AAS @ the Adaptation Futures conference

3 October 2023. The Adaptation Futures conference

The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) will be joining members of the global climate change adaptation community at the Adaptation Futures conference, being held in Montreal from 2-6 October 2023.

 
The Adaptation Futures conference series is the premier international gathering devoted entirely to climate change adaptation, bringing together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, industry representatives and other stakeholders to present their work in adaption, learn what others are doing and build networks. It is the flagship event of the UN’s World Adaptation Science Programme (WASP).

For the first time the Adaptation Futures conference will feature a pavilion dedicated to Africa, led by the AAS.

AAS will host a session addressing Food security in Africa lessons learnt, opportunities, and priorities for adaptation. This session will highlight the progress made towards Africa’s food system transformation in the context of climate change and just transition. Additionally, the session shall explore the role of research and innovation (R&I) in Africa’s food system transformation in the context of climate change adaptation. Here, researchers from the African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence (ARISE), working at the food security-climate change nexus across Africa, shall present insights from their work – highlighting advances made, lessons learnt as well as opportunities, needs, and priorities for adaptation.

Through keynote presentations, spotlight presentations, and plenary discussions, the session shall be structured as follows:

Part 1: Advances in Africa’s food system transformation

• Moderator: Dr. Peggy Oti-Boateng, Executive Director, AAS
• Prof. Lise Korsten, AAS President and Co-Director of the Department of Science and Innovation, Centre of Excellence in Food Security, South Africa
• Ms. Dorine Odongo, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), CIFOR-ICRAF
• Dr. Jessica Thorn, University of Namibia, Namibia

Part 2: The role of Research & Innovation exchanges in Africa’s food system transformation: Insights from the ARISE Programme

Spotlight presentations (ARISE Fellows):

• Dr. Sarobidy Rakotonarivo, University of Antananarivo, Madagascar
• Dr. Celimphilo Mavuso, University of Eswatini, Eswatini
• Dr. Sonia Semedo, Universidade de Cabo Verde, Cape Verde
• Dr Koffi Kibalou Palanga, Université de Kara, Togo
• Dr. Alassan Assani Seidou, University of Parakou, Benin
• Dr. Geoffrey Onaga, Africa Rice Center, Cote d’Ivoire
• Dr. Jessica Thorn, University of Namibia, Namibia