2021 Virtual Congress.

25-28 October 2021. Mediterranean Innovation Agrifood week by CIHEAM Bari
  • 25-27/10: Seminars on strengthening the services and ecosystem of ISOs – Innovation Support Organizations, provided in the framework of a capacity building programme started last July and addressed to the representatives of the MIP network and the ISOs of the Mediterranean region. Link to register: https://events.iamb.it/p/event/wmwebinar2021 + Programme
  • 27/10 (3pm-5pm): MIP-Mediterranean Innovation Partnership Annual Meeting, for the discussion and approval of the 2021-22 action plan. Establishment of the WATERMEDYIN network, an international working group dedicated to innovation and sustainability in the agri-food sector, with the participation of Business Med, Mediterranean Innovation Hub and several ISOs from Tunisia, Palestine and Lebanon. Programme
  • 28/10 (10am-1pm): INVESTOR DAY & BUSINESS MATCHING – brokerage event, dedicated to 15 start-ups, selected in the framework of WATERMEDYIN project, from Tunisia, Palestine and Lebanon. Programme
  • 28/10 (4 pm): International workshop “DIALOGUES ON INNOVATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AGRI-FOOD SYSTEM”. Purpose of the conference is to contribute to the identification of strategies for the creation of an environment conducive to the sustainable development of the agri-food sector, a pillar for the socio-economic growth of many Mediterranean countries, by leveraging on young people and on the combination of innovation and competitiveness. Link to register: https://events.iamb.it/p/event/medagrweek + Programme
  • Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment) work programme 2022 and will give the opportunity to prospective applicants to learn more about the Horizon 2020 funding
  • The West African Technology Fair aims to showcase TAAT technologies, alongside those of CORAF's Centers of Specialization/Excellence, to open avenues for brokerage and uptake.
26 October 2021. Why nutrition matters more than ever before by INTPA Infopoint

  • Including Wanjira Mathai, Vice President and Regional Director for Africa, WRI27 October 2021.
26 October 2021. UNFSS Independent Dialogue Youth and Food Systems: Transformations that will Secure our Future

26 October 2021. Virtual stakeholder event | UfM Regional Platform on R&I
  • How can the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in Research and Innovation (R&I) ) be strengthened. Shared challenges are highlighting the need of global exchange in R&I
27 October 2021.  The 11th Annual Indigenous Food And Seed Fair 2021 (Uganda)
  • These event will be both physical (by invitation) and virtual and will include high level discussions and presentations from renown International and National agroecologists as well as other actors from relevant government MDAs, private sector, media and farmers.
  • Mot de passe / Passcode: 59385879
  • L’objectif du webinaire est de partager un retour d’expériences sur l’organisation de la formation des facilitateurs (FdF) des champs écoles agropastoraux (CEAP) dans les pays de l’Afrique Francophone et discuter des défis pour le maintien de la qualité des ressources humaines.

25, 26, 27 October and 1 November 2021 (7.00 am to 10.30 am GMT), Writeshop "Stories of change: connecting traditional knowledge and innovations for fair and sustainable food systems".
28 October 2021. 09:00 AM UTC East and Southern Africa Fertilizer Financing Forum

28 October 2021. 10:00-11:00 AM EDT. Methods for studying gender dynamics in value chains beyond the production node and single commodity analysis


  • G20, under the Italian Presidency, will focus on three broad, interconnected pillars of action: People, Planet, Prosperity.
1 November, 2021. UNFSS Independent Dialogue. Regional Dialogue - Food Security in the Sahel Region

1-12 November 2021. Climate COP26, Glasgow

2 November 2021. LEAP4FNSSA Stakeholder Engagement Meeting

2 November 2021. National Organic Agriculture Business Summit Abuja 2021

3 November 2021. Launch of the ILRI impact book by ILRI

3 + 10 + 17 November 2021. African Food Environments Transformation by Food Environment Research Network
  • The MEALS4NCDs Project provides Measurement Evaluation, Accountability and Leadership Support (MEALS) for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) prevention in Ghana and beyond.
  • The project is focused on measuring and supporting public sector actions that create healthy food marketing and food provisioning environments for children and adolescents in Ghana, with the aim to prevent obesity and other nutrition-related NCDs.
5 November 2021. Forests, Food, Finance - Solutions for a Healthy Planet - Landscape Forum with the UK Government on the sidelines of COP26

5-6 November 2021. African Summit on Entrepreneurship and Innovation by UNIDO

10 – 11 November 2021. First Joint Food Safety Conference. By the African Continental Association for Food Protection (ACAFP), FAO and AUC

8 - 10 November 2021. AMIs Agricultural Film Conference 2021
The conference will bring together agricultural and horticultural cover specifiers. The focus is on discussing maximising crop yields with an effective use of silage, mulch and greenhouse films to feed the growing global population.

14-20 November 2021. AFAAS Africa-Wide Agricultural Extension Week. Effective Agricultural Extension Systems for Sustainable Agripreneurship in Africa. By AFAAS, Kampala, Uganda.

15-17 November 2021. Africa Energy Forum see registration



17-19 November 2021. Critical Food Studies Virtual Humanities Conference
Critical Food Studies together with the University of the Western Cape (UWC), University of Pretoria (UP) and the University of Kwazulu-Natal (UKZN)

17-19 November 2021. 8TH ANNUAL ReNAPRI STAKEHOLDERS CONFERENCE

22-23 November 2021. Malabo Agricultural Policy Learning Event (MAPLE)


24 November 2021. 12:30 PM to 5:00 PM EAT (Nairobi) Africa Region. Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future
  • A Series of Online Webinars for Stakeholders in Each of the Six UNEP Regions
  • Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future (SF), with the support of the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Civil Society Unit in Nairobi, invites you to take part in one of six new regional capacity-building webinars for Major Group Stakeholders.
  • Focused on the run-up to UNEA 5.2, the resumed session of UNEA-5 from 28 February to 2 March 2022, the webinars will also include content relevant to the Special Session of the Assembly on 3 - 4 March 2022, which is devoted to the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the creation of UN Environment Programme in 1972 - UNEP@50.
  • The webinars will also highlight the related and upcoming Stockholhm+50 meeting, convened by the United Nations General Assembly and hosted by the governments of Sweden and Kenya, to be held in Stockholm, Sweden from 2-3 June 2022 to commemorate the 50 years since the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, which made the environment a pressing global issue for the first time.
24-26 November 2021. annual CAADP Partnership Platform (PP) and

23- 25 November 2021. DJAZAGRO 2021 - Tradeshow for Agro-Food Production
The show takes its name from "DJAZAIR", which means "Algeria" in Algerian Arabic, and from « agro » representing the agro-food sector.

24 November 2021. Scaling Up Innovation for a Fortified Future - part II - new business models, coalition building & advocacy. By GAIN


2 - 4 December 2021. Food Agro Africa


This event will showcase top products, equipment, and machinery presented by exhibitors from over 26 countries.



5 December 2021 - World Soil Day "Halt soil salinization, Boost soil productivity"

6-10 December 202.1 Africa Agriculture Knowledge Management Conference.
The Conference aims to showcase the KM products and services of CAADP-XP and generate political support for advancing climate-smart KM for Agricultural development in Africa.
KM4AgD site at https://km4agd.faraafrica.org/ for more details.

6-10 December 2021. THE SEVENTH AFRICA HIGHER EDUCATION WEEK AND RUFORUM TRIENNIAL CONFERENCE

11-14 December 2021. AQUACULTURE AFRICA 2021



8 - 14 December 2021. Intra-African Trade Fair 2021

This trade fair brings together exhibitors and visitors from all sectors. It provides a platform for attendees and non attendees to connect. There will also be virtual stands for entrepreneurs to showcase their work across African markets.

December 2021 - Global Soil Information System launch event (date tbc)

25 - 27 February 2022 AgrikExpo & Farming Conference
Machinery & Equipment Input (Seeds, Agro Chemicals, ETC)Livestock Care & Management Biotechnology Poultry Forestry Food Processing & Packaging Infrastructure Afri finanace

3-4 March 2022. The Africa Food Sustainability Summit

9-10 June 2022. Africa Dairy & Drink Innovations Summit & Expo 2021
The dairy, soft and alcoholic beverage sectors may not have a lot in common at first glance, but the line between these sectors has been and is expected to continue blurring into the future, as the pace of innovations gathers steam and as consumer tastes and preferences are transformed

at No comments:

Available recordings of September webinars and virtual events

Ø  26 September. New documentary The Ants and the Grasshopper This new documentary follows Anita Chitaya’s journey from her drought-hit village in Malawi to meet farmers and politicians in the US. For ten years, this documentary has been under production in Malawi and the United States. Free Film Screening (available until Wednesday 29/09)

Ø  24 September. IFPRI WEBINAR: Funding Food System Transformation in Developing Countries: An example from Ethiopia

Ø  24 September. Million Voices Initiative: citizen science to support agroecological transitions

Ø  24 September. FIBL WEBINAR Can organic agriculture improve yields and incomes for smallholder farmers in Africa?

Ø  23 September. The UN Food Systems Summit was a completely virtual event during the UN General Assembly High-level Week. Download the programme here / See the recordings on vimeo / PAEPARD blogpost

Ø  23 September. IFPRI WEBINAR + REPORT: Making the most of intra-African trade: the 2021 Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor

Ø  21 September. Launch of the Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge

Ø  21 September. Virtual launch of the 2021 Food and Agriculture Benchmark

Ø  20 September. Scientific partnerships to promote fruit andvegetable production

Ø  15 - 17 September. ClimateChange Summit - Africa 2021

o  17/09 - The Great Green Wall and Biodiversity Corridors in Africa In the presence of French and Senegalese speakers this workshop discussed concrete projects or achievements linked to the initiative (eco-villages, biodiversity corridors, etc.)

Ø  7 - 10 September. Nairobi. AGRF summit - Delivering on the African Agenda in Building Resilient Food Systems - Watch all the recordings on YouTube

o  Food Systems & Nutrition

o  Rural and Market Development

o  Removing Barriers to Regional Trade in Food Staples

o  Generation Africa

o  Kenya’s Pathways to Sustainable Food Systems

o  Building Interconnected African Markets

o  Strengthening public-private collaboration 

o  AGRA - UNFSS High Level Side Event: Delivering on the African Agenda in Building Resilient Food Systems

Ø  6 September. AGRF 2021 pre-Summit. Pathways to recovery and resilient food systems: Watch all recordings on YouTube

o  Unlocking African Public Development Banks catalytic role (for increased investments in sustainable food systems)

o  Intra-African agricultural trade within the context of the AfCFTA

o  Women inclusion in resilience of agricultural value chains

o  Building resilient food systems

o  Effective instruments for innovation investment

o  Agro Knowledge food security solutions

o  E-Extension: Accelerating Building Back Better - Exploring successes in digital advisory services and e-extension systems

o  The Role of Collaborative Food Systems Leadership In Tackling Sector Implementation Challenges

o  Positioning African Youths to Transform Food Systems Through Technology

o  South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC): Promoting Youth-led Agri-food Innovations from the Global South

o  Science & innovation for sustainable and resilient food systems in Africa

o  Digital Financial Services for Agriculture

o  One-Health Approach for Building Resilience

o  Technology brokerage for a resilient food system in Africa

o  Livestock Investment Masterplan (LIVEMAP)

o  Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Agriculture, Food Security, and Nutrition in Africa

o  Food Systems Transformation for Rural Prosperity

o  Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (Oil Palm and Cocoa Value Chain Development)

o  Soil and Root Health: How Can they be Enhanced to Tackle Climate Change, Food Insecurity and Malnutrition?

o  Distributed Renewable Energy-Agriculture Modalities (DREAM)

o  Forging resilient food systems with smallholder farmers and agri-SMEs

o  Trade Support Information Systems

o  New Consensus for Smallholder Farmers

o  An Integrated Approach to Address Climate and Food Security Challenges in Rwanda

o  Kenya’s Pathways to Sustainable Food Systems

o  Agricultural Transformation for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems

o  Rehabilitating acid soils for food security in Africa

o  Food Systems and Integrated Policy

o  Youth and Agri-food System’s Resilience in Africa

o  AU-EU Game Changer for Resilient Food Systems  

Ø  2 September. Food, nature, people. A CIFOR-ICRAF event with the Global Landscapes Forum supported by the CGIAR Research Program on Forests Trees and Agroforestry.

Ø  23-27 August 2021. Online World Water Week 2021

o  Watch the recording of all sessions: (271 sessions) World Water Week - YouTube

o  For a selection of session see World Water Week 2021: Sessions on Agriculture and Food Security

at No comments: