Monday, June 6, 2022

Food safety. A critical pillar in strengthening Resilience in nutrition and food security in Africa

6 - 7 June 2022
Food safety. A critical pillar in strengthening Resilience in nutrition and food security in Africa Commemoration of the World Food Safety Day. By African Union

The objectives of the events were:
  1. Raise awareness and mobilize collective action to improve food safety in Africa.
  2. Share experiences and solutions for addressing Africa’s food safety challenges
  3. Identify key actions and strategies to address current and future challenges to food safety in Africa.
The two-day programme took the form of key note addresses and panel discussions on 
  1. Innovative approaches to raising food safety standards and enhancing regulation in the informal food sector in Africa; 
  2. Enhancing Public Private Partnerships to advance food safety in Africa.
 
World Food Safety Day aims to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism and sustainable development. In Africa alone 137,000 people die every year due to consumption of unsafe food. It has been estimated that the public health burden of foodborne diseases is comparable to malaria and HIV-AIDS.

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Introduction: 

  • Welcome Remarks – Dr. Godfrey Bahiigwa, Director, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (AUC)
  • Keynote Address: Enhancing food safety in informal food markets through Public-Private Partnerships – Mrs. Lucy Muchoki, Chair of Governing Council at Coalition of CAADP Non-State Actors

06/06 Panel Theme 1: Innovative approaches to raising food safety standards and enhancing regulation in the informal food sector in Africa 

  • Dr. Delia Grace, Natural Resource Institute (UK)/International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)):
  • Mr. John Kakungulu Walugembe, Executive Director of Federation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Uganda
  • Mrs. Delese Mimi Darko, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Food and Drugs Authority
  • Dr. Blaise Ouattara, Food Safety and Quality Officer, FAO
  • Ms. Diana Akullo, Principal SPS and TBT Officer, AfCFTA Secretariat

06/06 Panel Theme 2: Enhancing Public Private Partnerships to advance food safety in Africa

  • Dr. Namukolo Covic, Director General’s Representative to Ethiopia for the International Livestock Research Institute
  • Ms. Kefilwe Rhoba Moalosi, Senior Nutrition and Food Safety Officer and currently the Ag. Head of Nutrition Unit.
  • Dr. Ihedioha Onyema Damian, Manager of Agribusiness Development Division, African Development Bank
  • Mr. James Ojiambo, Regulatory & Scientific Affairs Manager-NestlĂ© Eastern and Southern African Region, Representative of SADC Business Council
  • Mr. Bai Dodou Jallow, Director of Scientific Affairs of Food Safety and Quality Authority of the Gambia
Outcomes of Technical Sessions of 6th June 2022 

07/06 Commemoration of World Food Safety Day

  • H.E El-Said Marzouq El-Qosair, The Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of Egypt and Chair of the STC Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (ARDWE)
  • H.E. Amb. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission
  • H.E Minata Cessouma Samat Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, African Union commission
  • Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, The Chief Executive Officer of the African Union Development Agency - NEPAD.
  • H.E Wamkele Mene, The Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat
  • Dr. Godfrey Bahiigwa, · Director of Agriculture and Rural Development at African Union Commission - Moderator
Keynote: “food safety: a critical pillar to Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security in Africa 
  • Presentation of outcomes of Technical Session Dr. Simplice Nouala Fonkou 
  • Launch of the Food Safety Strategy for Africa  - H.E. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko

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