REPORTS APRIL 2023

AFARD (2023) Agroecology training manual. # 44 p.

• This manual is a consolidation of information from different sources on agroecology and basic production practices. It aims at imparting knowledge to those who intend to implement or facilitate/train on agroecology farming.

EC (2013) Food systems: Research and innovation investment gap study # 539 p.

• This comprehensive report presents the results of a comparative study of food systems research and innovation (R&I) investment levels in the EU, considering public and private R&I spent at both national and EU level.
• PAEPARD blogpost with extracts

FARA (2022) The AU-EU International Research Consortium (IRC) Platform Document # 44 p

• 
  The implementation of the FNSSA Roadmap is expected to be improved through a ‘Platform’ of
  an alliance of stakeholders (including funders) with a long-term and sustainable governance and funding mechanism, and a knowledge management and communication system that will inform policy makers and other major FNSSA actors.
• Next step: FARA will use his PAEPARD community network to communicate and disseminate IRC platform vision and objectives. (page 40)

FAO (2022) Bottom-up solutions to promote conservation agriculture in Cambodia # 14 p.

• This policy brief presents the results of a multistakeholder policy dialogue process led by the Cambodia Conservation Agriculture and Sustainable Intensification Consortium (CASIC) with technical support from FAO's Office of Innovation (OIN) in the framework of the EU-funded TAP-AIS project.

FAO and the Biovision Foundation (2023) Beyond the farm: Exploring the synergies between agroecology and conservation communities. # 15 p.

• 
  The Agroecology Dialogue Series is an initiative of FAO and the Biovision Foundation supporting the Coalition for food systems transformation through Agroecology (Agroecology Coalition). 
• It is organized as part of the Food Policy Forum for Change.

FAO (2023) Guide on digital agricultural extension and advisory services - Use of smartphone applications by smallholder farmers # 71 p.

• this guide, targeting smallholder farmers in need of digital agricultural extension and advisory services (AEAS) as its principal users, provides a set of tools to enhance their digital skills in terms of basic knowledge and skills on using digital tools, methods of access to digital AEAS, methods of access to e-commerce, and capacity building.

GFFN (2023) Climate Metrics: measuring progress and catalyzing investment in sustainable food systems # 20 p.

• This brief on climate metrics is the second document published by the Good Food Finance Network (GFFN) Metrics Catalyst Group. The First Metrics Brief of the GFFN Metrics Catalyst Group is available on the GFFN website.
• This brief summarizes key trends in climate-related metrics used by financial institutions working in the sustainability of food systems.
  

IFPRI (2023) Global food policy report 2023: Rethinking food crisis responses # 140 p.
IFPRI (2023) Global food policy report 2023: Rethinking food crisis responses: Synopsis # 12 p.

• Food systems are not only susceptible to increasingly complex and compounding shocks, but are also closely intertwined with other essential systems — climate and environmental services, trade and the economy, infrastructure, governance, healthcare, and social protection.
• "Available funds can be increased by repurposing the more than $600 billion in global spending that goes to agricultural support. Some funds could be reallocated to incentivize the adoption of more sustainable, climate-smart practices and invested in agricultural research and development aimed at traditional targets such as productivity gains, as well as new targets such as improved resilience." (p.22)
• 13 April 2023. Global Food Policy Report launch

Iles de Paix, SOS-Faim and Autre Terre (2022) Faut-il intensifier l’agriculture au nom de

l’environnement? # 28 p.
Iles de Paix, SOS-Faim and Autre Terre (2022) Faut-il intensifier l’agriculture au nom de l’environnement? résumé exécutif FR # 4 p.
Iles de Paix, SOS-Faim and Autre Terre (2022) Should Agriculture be intensified in the name of the environment? The advantages and limitations of land sparing to feed the world and preserve biodiversity. Summary EN. # 4 p.

• How to reconcile needs, especially food needs, with the preservation of biodiversity? 
• This is where the tumultuous scientific and political debates between land sparing and land sharing arise. Is it better to produce as much as possible on a minimum surface area, even if it means using methods that are harmful to the environment, in order to leave more space for nature? Or should we adopt less intense and more respectful environmental practices, with the risk of having to farm larger land areas? 
• The answer to this question, in defining what is the best way to farm, has huge implications on food sustainability trajectories, and on the policy choices that frame them.

IPES (2023) Who’s Tipping the Scales? Rebalancing power for democratic food system governance #44 p.

• Corporations have unduly shaped the institutions, policies and norms that govern our food systems. From academic curricula to healthy diet initiatives to high-level advisory bodies – signs of corporate influence in food systems are now pervasive.
• As transnational food and farming companies grow ever bigger their playbook is evolving, and their ability to set the agenda is increasing. They have convinced governments they must be central in any discussion on the future of our food.

Joachim von Braun, Kaosar Afsana, Louise O. Fresco, Mohamed Hag Ali Hassan (editors) (2023)

Science and Innovations for Food Systems Transformation. Springer International Publishing. # 931 p.

• This Open Access book compiles the findings of the Scientific Group of the United Nations Food Systems Summit 2021 and its research partners. The Scientific Group was an independent group of 28 food systems scientists from all over the world with a mandate from the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations.
• The chapters provide science- and research-based, state-of-the-art, solution-oriented knowledge and evidence to inform the transformation of contemporary food systems in order to achieve more sustainable, equitable and resilient systems.

The Economist (2023) Ending hunger: the role of agri-food financing # 23 p.

• This is an Economist Impact report, sponsored by CGIAR. Drawing on its analysis of secondary data sources and interviews with experts, this report examines the role of agri-food financing in ending world hunger.
• It concludes with three broad strategies to increase the volume and impact of financing for agri-food systems, with the goal of accelerating progress towards zero hunger: (a) Scaling up targeted development funding; (b) the potential of the private sector; (c) Maximising the impact of existing investment

UNEP (2023) Driving Finance for Sustainable Food Systems: A roadmap to implementation for financial institutions and policy makers # 78 p.

• This report is providing a roadmap for private financiers to drive significant capital flows towards food systems.
• The report also describes innovative new instruments and financing techniques, including blended finance, and addresses the policy changes needed to create an enabling environment.
• PAEPARD blogpost with some extracts of the report + a webinar presented key findings of the launched report

UNEP, FAO, UNDP (2023) Guide on multi-stakeholder collaboration that aims to support stakeholders working at all levels of the food system in the implementation of the National Pathways for Food Systems Transformation (WILL BE PUBLISHED MID MAY 2023)

• 5 building blocks underpin successful multi-stakeholder collaboration for food systems transformation
• The guide will offer good practices from multi-stakeholder initiatives operating in different geographical locations.

Digitizing Management of Indicators and Results Frameworks - Lessons Learned

27 April 2023. Digitizing Management of Indicators and Results Frameworks - Lessons Learned.

A growing number of humanitarian and international development organizations have been shifting their processes for managing project/program results frameworks, indicators, targets, and results from spreadsheets to online platforms. With this comes the opportunity for centralization, standardization, and consolidation of program monitoring data.

The strategic move can also demand extra effort or exacerbate existing challenges in data governance, internal reporting processes, and/or organizational politics or power dynamics. As such, to maximize adoption and business value, digitization efforts in this arena need broad stakeholder engagement and buy-in across Programs, MEL, and IT, coupled with thorough change management efforts.

Aligning and integrating with project management and ERP, digital transformation initiatives can provide staff with a central source of project/program truth but may bring unexpected dependencies that challenge timelines. Because organizations often use a variety of data collection tools–some with consistent data structures, some with ad-hoc or project-specific data structures–flexible data ingestion and aggregation functionality become increasingly key to saving time, maintaining adoption, and ensuring good data quality.

• Emma Newbatt, Monitoring, and Evaluation Specialist at PLAN International; 
• Heather Dolphin, Deputy Director for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning at Catholic Relief Services; 
• Julie Rajaratnam, Director of Strategy, Measurement and Learning at PATH; 
• and Zak Kaufman, the Co-Founder and CEO of Vera Solutions

Related: 4 May 2023. Member Workshop with Microsoft | Exploring Azure OpenAI: An Introduction to AI-powered Solutions for Humanitarian Organizations Designed to introduce Nethope members to the potential of AI-powered solutions in humanitarian work and provide an overview of the Azure OpenAI platform.

REPORT: Food systems: Research and innovation investment gap study

EC (2013) Food systems: Research and innovation investment gap study # 539 p.

This comprehensive report presents the results of a comparative study of food systems research and innovation (R&I) investment levels in the EU, considering public and private R&I spent at both national and EU level. 

Three main strands of research were used to inform the study: 

1. a review of projects funded through the EU Framework Programmes (Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and Horizon 2020); 
2. a mapping of national public funding available for food systems R&I in the EU Member States; 
3. and a first analysis of private sector expenditure on food systems R&I. 

Data were categorised according to the priorities, pathways and sectors identified by the European Commission’s Food 2030 R&I policy framework to understand overall levels of expenditure on different priorities in food-related sectors. The report complements the summary report/policy brief published in 2022.

A number of key policy initiatives further support the Green Deal’s overall objectives. In relation to food systems, the Farm to Fork Strategy (published in 2020) aims to transform European food systems to become the global standard in sustainability while striving to supply healthy, safe, equitable, and environmentally friendly food. The Farm to Fork Strategy identifies R&I as a key driver in developing and testing solutions across all sectors of the food system to help accelerate the transition to sustainable, healthy and inclusive food systems across the EU. However, the EU has identified strong indications of a funding gap in public and private sector provision for R&I in food systems.

FOOD 2030 identifies the need for a systemic approach to R&I that addresses four priorities: 

• Priority one: Nutrition for sustainable and healthy diets; 
• Priority two: Climate smart and environmentally sustainable food systems; 
• Priority three: Circularity and resource efficiency of food systems; 
• and Priority four: Innovation and empowerment of communities.

Extracts

EU FUNDING FOR FOOD SYSTEMS R&I (FP7 AND HORIZON 2020)

From 2007 – 2020, almost EUR 18.4 billion of EU funding is estimated to have been provided to projects related to food systems.2 This accounts for 15% of the total EU public funding available under FP7 and Horizon 2020. (page 8)

The majority of relevant funding (55%) allocated at EU level appears to focus on projects in the early stages of the value chain (primary production/food processing), with less focus on logistics (1%) and food retail (1%). (...) From FP7 to Horizon 2020, projects related to food safety experienced the biggest decrease in their proportion of overall relevant EU public funding awarded, from almost 18% to 12%. (page 9)

NATIONAL FUNDING FOR FOOD SYSTEMS R&I IN  THE EU MEMBER STATES

The majority of funding is consistently allocated to primary production, which accounts for almost two-thirds (63%) of overall spend across the EU Member States. Czechia and the Netherlands were notable exceptions to this rule: in both cases, the most common Food 2030 sector related to healthy people. (page 11)

• Germany: Research and Innovation in Germany is funded by three main actors: The Federal Government, the federal states, and the private sector. Overall, Germany aims to invest 3.50% of GDP in R&I by 2025 (page 318) Contrasting many other countries, a comparatively significant percentage of relevant funding corresponded to the pathway “Food Systems Africa” (6%, EUR 149 million).  (page 331) (...) The BMZ invests approximately EUR 2 billion yearly in projects related to food security, rural development and the protection of natural resources in developing countries, specifically in countries where malnutrition and poverty are prevalent. A third of this is allocated to the special initiative One World without Hunger, which comprises ca. 300 projects, with a particular focus on smallholder farming in Africa. While no project-level data is available to determine the ratio of R&I projects within these, publicly available information reveals that under this initiative, the BMZ supports 15 green innovation centres (14 of which are in Africa) with a total of EUR 415 million between 2014-2024. The initiative also covers support to five knowledge centres on ecological farming in Africa. (page 332)
• Netherlands: The main policy actors in the Netherlands in relation to R&I are the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (ANF), Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (EAC) and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (ECS) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FA). (page 425) (...) Projects related to the Food systems Africa pathway could be found in the field of development cooperation, executed by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, contained in the following database: Project Database | Development Cooperation (rvo.nl) (page 437)

CANADA, CHINA AND THE USA

In Canada and the USA, primary production accounts for nearly 75% of public expenditure on food systems R&I. In China the picture is slightly more balanced, with primary production accounting for approximately 41% of spend. (page 77)

PRIVATE INVESTMENTS IN FOOD SYSTEMS R&I WITHIN THE EU

• For the purpose of this analysis, private sector was broadly defined as the companies operating in the agriculture, food, and drink industry, from seed and farming equipment producers, to businesses manufacturing packaging, distributors, and food-related waste treatment businesses, therefore covering the entire food system. 
• The food industry is generally viewed as a sector with medium- to low- research and innovation (R&I) intensity (page 100)
• The low degree of R&I in the agricultural and food sector is at least in part explained by the fact that the EU agricultural and food sector is mainly composed of SMEs, which tend to have less resources to conduct research. In addition, there appears to be a tendency to adopt innovation developed in other industries (such as in the case of packaging, machinery, and manufacturing supplies)120. Innovation activity in the sector is also characterised by close interaction and collaboration between primary producers and their supply chain. (page 100)
• EU-based companies in the food and drink industry also tend to invest relatively less in R&D compared to other international competitors. (page 100)
  

Between 2012 and 2018, an estimated EUR 93 billion was invested in food-related innovation by the private sector in the EU. More than half of all R&I taking place in the EU food sector is carried out by German and Dutch companies. Private sector investment is concentrated in the primary production and food processing sectors. (page 13)

Of the expenditure that did align with the Food 2030 priorities, the largest proportion of investment (32%) aligned with priority two “climate smart and environmentally sustainable food systems”. None of the investment identified aligned with priority four “innovation and empowerment of communities’”  (page 98)

Overall volume of equity investments into companies active in food systems in the EU trailed behind the volume of equity deals in the USA between 2007 and 2020 (11,910 deals in the US (worth EUR 138 billion) and 4,364 in the EU (EUR 43 billion). This confirms analysis undertaken by the EIB113, suggesting that access to finance is a major bottleneck for innovative EU-based firms active in 

food technologies. (page 99)

OBSTACLES TO FOOD SYSTEMS R&I INVESTMENT  WITHIN THE EU

There is very limited information available on the results of R&I spending in food (either traditional R&I outcomes such as increases in Technology Readiness Level (TRL), patenting activity, publications etc or contribution to broader policy-level outcomes), exacerbated by a lack of common indicators which would allow for the collection and comparison of data. (page 14)

TRENDS IN FOOD SYSTEMS R&I FUNDING BETWEEN 2008 AND 2020

Nutrition for a sustainable and healthy diet appears to focus on projects towards the end of the food value chain, with consumers and markets being key targets of projects funded under this priority. 

“Climate smart and environmentally sustainable food systems” has consistently remained the most or second-most funded priority. (...) “Climate smart and environmentally sustainable food systems” received the largest proportion of funding under both FPs, growing from 34% to 37% of total funding respectively. (page 33)

FOOD SYSTEMS AFRICA

The majority of projects under this pathway target the first stage of the food value chain, i.e. primary production. The word frequency analysis identifies some key trends, namely protecting ecosystems and adapting primary production to climate change. 

Other projects focus on fostering integration between different R&I stakeholders (e.g. creating networking and training opportunities for smallholder farmers or fostering connections between universities and other research institutions in Africa and European countries). These trends align with the Joint Africa – EU Strategy and its associated African Union -European Union High Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD), adopted in 2016, which identified food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture as a key priority area for joint research and innovation activity

Additionally, in 2018 the Development of Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA) initiative and the Task Force Rural Africa (TFRA) were launched, further manifesting the focus on food and nutrition security through innovation in (sustainable) primary production. (page 41)

DISTRIBUTION OF R&I FUNDING ACCORDING TO THE FOOD 2030 PATHWAYS FOOD SYSTEMS AFRICA

FP7

• EU level: 3% of relevant funding / EUR 39.3 million
• National level:  5% of identified funding / EUR 109 million

Horizon 2020

• EU level: 4% of relevant funding / EUR 128.8 million
• National level:  1% of identified funding / EUR 36 million

AREAS OF LOW INVESTMENT DENSITY

• Urban food systems; alternative proteins; the microbiome; FOOD SYSTEMS AFRICA; governance and systems change; food from the ocean and freshwater resources.  (page 119)
• Expenditure has been consistently low across four pathways (with each pathway representing 6% or less of all funding): alternative proteins and dietary shift, the microbiome world, FOOD SYSTEMS AFRICA and urban food system transformation.  (page 125)
• Relatively underfunded: “urban food system transformation”, “the Microbiome world” and  FOOD SYSTEMS AFRICA.  (page 126)
• Similarly to the trends identified at EU level, FOOD SYSTEMS AFRICA, the microbiome and urban food systems transformation receive very limited amounts of funding in the Member States across the entire reference period. (page 126)
• Innovation and empowerment of communities; and the FOOD SYSTEMS AFRICA, the microbiome world and urban food systems transformation pathways) require additional investment to achieve the goals of the Food 2030 initiative, in particular in its ambitions to develop systemic solutions that can deliver co-benefits to sustainability and resilience, environment and climate, nutrition, communities and circularity. (page 127)

Use of smartphone applications by smallholder farmers

FAO (2023) Guide on digital agricultural extension and advisory services - Use of smartphone applications by smallholder farmers # 71 p.

Digital agricultural extension and advisory services (AEAS) have a great potential to enhance accessibility, delivery, transparency, scope and impacts of information and services for smallholder farmers. However, this potential is often unfully harnessed and the benefits of digital AEAS unequally distributed due to an evident, widening digital divide between rural and urban areas, gender, and different social groups both within and among regions. 

Due to low-level e-literacy and digital skills, particularly smallholder farmers in rural areas in developing countries have limited access to and utilization of digital AEAS. Considering the above-mentioned benefits of digital AEAS, their poor uptake by smallholder farmers, and the importance of digital empowerment of smallholder farmers in particular, this guide, targeting smallholder farmers in need of digital AEAS as its principal users, provides a set of tools to enhance their digital skills in terms of basic knowledge and skills on using digital tools, methods of access to digital AEAS, methods of access to e-commerce, and capacity building.

The Liberia Agribusiness Incubator

25 April 2023. Embracing New Partnerships that Advance Locally Led Development through Private Sector Engagement

• In Liberia, USAID and the Africa Trade and Investment (ATI) Program created the Liberia Agribusiness Incubator to support local job creation, trade and investment. To increase locally led development, USAID/ATI made an intentional effort to reach rural communities to help identify barriers for participation and ways to overcome those barriers. A subsequent outreach campaign, including road shows, radio jingles and media messages, was designed and tailored to local community needs, thus increasing local engagement in the program.
• In Guatemala, the Innovative Solutions for Agricultural Value Chains Project is implemented by a local entity, Agropecuaria Popoyán, S.A. The objective of the project is to reduce poverty and chronic malnutrition in Guatemala’s Western Highlands by providing new economic opportunities that improve the livelihoods and resilience for small-scale farmers and their families to reduce irregular migration.

REPORT: Driving Finance for Sustainable Food Systems: A roadmap to implementation for financial institutions and policy makers

UNEP (2023) Driving Finance for Sustainable Food Systems: A roadmap to implementation for financial institutions and policy makers # 78 p.

The environmental and social impacts of the global food system are interconnected and affect diverse impact areas ranging from climate change mitigation, adaptation, biodiversity, resource efficiency and the circular economy, as well as social dimensions including human rights, labour conditions and gender equality.

This report attempts to address these challenge by providing a roadmap for private financiers to drive significant capital flows towards food systems. It includes identifying their impacts, measuring performance, setting targets, monitoring and disclosing. 

The report also describes innovative new instruments and financing techniques, including blended finance, and addresses the policy changes needed to create an enabling environment. 

The primary target audience is financial institutions from the private and public sector that have an agriculture and food sector exposure but also policymakers that play a role in fostering the enabling conditions for these institutions to drive significant flows of capital towards making food systems more sustainable.

Related:

28 April 2024. @14:00 CEST. UNEP Publication Launch: Driving Finance for Sustainable Food Systems: A roadmap to implementation for financial institutions and policy makers - Side event 24-28 April 2023. Good Food Finance Week 2023.

The webinar will: 

• Present key findings of the launched report; 
• Highlight good practices demonstrated and promoted by the Good Food Finance Network´s High Ambition Group; 
• Provide insights from a panel discussion on issues, challenges, and ways forward to unlock opportunities for financiers and policymakers to increase sustainable investments and lending in the agri-food sector.

Extracts of the report

The Good Food Finance Network: The first tranche of targets under the Good Food Finance Network exemplify how finance can be redirected towards sustainable food systems through concrete, timebound 

steps and by addressing different ESG dimensions and geographies. Targets include a wide range of measurable environmental and social goals to build a sustainable food system, such as: increasing the use of technology to modernize agricultural practices, avoiding deforestation, investing in climate adaptation, and unlocking smallholder farmer income through incentivising carbon removal. Promoting gender equality and human rights-based approaches is a crucial element of environmental sustainability and this should be specifically reflected in social targets. (page 9)

The past few years have seen a growing appetite of financial institutions—banks, investors, and insurers—for green products. The market now offers innovative investments that are linked to sustainability performance indicators, and financial vehicles designed for special purpose securitisation. The critical features of innovative instruments are scalability, replicability, and the versatility of the instrument. (page 10)

Global, national and local food systems operate on six main financial flows, namely: consumer spending, financial flows through food trade and retail, funds allocated through official development assistance, public financing through fiscal policies, financing through the banking systems, and investment flows from capital markets. (page 23)

The Principles for Responsible Banking has developed target setting guidance for the following impact areas: (page 32)

• Climate change mitigation
• Resource efficiency and the circular economy
• Biodiversity
• Financial health and inclusion
• Gender equality

There are few sectors that touch on as many sustainability challenges as food and agriculture. The sector is turning to the sustainable finance market to raise capital. The challenge for both companies and financial institutions is understanding what sustainability in the food system and agriculture looks like, what the associated risks and opportunities are, and how private finance can channel additional flows beyond public finance. (page 39)

Through deploying blended finance, innovative debt instruments, securitisation techniques and blockchain-enabled tools financial institutions can direct capital into promising SFS ventures and projects. (page 39)

Covering the support policies of 54 countries, the OECD estimated that an annual average amount of more than USD 500 billion was provided to farmers in the form of direct support between 2017 and 2019. 

• A substantial proportion of these support measures maintain domestic prices above international levels, at the expense of poor consumers. 
• They also reinforce some environmentally harmful farming activities. On the other hand, the amount of public spending on the long-term sustainability of the sector through research and development, investment in green infrastructure, biosecurity, and biodiversity amounted to only USD 106 billion per year (page 53)

The main objective of a green taxonomy is to signal and inform markets about sustainable activities and investment areas in a given jurisdiction. By providing this signal, policymakers aim to attract and direct financial capital to these activities. At the same time, green taxonomies provide a framework to define what type of investments can legitimately constitute sustainable investments, hence limiting ‘greenwashing’. (...)  Many central banks and financial regulators look for ways to incorporate considerations of climate change into their assessment of monetary policy and risk management practices for their supervised entities. (page 56)

The harmonisation of relevant policy tools (e.g. repurposed agricultural subsidies, fossil fuel subsidies, green trade policies in agriculture, and green fiscal policies) is crucial to developing a coherent and consistent policy environment. (page 61)

Common African Agro-Parks (CAAPs) Technical Working Group

25-29 April 2023. The Common African Agro-Parks (CAAPs)-Technical Coordination Team (CAAPs-TCT) convened its 2023 Planning Workshop at UNIDO in Vienna, Austria.

The Common African Agro-Parks (CAAPs) Programme is a mega-initiative aimed at creating regional agro-industrial hubs implemented by the African Union.

#CAAPs4Africa

The Common African Agro-Parks (CAAPs) is a vehicle for attracting private investments in establishing transboundary mega agro-industrial hubs on the continent, within the framework of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Programme (CAADP) and the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063.

The creation of 5 large agro-industrial zones, one in each region of Africa, will serve as major agricultural development hubs for the continent.

The CAAPs was conceptualized to respond to the continent’s demand for increasing the supply of

locally produced agricultural goods, reversing projections on African food imports, value-added processing of agricultural products to boost intra-African trade and investment, tapping on the African food import market approximated at $50 billion per year.

CAAPS, a 37-million-dollar investment, has already received USD 0.5million USD in seed capital from Afreximbank. On the implementation of the cross-border agro parks in Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The CAAPs also intend to provide over 8 million job opportunities within the crop and livestock value chains.

Related:

25 April. African Development Bank Group, JICA sign $350 million loan agreement to support Africa’s private sector

JICA’s support would be crucial in the implementation of the Special Agro-processing Industrial Zones, which will be the biggest game changer of Africa’s agriculture. It will transform rural economies, reduce food loses, process and add value to crops produced in rural areas and create jobs,” Adesina added.

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Satellite Remote Sensing Data for Decision-making in the African Agricultural Sector

27 April 2023. Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Satellite Remote Sensing Data for Decision-making in the African Agricultural Sector.

• CONCEPT NOTE
• Afica Agriculture Watch factsheet
• MEET THE SPEAKERS
• You can watch the promotional video, short highlights, and full session recording on our playlist here. All presentations made at the event can be accessed here. Please take a minute to read this piece by Dr. Ousmane Badiane, published on African Business Magazine, as well as Dr. Racine Ly’s blog post on Farming First.
• To learn more about AAgWa (www.aagwa.org), please read the brochure and factsheet. A complete catalogue of AKADEMIYA2063’s knowledge products can be downloaded here. We invite you to join our mailing list to keep abreast with news on our events, research, and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Finally, please check out the list of media news items resulting from the session. We look forward to welcoming you to our future events.

AKADEMIYA2063 developed Africa Agriculture Watch (AAgWa). Launched in 2021, AAgWa is a web-
based platform that employs cutting-edge machine learning techniques and satellite remotely sensed data to predict agricultural yields and production levels of several crops across Africa to support decision making, monitoring, crisis management, and effective intervention planning in local communities. 

From a digital platform that intends to contribute to reducing the data gap in the African agricultural sector, the second phase of AAgWa, as the fourth core program at AKADEMIYA2063, hosted the organization’s efforts in facilitating the adoption and use of emerging technologies by African countries 

The event facilitated a high level stakeholder engagement around the use of AI and emerging technologies to drive agricultural productivity and strengthen resilience across Africa. The event mobilized participation from
policymakers, research organizations, farmers’ organizations, development partners, and think tanks, among others, to deliver on the following specific objectives: 

1. Assess and reflect on the state of agricultural data availability in Africa and challenges and
   opportunities for data generation and use. 
2. Analyze AAgWa’s value proposition and discuss how the web platform is facilitating access to agricultural data while leveraging AI and other emerging technologies to fill the data gap;
3. 
   Delve into the AAgWa scope of intervention, touching on remote sensing, AI in agriculture, and AI in climate adaptation and mitigation; 
4. Discuss opportunities for better policy outcomes across Africa as a result of evidence-based decision-making facilitated by AAgWa’s crop production forecasts; 
5. Engage with leading experts, practitioners, and policymakers in AI, agriculture, and climate. 

Related:

27/03 PAEPARD blogpost Forum for the future of agriculture: Microsoft wants data driven agriculture to be democratized. MS wants the benefits of data and AI to reach every farmer anywhere in the world. 

14/03 Announcing Microsoft Azure Data Manager for Agriculture: Accelerating innovation across the agriculture value chain

See interview with Ranveer Chandra, Managing Director for Research for Industry, and CTO of Agri-Food, Microsoft - How we can use technology to better serve biodiversity?

Related:

Google's Flood Forecasting initiative

The Google FloodHub displays forecasts for riverine floods around the world based on AI models. All information is free of charge to help people directly at risk, and to help governments and aid organizations access critical information. Watch to learn more about the FloodHub, see what information is available, and how to access alerts and understand the flood information in your local area.

 

The CGIAR accelerator program offers tailor-made climate-smart agriculture solutions

25 April 2023. The CGIAR accelerator program offers tailor-made climate-smart agriculture solutions to each agribusiness in the cohort, based on their unique needs, thus enabling them to accelerate their growth while staying mindful of the environment. 

The program presents investors with a carefully vetted pipeline of agribusinesses that demonstrates that sustainable food systems are not only beneficial for the planet but also profitable. By partnering with the Food Systems Accelerator program, investors can confidently invest in agribusinesses that prioritise sustainable practices, knowing that their investments will be both socially and environmentally responsible.

The CGIAR announced the names of the first cohort of agribusinesses that have been selected for the accelerator program. 

These pioneering companies are at the forefront of the African food system, collectively working with over 39,000 smallholder farmers, and taking on some of the most pressing food system challenges facing the region. 

The cohort includes:

1. Farm Depot, 
2. Batian Nuts Ltd, 
3. East Agricultural Development Company Ltd, 
4. Yellow Star Produce and Food Processors Ltd, 
5. Shamba Records, 
6. Afri-Farmer’s Market, 
7. Stable Foods, 
8. Forest Africa Zambia Ltd, 
9. The Insectary Kenya 
10. and Aggregator Trust Rwanda Ltd. 

Over the coming months, the cohort will benefit from bespoke climate-smart agriculture technical assistance from CGIAR, investment readiness from our partners 2SCALE, and technical support on user experience and gender inclusion from The Rallying Cry. 

This will enable them to develop and expand their businesses sustainably while ensuring that they are well-equipped to address the present and future challenges.

The Food Systems Accelerator is an agribusiness support program within CGIAR Research Initiative on Ukama Ustawi: Diversification for resilient agrifood systems in East and Southern Africa

REPORT: Who’s Tipping the Scales? Rebalancing power for democratic food system governance

25 April 2023. Report Launch: Who’s Tipping the Scales? Rebalancing power for democratic food system governance - VIRTUAL SIDE EVENT 24-28 April 2023. Viet Nam, One Planet Network Sustainable Food Systems Conference

Who controls the food we eat? Deep power asymmetries in food system governance block the transformation we need. 

At this event, the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) launched a new publication: Who’s Tipping the Scales?. They shared their findings on the power imbalances that challenge democratic decision-making on food, and propose transformative governance reforms needed to address them.

• 

  Molly Anderson

  IPES-Food Panel Member and Food Studies Chair at Middlebury College

• 

  Lim Li Ching

  IPES-Food Co-Chair and Senior Researcher at Third World Network

IPES (2023) Who’s Tipping the Scales? Rebalancing power for democratic food system governance #44 p.

• Read the briefing note ( EN | FR | ES )
• This is the third of a series of briefings on global governance of food systems. 

• 
  ‘Who’s Tipping the Scales?’ finds that corporate control over our food has become the norm. 

1. Corporations have unduly shaped the institutions, policies and norms that govern our food systems. From academic curricula to healthy diet initiatives to high-level advisory bodies – signs of corporate influence in food systems are now pervasive.
2. As transnational food and farming companies grow ever bigger their playbook is evolving, and their ability to set the agenda is increasing. They have convinced governments they must be central in any discussion on the future of our food.
3. Responding adequately to the ongoing food price crisis, worsening hunger, and the climate crisis requires acting against powerful vested interests. Yet that entails decision-making that is free from corporate overreach and that serves the demands of communities most in need.

Some of the most prominent agri-food publicprivate partnerships include the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), the Scaling up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU), the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and the G8 New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (NAFSN),12 all of which involve close linkages between governments, international organizations, big business, and private foundations. (page 8)

Transnational corporations shape science and popular discourse in numerous ways, including through the sponsorship of academic research that is sympathetic to corporate interests, which can ultimately influence the direction of policy and governance. This kind of practice has been documented with respect to the processed food industry as well as in the agrochemical sector. (page 12)

Civil society organizations are usually included in multi-stakeholder initiatives, but critics charge this is often window-dressing, to give the appearance of fairness.49 Also, these organizations are rarely invited on behalf of their self-organized networks and alliances – leaving fragmented and imbalanced representation. (page 15)

As a form of self-monitoring or self-regulation, due diligence procedures as developed by the companies themselves lack the independence and impartiality required to be a serious tool to identify and prevent human rights abuses.  (page 19) 

Government resources are important to avoid agenda and research capture that accompanies corporate financing. These resources should be prioritized for public-interest-based initiatives such as public-sector research and development, programming, public procurement contracts, subsidies, financing, and international assistance.  (page 24) 

Related: 

• Read the first briefing An 'IPCC for food'? ( EN | FR | ES )
• Read the second briefing, 'Smoke & Mirrors' ( EN | FR | ES )
• Read the special report: IPES (2023) Breaking the Cycle of Unsustainable Food Systems, Hunger, and Debt: A special report ( EN | FR | ES ) + Read a one page summary for policymakers ( EN )
  This special report shows how today's unsustainable and inequitable food systems are a key contributor to a spiralling debt crisis. Import dependencies, extractive financial flows, boom-bust commodity cycles, and climate-vulnerable food systems are combining to destabilize the finances of the world's poorest countries. It calls for comprehensive debt relief in tandem with food system transformation.

The AU-EU International Research Consortium (IRC) Platform Document

FARA (2022) The AU-EU International Research Consortium (IRC) Platform Document #44 p

The first priority of the AU-EU High Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD) roadmap on Food Nutrition Security for Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA) was adopted by the AU-EU Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) in 2016. 

The implementation of the FNSSA Roadmap is expected to be improved through a ‘Platform’ of an alliance of stakeholders (including funders) with a long-term and sustainable governance and funding mechanism, and a knowledge management and communication system that will inform policy makers and other major FNSSA actors.

Next step: FARA will use his PAEPARD community network to communicate and disseminate IRC platform vision and objectives. (page 40)

Annex 1: Summary of main causes underlying the fragmentation problem 

Lack of knowledge management 

• Different quality standards and strategies 
• Lack of infrastructural and educational capacities and knowledge 
• Lack of interconnectedness 
• Lack of long-term investments 
• Conflicting decision making/ conflict of interest 
• Negative and poor or unfriendly policy decision making environments
• Prevailing Prejudice that may hinder progress and limit the scope of operation. 
• Unstable Policy framework due to frequent change in policy makers and portfolios

Lack of communication mechanisms and frameworks

• Lack of clusters and cluster networks and their coordination 
• Lack of a sufficient information basis for funders and donors in their prioritization- and decision-making processes for investing in R&I and capacity building 
• Lack of mechanism and infrastructure for long-term multilateral prioritization and investment processes 
• Lack of mechanism and coordination infrastructure for long-term Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) processes 
• Lack of a long-term subsidiary finance mechanism to maintain a coordination infrastructure and its services for the AU-EU member states in an AU-EU Platform for R&I on FNSSA

Related:

EU support to sustainable agri-food systems in partner countries 2014-2020

• The new AU-EU International Research Consortium (IRC) is meant to become the long-term bi-continental platform for research and innovation, connecting existing structures, such as regional and sub-regional organisations or partnerships on R&I with the aim of increasing their coherence and impact. 
• The AU-EU IRC zero draft identifies the absence of coordination infrastructure and lack of knowledge management mechanisms and frameworks on food-related R&I as the premise of the need to be addressed by the IRC. 
• Yet the zero draft lacks a thorough analysis of already existing platforms, nor does it elaborate upon the opportunities for seeking synergies with and between existing platforms and initiatives. 
• Such an incomplete assessment is unfortunate, since singling out the lack of platforms and initiatives as the reason for weak implementation of FNSSA goals risks ignoring other structural constraints that may impede already existing initiatives from achieving joint EU-Africa objectives.(page 41) 

Agroecology training manual

AFARD (2023) Agroecology training manual. # 44 p.

This publication was supported by AWO with funds provided by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and German Relief Coalition (ADH).

This manual is a consolidation of information from different sources on agroecology and basic production practices. It aims at imparting knowledge to those who intend to implement or facilitate/train on agroecology farming 

The manual has been arranged into 2 parts. 

1. Part 1 elaborates on the basic practices implemented under agroecology that include Agroecology farm planning and design, soil and water conservation, soil fertility management, pest, and disease management. 
2. Part 2 dwells on crop specific production practices for the 4 crops of focus under the Climate Action Model village (CAM) Project. 

Where possible, illustrations have been provided in the manual to emphasize the suggested practices/technologies. 

How to use the Manual ?

The manual has been compiled in an easy-to-use format for farmers who intend to implement agroecology. It is advised that they internalize and contextualize it to fit the local context. This could be through simulations with fellow colleagues but also enriching it with own experiences to make it more applicable. 

The manual will be used by agroecology champions under the CAM project to engage beneficiaries and communities to transform and promote livelihoods through agriculture and other natural resource related fields. The manual therefore primarily targets producers doing agroecology. They will use it to train communities on how to plan and execute agroecology farming.

Good Food Finance Week 2023

24-28 April 2023. Good Food Finance Week 2023. The GFFN is hosting the Second Annual Good Food Finance Week (GFFW) which will include a series of virtual sessions aiming to bring together leaders in the food and finance industries to discuss the latest trends and innovations in financing sustainable food systems.

The five-day event will provide a platform for participants to learn about the latest developments in financing sustainable, healthy, and accessible food systems and explore opportunities for investment and collaboration. Featured sessions will include keynote speakers, panel discussions, and interactive workshops.

24/04 @15:00 – 16:00 CEST. Leaders Dialogue: Catalyzing good food finance to address interconnected risks

During this dialogue, some of our GFFN Principals and other leaders in the food finance sector discussed the critical challenges and solutions for catalyzing mainstream capital flows for healthy, sustainable food systems.

24/04 @16:00 – 17:00 CEST. Private Sector Engagement – Part 1: Stocktaking private sector investment and hurdles in food systems transformation

The outcomes of this conversation will feed into the session Private Sector Engagement – Part 2: Consultation on the Co-Investment Platform (CIP)

25/04 Public Finance: Financing Food Security and Food System Transformation

The session will present the findings of the blog Good Food System Transition: Repurposing agricultural support to promote fiscal resilience, human and planetary health exploring how the potential savings can be used by Minister of Finance to repurpose some of the public and development expenditure. This event is hosted by ECDPM, together with Food Systems for the Future and FAIRR.

• Ertharin Cousin (Founder and CEO, Food Systems for the Future)
• Hamid Hamirani (Senior Investment Advisor, Food Systems for the Future): Presentation “Repurposing agricultural support to promote fiscal resilience, human and planetary
• health”
• Marco Sanchez (Deputy Director of Agrifood Economics at FAO)
• Melissa Miners (World Business Council for Sustainable Development; and previously Global Sustainability Senior Manager at Unilever)
• Sauli Hurri (Senior Regional Technical Specialist at IFAD in East Africa)
• Saleh Shanfari (CEO Oman Food Investment Company)
• Cecilia D’Alessandro (Policy officer, sustainable food systems, ECDPM)

Resource:

ECDPM and FAO developed a methodology to leverage sustainable investments in agri-food systems (Rampa and Dekeyser, 2022a) and tested it – in collaboration with local governments, farmers, processors and financial intermediaries – in four African countries: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya and Niger. Country-specific reports detailing the application of the five steps can be found here.

25/04 Nutrition Impact: Delivering food systems transformation to meet nutrition and finance returns: challenges and opportunities for evidence-based investing

This session highlighted the progress and opportunities for engaging investors in driving private sector accountability for nutrition impact.

26/04 @15:00 – 16:00 CEST. Data Systems Integration Dialogue: Blueprint for good food finance review

Delivering good food finance at scale, through mainstream economic activity, will require multidimensional metrics.

Resource: GFFN (2023) Climate Metrics: measuring progress and catalyzing investment in sustainable food systems # 20 p.

• This brief on climate metrics is the second document published by the Good Food Finance Network (GFFN) Metrics Catalyst Group. The First Metrics Brief of the GFFN Metrics Catalyst Group is available on the GFFN website.
• This brief summarizes key trends in climate-related metrics used by financial institutions working in the sustainability of food systems.

26/04 @16:00 – 17:00 CEST. Co-Investment Platform (CIP) Landscapes Portfolio: Zero-draft working session

Which sustainable landscapes initiatives should be included in a mapping of good food finance priorities?

27/04 @15:00 – 16:00 CEST. Scoping the Role of Cities in Good Food Finance – Exploratory Meeting

The exploratory meeting will convene and connect multiple existing networks—including C40, Good Food Cities, the Food Forward Consortium, Food Trails, and the cities that have signed up to the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact.

27/04 @16:00 – 17:00 CEST. Private Sector Engagement – Part 2: Consultation on the Co-Investment Platform (CIP)

The Good Food Finance Network (GFFN) is designing a Co-Investment Platform (CIP), to be launched at COP28, which aims to scale investment in sustainable food systems and shift capital flows to the sector to align with climate, biodiversity and inequality goals.

27/04 @15:00 – 16:00 CEST. UNEP Publication Launch: Driving Finance for Sustainable Food Systems: A roadmap to implementation for financial institutions and policy makers

Resource: During this webinar event, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) will introduce the Publication on ‘Driving Finance for Sustainable Food Systems: A Roadmap to Implementation for Financial Institutions and Policy Makers’. 

• This report attempts to address this challenge by providing a roadmap for private financiers to drive significant capital flows towards food systems. 
• It includes identifying their impacts, measuring performance, setting targets, monitoring and disclosing. 
• It also describes innovative new instruments and financing techniques, including blended finance, and addresses the policy changes needed to create an enabling environment. 

The webinar will: 

• Present key findings of the launched report;
• Highlight good practices demonstrated and promoted by the Good Food Finance Network´s High Ambition Group;
• Provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss issues, challenges and ways forward to unlock opportunities for financiers and policy makers to increase sustainable investments and lending in the agrifood sector.

27/04 @16:00 – 17:00 CEST. Co-Investment Platform (CIP) Instrumentation Dialogue

The Co-Investment Platform for Food Systems Transformation will serve as both a financial mechanism and a coordinating mechanism, to support the mainstreaming of good food finance, in line with human and planetary health, and climate goals.