Platform for African – European Partnership in Agricultural Research for Development

Sunday, September 29, 2024

Webinars and events October

24 - 26 September 2024. DeSIRA CONNECT Days: Western Africa, Central Africa & Madagascar

30 September 2024. 10:00 - 11:00 AM EDT / 14:00 GMT. Building Resilient Food Systems in Africa through Adapted Crops, Soil Health, and Value Chain Systems (VACS): Policy Priorities for Africa

  • The meeting will bring together key stakeholders across the entire coffee value chain, including farmers, civil society organizations, and representatives from relevant Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, private actors, consumers and the development partners.
  • Invited selected consortia only
30 September 2024. 13:00 – 14:00 GST. MENA region to address food loss and waste - webinar.
  • The Arab Friends of Champions 12.3 network & platform is designed to accelerate action in the Arab region towards SDG Target 12.3 — to halve food waste and reduce food loss.
  • presentations from: Dima Maroun (CSO, Thriving Solutions); Dr. Haytham Riahi (Founder, Circa Biotech); Liz Goodwin (Senior Fellow, World Resources Institute)
1 October 2024. Water Harvesting in Africa
  • The recordings of past sessions are also available on the waterschools.org website
  • Invited selected consortia only
2 October 2024. 1:30 pm CEST. 2:30 pm EAT | 12:30 pm GMT. Regenerative Agriculture: Experience from Kenya
  • Hand International works in Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan to empower people, particularly women, in their economic activities which we contribute to poverty reduction.
  • It brings various technical assistance work—such as regenerative agriculture—to help farmers improve their productivity and crop quality.
2 October 2024. 3:30 – 5:00 pm CEST Debt distress and the right to food in Africa by IFPRI

3 October 2024. 09:00AM - 06:30PM CEST. Food Trails Final Conference
  • Food Trails is a four-year EU-funded Horizon 2020 project, bringing together a consortium of 19 European partners, including 11 cities, 3 universities and 5 organisations.
  • A new tool has been released to make emergency crop and livestock needs assessments more streamlined. Developed jointly by the Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS) and the Standards for Supporting Agricultural Livelihoods in Emergencies (SEADS), the Joint Assessment Tool (JAT) integrates assessment processes for both crop and livestock production, promoting a comprehensive understanding of agricultural production and livelihoods in crisis-affected areas. Two standards in one tool
3 - 4 October 2024. AGROECOLOGY SCIENCE DAYS » 
  • University of Lausanne, Switzerland + “Agroecology Day for All” in Lausanne on 5 October 2024
  • Organised by the African Nutrition Society and Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
8 - 9 October 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya Africa Waste is Wealth Conference 2024 (AWWS II), scheduled for 

9 October 2024. 3:00 pm CEST Webinar Extension support for Climate Adaptation and Mitigation NELK Module
  • The Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS) invites you to a Webinar to launch the new module on Extension Support to Climate Adaptation and Mitigation

14 to 18 October 2024 The third edition of the FAO Science and Innovation Forum (SIF 2024)

  • The technical sessions at the Forum will be organized around three critical themes: Biotechnologies: Exploring the latest advancements and applications in biotechnology to enhance agricultural productivity, resilience, and sustainability
  • Community-Driven Innovations: Highlighting grassroots innovations and community-led initiatives that drive local and regional agrifood systems transformation.
  • Digital Agriculture: Examining the role of digital technologies, such as precision farming, Internet of Things, and Artificial Intelligence, in revolutionizing agricultural practices and improving supply chain efficiencies.
  • Organized around three pillars - Global Youth Action, Science and Innovation and Hand-in-Hand Investment - the 2024 flagship event leverages the power of intergenerational collaboration, as well as partnerships and action across policy, science, innovation, education, culture and investment.
  • This year, the event will also host the 2024 edition of the annual World Food Day and the High-Level Rome Water Dialogue on WASAG - The Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture, as well as the Global Family Farming Forum, ensuring even more inclusivity, dialogues and solutions for the present and future of our agrifood systems.

15 -19 October, 2024. Opportunity Crops: A drive for viable current and future livelihoods

14 October 2024. Validating the Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) indicator across population groups.

16 October: (14:00 CEST) World Food Forum hybrid Side Event co-organized by the Agroecology Coalition, the Agroecology Europe Youth Network (AEEUYN) and the Young Professionals for Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD) on “The role of Youth in the Agroecological Transformation: insights from Youth Networks from all over the wohttps://www.friendsofeurope.org/events/future-africa-europe-summit-time-for-a-paradigm-shift/rld”. More information here.
Register here to join in-person (Rome). Web streaming will also be available.

14 -16 October 2024. Addis Ababa African Youth Summit on Food Systems & Agroecology 2024

  • This summit is aimed at showcasing diverse solutions from African Youth to demonstrate practical ways of achieving improved livelihoods and sustainable food systems in a climate crisis.
  • Thousand African Youth Summit on Food Systems and Agroecology 2024 is explicitly designed to be a “Summit of Solutions”.
  • This emphasis on solutions is driven by the understanding that mere discussions and identification of challenges are insufficient to drive meaningful change.
  • The summit aims to go beyond rhetoric by actively seeking innovative ideas, practical recommendations, and actionable plans to address the complex issues facing African food systems.
  • How market-driven partnerships can promote biodiversity conservation while also supporting sustainable development for local populations.

17 October 2024 at 10 am – 4 pm EAT. The PrAEctiCe Online Agroecology Summit 
  • virtual event : the Summit aims to bring together African and EU researchers, academics, government officials, experts, and farmers engaged in advancing agroecological practices in Africa. The PrAEctiCe Agroecology Summit offers a chance to explore how agroecology can help to feed Africa. 
  • It will cover agroecological aquaculture systems’ current, emerging, and future benefits. It will also discuss the existing and developing frameworks for complying with agroecological practices to promote increased involvement between stakeholders and smallholder aquaculture producers in Africa. 
  • Discover practical applications of remote sensing, digital data, and GIS technologies to improve the efficiency, selection, and monitoring of sustainable smallholder aquaculture operations. The event will also discuss potential obstacles or issues that may impact the integration of aquaculture with agriculture.
22 October 2024. 12h00-15h00 UTC. 2nd Dialogue "Transforming Food Systems through Agroecology" by Agroecology TPP

21-26 October 2024. CORAF week

October 21, 2024  - November  01, 2024 Cali, Colombia. Food & Agriculture Pavilion

21 October–1 November, TBA, Colombia. UN | 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16)

23rd-24th October: Pre-register for the Global Bioeconomy Summit (GBS), a global & inclusive Summit bringing together bioeconomy experts to discuss sustainable solutions to global challenges. Register here.

23 -24 October 2024. Global Bioeconomy Summit (GBS)

23 - 25 October 2024. Russia africa Agri-Business expo

23 -25 October 2024. San Lorenzo - Paraguay The 10th Latin American Congress on Agroecology

  • This congress will be a time to update on the main debates that are being held in the region for the advancement of Agroecology in the territories.
23 to 27 October 2024. Committee on World Food Security. Making a difference in food security and nutrition.

24 October 2024. The role of smallholder farmers in agricultural development and food security in Africa for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in Africa
  • Introductory remarks by PAFO. Panel: ROPPA/EAFF; PASAE; University of Nairobi; CSIR-CRI Ghana; and Director of Mechanization, Nigeria.
  • The Webinars and Discussion Forums are being organized by the interim F-SAMA steering committee,comprised of AUC, FAO &ACT Network: For more information, contact: • F-SAMA - AfricaMechanize Secretariat; Email: info@africamechanize.org
24 October 2024. 6:00 AM PDT | 9:00 AM EDT | 3:00 PM CET | 6:30 PM IST.  New Estimates of Dietary Micronutrient Inadequacies
  • Webinar discussing findings from the new Lancet Global Health study that estimates over 5 billion people globally are not consuming adequate levels of essential micronutrients in their diet. 
  • Ty Beal, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
  • Anna Lartey, University of Ghana
  • Germana Leyna, Tanzania Food & Nutrition Centre
  • Simone Passarelli, Office of Global Food Security, U.S. Mission to the United Nations Agencies in Rome
  • Masresha Tessema, Ethiopian Public Health Institute
24 October 2024. 3:00 to 4:00 pm East Africa Time. CGIAR Seed Equal Webinar
  • This webinar shall present an innovative, market-focused model called Demand-Led Seed Systems (DLSS) approach, developed by the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) (pabra-africa.org), that has been mainstreamed by the CGIAR Research Initiative on Seed Equal on legumes.
  • This practical tool supports countries in integrating agroecological principles and practices into their respective National Biodiversity Strategies and Actions Plans (NBSAPs).
  • Policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders will explore the role of local governments, power structures, and inclusive policies to ensure access to adequate food and urban services amidst challenges like climate change, food insecurity, increasing urban populations, conflicts and raising inequalities.
29-31 October 2024. Iowa World Food Prize and Borlaug Dialogue

29 October- 01 November 2024, in Harare, Zimbabwe. 15th Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security (ADFNS) to be held in a hybrid formation 

  • farmer-led networks from Asia, Africa, and Latin America about their experience revitalizing fresh food markets and strengthening links among farmers, consumers, and public officials.
  • learn about the main findings of the "Food from Somewhere" report on the status of territorial markets launched by The International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food).
31 October 2024, 12:30-13:45. Euractiv Hybrid Conference 
 to discuss the way forward to more resilient and sustainable food systems in the EU.

31 October 2024. 6th Asia-Pacific Biopesticide Community of Practice (ABCOP) 
  • this event will explore the growing potential of biopesticides in agriculture

4 November at 15:00 CET. Food Systems Dialogues Reference Group

4–8 November 2024. Lisbon, TROPICAL SUMMIT - Foreseeing Answers to Global Challenges
Tropical Summit: A unique multi-actor forum to achieve the 2030 Agenda through triangular cooperation. 

5-6 NOVEMBER. Future Africa-Europe High-Level Forum.By the Africa-Europe Foundation and Friends of Europe

11-13 November 2025, Brisbane. TropAg 2025, 

11–22 November 2024, Baku, Azerbaijan 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29)

12 au 14 novembre au Palm Beach hôtel à Saly (Sénégal).  (Agro)pastoralism in Africa: Current Dynamics and Perspectives, in preparation for the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026)

19-22 November 2024. Hammamet Tunisia. Aquaculture Africa Conference 2024 (AFRAQ24)

20 November 2024. 1:30 to 5:30 pm. Soil quality – Towards an indicator system for public policy - Restitution conference

26-28 November 2024 in Dakar, Senegal. ANAPRI Stakeholders Conference scheduled

25-28 November 2024. Kigali, Rwanda. SUN Movement Global Gathering 2024

  • The SUN Movement Global Gathering is the Movement’s flagship event and one of the largest international gatherings within the nutrition community.

26 to 27 November 2024 SFN+ Hybrid Conference: Innovations for sustainable and resilient agri-food systems

  • This hybrid conference will provide an opportunity to explore the latest innovations in the agri-food systems within the UK and beyond (Africa and Asia); showcase the success of its funded research projects, present the latest knowledge exchange initiatives of its expert working groups and provide networking opportunities for leading food researchers and industry experts.
27 November 2024. FiBL Open Day
  • This event is organised by the Brussels-based FiBL Europe together with FiBL Switzerland, FiBL Germany, FiBL Austria, FiBL France and the Hungarian ÖMKi.
27 November 2024. 6th SFN+ Annual Conference: Innovations for sustainable and resilient agri-food systems

28 November 2024. Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in Africa

  • Annual Summary Paper to be prepared by AfricaMechanize Secretariat.
  • Presented by ACT iSAMAP Chair.
  • The Webinars and Discussion Forums are being organized by the interim F-SAMA steering committee,comprised of AUC, FAO &ACT Network: For more information, contact: • F-SAMA - AfricaMechanize Secretariat; Email: info@africamechanize.org

30 November - 6 December. Pre-Conferences, Tours, Organic World Congress, and the General Assembly of IFOAM – Organics International

2–13 December 2024, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia UN | UNCCD COP16

8 - 11 December 2024. The AAS 15th General Assembly & Scientific Conference, themed "Empowering and Advancing Africa’s Scientific Enterprise,"

09 – 12 December 2024. AAS Scientific Conference and General Assembly

25 February - 1 March 2025. Corvallis, Oregon. Organic Seed Alliance conference

  • to be held Hydrid: In-person and virtual.
  • Call for 2025 Conference proposals is open until July 19 and is available at this link
March 17th - 21st, 2025. Food system transformation & policy training.
  • Centre for Rural Development/Humboldt University Berlin
  • This training will delve into the unique challenges and opportunities of transforming food systems in the Global South, offering practical insights and strategic guidance.
  • Aim: Highlight the main challenges in the current food system(s), and co-develop practical solutions and action plans based on the objectives and local realities of the participants.
  • Target group : Urban planners, Project Manager in International Development NGOs, Food Value Chain Experts.
17-20 March, Brussels 5th Africa-Europe Science Collaboration Platform (AERAP)

7 - 12 April 2025. CGIAR Science Week, Nairobi

9 and 13 June 2025. African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT) Kigali, Rwanda,  

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Saturday, September 28, 2024

Value Chain Systems (VACS) Sprint Seminar: Policy Priorities for Africa

You are specially invited to the upcoming VACS Sprint Seminar, focused on Building Resilient Food Systems in Africa through Adapted Crops, Soil Health, and Value Chain Systems (VACS): Policy Priorities for Africa. The seminar will be held on September 30th, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM EDT, and will be led by Co-Chairs Tilahun Amede and Wole Fatunbi.

During the session, Co-Chairs will present an overview of the paper, discuss key findings, and gather feedback from our Community of Practice members. Your insights and contributions are invaluable to the continued success of our initiative, and we look forward to your participation.

Seminar Details: 

📑    Topic: Building Resilient Food Systems in Africa through Adapted Crops, Soil Health, and Value Chain Systems (VACS): Policy Priorities for Africa

📅    Date: Monday, September 30th, 2024

⌚    Time: 10:00 - 11:00 AM EDT /  14:00 GMT

Join via the Zoom link HERE.



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Thursday, September 26, 2024

Policy Workshop on International Carbon Certification Schemes

26 September 2024. Policy Workshop on International Carbon Certification Schemes


What proposals do other regions or countries have in terms of public and private schemes to promote the soil organic carbon (SOC) storage? How can they contribute to the ongoing discussions on the Carbon Removals Certification Framework (CRCF) from the European Commission?

This workshop ( see the Agenda) gave an insight into what is happening in the United States and Australia, as well as an overview of the context in the Pacific region and Europe.

Organised by the ORCaSa project in the framework of the Soil Carbon International Research Consortium (IRC), this event was an opportunity for experts and policymakers to meet, exchange ideas, and make progress in the field of soil carbon policy.

Moreover, the results of this workshop will be used to draw up a policy brief. Indeed, to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement on climate neutrality, to support the EU Green Deal and the objectives of the EU Soil Mission, Europe must coordinate its research and innovation efforts on soil carbon with international stakeholders and policymakers.
  • ORCaSa & the Soil Carbon International Research Consortium (IRC), an overview. Suzanne Reynders, INRAE, Coordinator 
  • European context: Certification Framework for Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming. Christian Holtzleitner, Head of Unit for Land Economy and Carbon Removals, Directorate-General for Climate Action, European Commission or other DG representative. 
  • Private schemes in USA. An overview of the agricultural carbon market in the USA: methods, regulations, and key players. Bruno Basso, Michigan State University, USA. • Public schemes in the USA. Amy Swan, Colorado State University, USA. 
  • National policy in Australia. How is it working for the last 10 years? How it is linked to research? Senani Karunaratne (Video @ 58:22:00), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia. 
  • Pacific region context. Ben Mac Donald, (Video @ 1:18:00) Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation,
    Australia    . 
  • Soil Mission Board. EU Soil Mission for healthy soils promoting soil carbon stocks. Liisa Pietola, Expert board member of the EU Mission: A Soil Deal for Europe, The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, Finland.
Discussion & debate Moderated by Jean-François Soussana, Vice-President International, INRAE & Edouard Lanckriet, Strategy Director and carbon farming expert, Agrosolutions.




Background:


Launched in September 2022, ORCaSa is a Horizon Europe initiative that aims to bring together international stakeholders working on techniques for capturing and storing carbon in the soil. The project seeks to address the issue of increasing carbon emissions from human activities, which have led to a disruption in the balance of organic carbon absorbed and stored in the soil to support plant growth.

At the forefront of the Soil Carbon International Research Consortium (IRC) that will emerge from the ORCaSa project, stands the firm belief that a Soil Deal for Europe is needed if we want to meet our climate goals – healthy soils, healthy planet.

Related:


Shared resource:

Paul Luu, with Marie-Christine Bidault Farmers have the Earth in Their Hands

How can we feed 10 billion people tomorrow? Can we avoid deforestation, the intensive use
of fertilisers and synthetic products, which aggravate climate change and the erosion of biodiversity? Should the debate be limited to a strict opposition between organic and conventional agriculture ? Can a better distribution of resources and changes in diet solve everything?

There is no single answer to all these questions, but agriculture has a magical side. It is not only part of the problem, it is also part of the solution, thanks to the superpowers of the soil. By being alive, preserved and regenerated, the soil can feed us, ensure the diversity of life on Earth and store carbon to help offset our greenhouse gas emissions.

Through a few scientific benchmarks, a brief historical review and the exploration of virtuous practices that can contribute to the life of the soil, this book opens up a bright future. Farmers have the Earth in their hands, but it is up to all of us to support them.

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Inclusive digitalization of agrifood systems in the Americas

23 - 27 September 2024. Digital Agriculture Week (DAW) was an Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) initiative.

It was carried out within the framework of its Digitalization of Agrifood Systems Hemispheric Program, which is geared towards fostering the dynamic and inclusive digitalization of agrifood systems in the Americas.

Digitalization is a top priority issue on IICA's technical cooperation agenda, since it is the most transformative process that the different stakeholders of agrifood systems will face in the coming years.

AgTech startups from the Americas with ready-to-use digital solutions (not ideas or prototypes) participated in Digital Agriculture Week (DAW). IICA brought togethera panel of judges comprised of leading figures from different sectors, who selected the 15 AgTechs that participated in DAW in person at IICA Headquarters (Costa Rica). The startups were selected based on the potential of their digital solutions to improve the production, sustainability and inclusion of agrifood systems.It prioritized digital solutions that directly contribute to food security, prevent and mitigate the impact of extreme climate events (especially droughts) and water management. Those led by women received special interest. Only agtechs originated in countries of the Americas were considered.

​

See below extracts of the presentations


23/09 Morning Block: Digitalization and future of agriculture 

Dialogue on Digitalization and the Future of Agriculture and Rurality 
  • Laurens Klerkx (Univ. of Talca and Wageningen) 
    Laurens Klerkx is Full Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Talca (Chile) and full professor at the Knowledge, Technology and Innovation Group, Wageningen University (The Netherlands). His research interests include agricultural innovation, food systems transformation, digital transformation, mission-oriented innovation policy, innovation systems, and advisory services.
  • Mariana Vasconcelos (CEO Agrosmart) 
  • Michael Kremer (Univ. Chicago) 
  • Federico Trucco (Bioceres) 
  • Lloyd Day (IICA Deputy Director General)


   

23/09 Afternoon Block: Digital innovation ecosystems

Setting up and strengthening digital innovation ecosystems in the Americas 
  • Jeremías Lachman (University of Cordoba, SP)
  • José Emilio Guerrero (University of Cordoba, SP)
Science, Technology and Education Centers in digital innovation ecosystems 
  • Andrea Gardeazabal (CGIAR/CIMMYT)
  • Guadalupe Tiscornia (Proyecto PROCISUR, INIA UY)
  • Stanley Best (RIDAG- INIA Chile)
   

24/09 Morning Block: Public Policies

Overview of agricultural digitalization policies in Latin America 
  • Alice Alcantara (IICA), Mónica Rodrigues (CEPAL)
Challenges and initiatives for the digitalization of the agricultural sector: the role of the Ministries of Agriculture 
  • María Teresa Ambrós Mendioroz (MAPA, SP) 
  • Pedro Neto (MAPA, BR) 
  • Rodrigo Ramirez (MINAGRI, CH) 
  • César Santisteban (MIDAGRI, PE)
Business networks and public-private partnerships for the digitalisation of agriculture 
  • Representative Chamber of Innovation Agrodigital, BR
  • María Fernanda Quiñones Zapata (CCE Electrónico, CO) 
  • Francisco Astaburuaga (Chamber of Agtech, CH) 
  • Gabriela Tallarico (INTA, AR), 
  • Francine Brossard (FIA, CH)

   

 24/09 Afternoon Block: Public Policies

Pitch Agtechs - Group 1 
  • Hola Tractor
  • Plataforma Puma
  • Tracify
  • Vega Monitoramento
  • InnTerra SAS
  • Verge technologies


   

25/09 Morning Block: AgTech development

Experiences and recommendations to promote the development and use of agtechs 
  • Rosa Gallardo (UCO, SP) 
  • Laurens Klerkx y Jenny Melo
Institutionalization of the Agtech Network of the Americas: 
  • Francisco Astaburuaga (Agtech Chamber, CH) 
  • Eliana Camargo Niño (Agtech Guild of Colombia) 
  • Carlos Ruiz Macho (IICA)

   

 25/09 Afternoon Block: Financing of AgTech development

Pitch Agtechs - Group 2 
  • SmartSoil
  • Demeter lab
  • Curuba Tech
  • Satellites on fire
  • Tech4Agri360
Financing digital agricultural innovation: where is it going and how can it be strengthened? 
  • Teresita Di Marco (TYL)
  • Vladimir Valera (CATIE)
  • Carla Berquo (Bioenterprise)
  • Mayco Mansilla (Innventure)
  • Scott Day (FLC)
  • Eduardo Chomali (CAF)
  • Ariadne Caballero (SP Ventures)
  • Daniel Anavitarte (FIDA)
  • Daniel Block (Mercy Corps)
  • Federico Bert (IICA)       



 


26/09 Morning Block: Youth and digitalization

Externalities of digitalisation: How do we ensure positive and inclusive digitalisation? 
  • Jenny Melo
Youth and digitalization in agri-food systems 
  • Octavio Sotomayor (CEPAL)
  • Edgar Maestre (YABT)
  • Rebeca Sánchez (FabLab, IICA)
  • Matías Centeno (INTA-PROCISUR)
  • Emmanuel Picado
Pitch Agtechs - Group 3 
  • Miido
  • MetaBIX Biotech
  • Infoagro
  • Ahau-x
  • AgroCognitive

 


26/09 Afternoon Block: Youth and digitalization

Digitalization cases: level of use and good practices to improve the use of technologies
  • Tim Lillie y Ana Luiza Mokodsi (McKinsey)
  • José Pradet (ARG)
  • Elena Loaces (UY)
  • Yessica Yana (BO)
  • Joelin Santos (Rep. Dom)
  • Raymond Rojas (CR)
  • Nicolás
Will agtech startups lead the transformation of agri-food systems?
  • Laurens Klerkx (Talca University)

27/09 Morning Block: 

Responsible digitalisation: inclusive, safe and ethical

  • David Rose  (CGIAR/CIMMYT)
  • Andrea Gardeazabal (CGIAR/CIMMYT)

Experiences of AI applications in agri-food systems

  • Cristina Martinez Rueda (UCO, SP) 
  • Francisco Javier Mesas Carrascosa (UCO, SP) 
  • Miguel Angel Marques (Hispatec, SP) 
  • Jawoo Koo (CGIAR/IFPRI) 
  • José Cuevas Valenzuela (Mumulkan)

Elements for a dynamic and responsible development and use of AI

  • José Emilio Guerrero (UCO, SP) José Lisandro Aguilar Castro (MDs InvesEA Network Institute)

Roundtable: What role will AI play and how can we make the most of it?

  • Rosa Gallardo (UCO, SP) 
  • Laurens Klerkx (Univ. Talca, CH) 
  • Martín Oesterheld (Univ. Bs As, AR) 
  • Federico Bert, Caterina Dalmasso (IICA)

Upcoming event: 

23 October 2024. Webinar: How Can Artificial Intelligence (AI) Improve Agri-food Systems? Scheduled for 23 Oct 2024 An IICA-led Virtual Webinar within the Borlaug Dialogue, 2024: How Can Artificial Intelligence (AI) Improve Agri-food Systems? The objectives of our virtual webinar include how to analyze and project the role of artificial intelligence in solving strategic challenges of agri-food systems in general and specifically in the Americas; to address the potential benefits and risks; and to propose necessary actions to mobilize their use while avoiding negative impacts.

 
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African and European Researchers in Sustainable Agriculture Meet in Accra


24 - 26 September 2024, Ghana. African and European organizations focused on research and innovation in sustainable agriculture, along with various stakeholders, have convened in Accra to discuss strategies for expanding innovations in agricultural and food systems.

The Development-Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA) CONNECT Days, was a three-day event focused on agricultural innovation in Western Africa, Central Africa, and Madagascar.

It is being organized by the European Commission under the DeSIRALIFT initiative and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA).  

A news brief shared with the Ghana News Agency indicated that the goal of the event was to share lessons and outcomes from the DeSIRA projects and discuss strategies for scaling up innovations within the agricultural sector. It said participants would have the opportunity to engage in a series of activities to present their projects, jointly reflect on key topics, including participatory innovation with civil society and the private sector, and mechanisms for responsible innovation. Participants would also discuss the role of research in agricultural innovation, education, knowledge, and job creations as well as in policy making.

"It will provide participants with insights on innovation mechanisms and scenarios for a climate resilent agriculture - healthy for the planet and the people - to built a long-lasting impact on food security, poverty alleviation, and socio-economic and gender-balanced inclusion while protecting biodiversity and ecosystems. The DeSIRA Connect Days will feed the broader agenda of EU- Africa and other international initiatives, policies and strategies in support of sustainable agriculture and food systems." it added. 



The DeSIRA initiative aims to promote innovation in agricultural and food systems to support sustainable transitions and improve resilience to climate change in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Through participatory research and multi-stakeholder engagement, DeSIRA projects drive innovation to enhance food security, nutrition, and livelihoods. 

Resources:

CIRAD (2024) Activating agricultural transitions to sustainability through participatory research and
co-innovation: Stories of change across Africa, Asia and Latin America from the DeSIRA initiative # 5 p.

The report discusses the use of the co-innovation approach in DeSIRA projects, which focus on addressing issues in agriculture and natural resource management. By leveraging national agricultural innovation systems, researchers played key roles in designing and implementing these innovative approaches while enhancing the capacities of the partnering organizations.

The first chapter highlights various co-innovation approaches and the factors influencing their effectiveness, such as the type of innovation (technological or organizational), the novelty within different country contexts, and the role of researchers. The co-innovation process is distinct from the traditional linear transfer of technology model, as it emphasizes collaborative learning and knowledge exchange in iterative, non-linear cycles between researchers and other stakeholders.

The chapter also presents four case studies from DeSIRA projects, illustrating the challenges of implementing co-innovation. These include adapting researchers' roles (Fair Sahel and SUSTLIVES projects), guiding experiments (LIPS-Zim project), managing joint learning cycles (SUSTLIVES project), involving farmers as co-innovators (LIPS-Zim and SUSTLIVES), and building partnerships for co-innovation (Climate-smart Malawi project).

Altieri, M.A., Nicholls, C.I., Dinelli, G. et al. Towards an agroecological approach to crop health: reducing pest incidence through synergies between plant diversity and soil microbial ecology
Nature article. Given environmental, economic, and social costs of unilateral chemical and biotechnological interventions to control pests, there is an urgent need to transition towards a knowledge-intensive holistic approach emphasizing agroecosystem design and management. The focus will be on what makes agroecosystems susceptible and vulnerable to insect pests, pathogens and weeds, in order to design diversified agroecosystems that prevent and suppress insect pest, pathogen and weed problems.

The September issue of the FAO Agroecology Digest presents a selection of news, research publications, stories from the field, multimedia materials (and much more) from around the world recently uploaded to the Agroecology Knowledge Hub.
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Monday, September 23, 2024

Roadmap Review - Africa regional and continental level Consultations


20 September 2024. Roadmap Review - Africa regional and continental level Consultations

Organised by the CEA-FIRST project. This forward-looking project aims, among others, to operationalise the International Research Consortium (IRC) on FNSSA, in line with the FNSSA Roadmap of the AU-EU High Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD).

The objective of this virtual meeting was to garner comprehensive feedback on the perceptions of representative of Africa’s RECS and high-level continental structure on the achievements and lessons learned from the 2016-2026 FNSSA Roadmap, and to collaboratively inform the 
design of the new 2027-2037 FNSSA R&I Roadmap.
  • Opening Remarks Dr. Moumini Savadogo, Executive Director CORAF 
  • Overview of the FNSSA R&I 2016-2026 Roadmap Dr. Bernard Mallet, CIRAD 
  • Presentation of Results from Desk Review & Surveys Prof. Adipala Ekwamu and Alex Percy – Smith, CEA FIRST Consultants
Setting up Breakout Sessions 
  1. Levels of implementation, achievements, challenges, and improvements in the 2016-2026 AU-EU FNSSA Roadmap 
  2. Emerging trends and future priorities of the new 2027-2037 AU-EU FNSSA R&I Roadmap, at both regional and continental levels 

Background:

Over the last eight years of implementation of the Roadmap, more than 500 projects focusing on the abovementioned thematic areas were funded and implemented across Europe and Africa. Diverse in scope and impact, these projects are at different stages of implementation, with some reaching successful conclusions while others are still ongoing. The assessment of this ambitious Roadmap, including these projects is being based on several progress indicators, including knowledge advancement, capacity building, research uptake, coordination, and overall community impact.

With the Roadmap reaching completion in two years (2026), a new initiative, the "Consortium Europe Africa on Research and Innovation for Food Systems Transformation (CEA-FIRST)" project, was launched by the African Union and the European Union alongside a number of implementing partners, under funding from the European Commission through the Horizon Europe R&I Program (Cluster 6). This envisions to develop a new FNSSA R&I Roadmap for the next decade, spanning from 2027 to 2037. 

As part of the broad multi-stakeholder consultation in Africa, a combined regional and continental-level stakeholder validation workshop are co-organized and chaired by the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF). CORAF is reaching out to key stakeholders through existing structures such as the Regional Economic Commissions (RECs) of Africa (SADC, EAC, ECOWAS, CEMAC) and specialized Technical Committees of the African Union on Education, Science and Technology, Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment, Social Development, Labour and Employment, and Gender and Women’s Empowerment. 



Related PAEPARD blogpost: 

12 - 14 February 2024. Accra, Ghana. CEA-FIRST, the Consortium Europe Africa on Research and Innovation for Food Systems Transformation 



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Tuesday, September 17, 2024

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

 #FARA is seeking a Programme Officer for Results Measurement and Learning to design and implement a comprehensive monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) framework for the #StePPFoS and #CEA_FIRST projects

submit your applications or get more info via bit.ly/3zgY7K5



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Demand-Side Interventions and Approaches for Healthy Diets

17 September 2024. BIFAD Public Meeting: Demand-Side Interventions and Approaches for Healthy Diets

Nearly 400 participants from 53 countries, representing a variety of organizations, including over 35 universities, joined this engaging hybrid event to explore how we can enhance consumer demand for healthy, safe, and nutritious foods. BIFAD members are diving into the next steps, crafting actionable recommendations for USAID based on public feedback received during and after the session.
  • BIFAD, an independent advisory committee to USAID on food and agriculture issues, convened this public meeting to discuss Demand-Side Interventions and Approaches for Healthy Diets, to shape the next steps in USAID’s strategic thinking and policy prioritization toward the objective of achieving healthy diets for all. 
  • This meeting addressed evidence and evidence gaps, areas for additional research, and prioritized approaches and actions for USAID, centered around demand-side interventions and approaches to improve the processing, storage, distribution, sale, purchase, and consumption of safe and nutritious food. 
  • Find an agenda for the meeting at this link. 
  • The meeting included a presentation of key findings and opportunities from a draft evidence review (see below) prepared for BIFAD. Written feedback on the evidence review is welcomed and may be submitted using this public comment form until October 4.
Questions addressed at the meeting included:
  1. How can USAID work better with communities, national governments and private sector stakeholders to enhance consumer demand for safe and nutritious foods in ways that improve the diets of whole households, including women and children?
  2. How can demand-focused interventions improve the affordability of healthy diets?
  3. How can the progress and outcomes of demand-focused interventions be measured and evaluated?
Speakers:
  • Opening Remarks - Kathy Spahn, BIFAD; President Emerita, Helen Keller Intl + Patrick Webb, USAID Chief Nutritionist 
  • Increasing the Demand for Safe and Nutritious Food in USAID Priority Countries through Innovations and Interventions across the Food System - Bianca Carducci, Postdoctoral Scientist at Columbia Climate School 
Panel: Catalyzing Demand: Synergizing Public and Market Forces for Nutritious Diets
  • Moderator: Saweda Liverpool-Tasie, BIFAD; MSU Foundation Professor, Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Economics, Michigan State University 
  • Kefilwe Moalosi AU-NEPAD Nutrition Officer 
  • Ndidi Nwuneli, President and CEO, ONE Foundation 
  • Stella Nordhagen, Research Lead, Food Environments and Supply Chains, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) 
  • Rolf Klemm, Vice President of Nutrition, Helen Keller Intl 
Science Flash Talk: Implications of Demand-side Approaches for Feed the Future Research Peter Goldsmith, Director, Feed the Future Soy Innovation Lab, University of Illinois.

Public Comment Period Moderator: Marie Boyd, BIFAD; Associate Professor, University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law 

The Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS): Creating Demand for Nutrient-Rich Traditional and Indigenous Crops Cary Fowler, U.S. Special Envoy for Global Food Security, U.S. Department of State

Panel: USAID Response 
  • Moderator: Patrick Webb, USAID Chief Nutritionist 
  • Kristin O’Planick, Market Systems Team Lead, Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security, USAID 
  • Getinet Ameha, Senior Agriculture Adviser, USAID/Ethiopia 
  • Megan Kyles, Economic Growth Office Director, USAID/Liberia




Shared resources 

BIFAD (2024) Increasing the Demand for Healthy Diets Evidence on Approaches Across the Food System in Feed the Future Contexts Pre-Published Document Released for Public Comment September 6, 2024. # 54 pp.
  • The overarching goal of this research was to assess the available evidence, identify evidence gaps, recommend areas for additional research, and use the existing evidence to develop a prioritized set of opportunities for USAID consideration. 
  • The research also identifies important areas for USAID’s investment in measurement and evaluation.
 
  • Feed the Future Business Drivers for Food Safety (BD4FS), funded by USAID and implemented by FES, is a multi-country (Senegal, Ethiopia, and Nepal) project that works alongside SMEs, or as they are referred to in the BD4FS project, “growing food businesses” (GFBs) to co-design and implement incentive-based strategies to accelerate the adoption of food safety practices in local food systems. 

  • BD4FS has developed a series of strategies and methodologies – also referred to as “tools” – for business-level assistance in food programs and for raising consumer awareness about food safety.

  • To better understand barriers to financing and to learn where opportunities and synergies exist for food businesses and investors, BD4FS undertook a financial landscape assessment in Senegal in 20212 . 
  • This assessment identified several underlying factors that limit investment in GFBs. For one, many investors find investing in the perishable food sector too risky and have concerns that loans will not be repaid.

The Lancet (2024) Global estimation of dietary micronutrient inadequacies: a modelling analysis
  • More than half of the global population consumes inadequate levels of several micronutrients essential to health, including calcium, iron, and vitamins C and E, according to a new study by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, UC Santa Barbara (UCSB), and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). 
  • It is the first study to provide global estimates of inadequate consumption of 15 micronutrients critical to human health. 
  • The study was published in The Lancet Global Health on August 29. Micronutrient deficiencies are one of the most common forms of malnutrition globally, and each deficiency carries its own health consequences, from adverse pregnancy outcomes, to blindness, to increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. See article: Billions worldwide consume inadequate levels of micronutrients critical to human health


  • The paper is a 62-page “thought experiment” by an international team of 65 natural and social scientists that seeks to map out how the world’s 7.9 billion people could remain within safe planetary boundaries while accessing necessary levels of food, water, energy, shelter and transport. It then projects how this may change by 2050, when the population is likely to be 9.7 billion people.
  • Published in the Lancet Planetary Health journal on 11 September 2024, the paper first sets a justice “floor” of basic daily living standards – defined as 2,500 calories of food, 100 litres of water, and 0.7kWh of electricity, along with a living area of 15 sq metres and annual transportation of 4,500km (2,800 miles). 
  • Then they calculated how much space there was between this and a safety “ceiling” – which was defined by planetary boundaries – that estimated how much humanity can push the climate, ecosystems, nutrients and phosphorus and water sources without destabilising the Earth’s systems.

Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli (2021) 
Food Entrepreneurs in Africa. Scaling Resilient Agriculture
Businesses. 208 pp. 
  • Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of the agriculture and food sector in Africa, which is projected to exceed a trillion dollars by 2030. 
  • This book is the first practical primer to equip and support entrepreneurs in Africa through the process of starting and growing successful and resilient agriculture and food businesses that will transform the continent. 
  • Through the use of case studies and practical guidance, the book reveals how entrepreneurs can leverage technology and innovation to leapfrog and adapt to climate change, ensuring that Africa can feed itself and even the world. 

  • SMEs are at the frontline when it comes to supplying food to low-income groups and have the capacity to drive change in food consumption patterns at a rapid pace – e.g., SMEs are found to provide 70% of food to low-income populations in Africa.
  • They therefore have enormous potential to improve the diets and health of consumers on a global scale through incorporating nutrition into their business models and practices, in turn improving the availability and accessibility of healthy nutritious foods for consumers in their local markets.

Related:


16 September 2024. The contribution of KOKO Plus® to Universal health coverage (UHC). The Ghana Nutrition Improvement Project was launched in 2009 by the Ajinomoto Group to help solve the pressing issue of malnutrition in the country. In particular, the core project partners aim to improve the nutritional outcomes of an estimated 200,000 children aged 6-24 months by 2017 by providing a supplement named “KOKO Plus”. 

With support of JICA/Ajinamoto, NEC Africa is increasing the capacity of health care workers to "Visualize" and utilize data to promote mothers behavior change. 

Yōko Kamikawa (the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs) declared during TICAD (August 24, 2024): 
"Japan has long been focusing on cooperation in maternal and child healthcare. (...) Japan is now incorporating ICT and other advanced technologies from the private sector. (...) JICA [combines] health examinations and nutritional guidance for mothers and children utilizing Japanese ICT [for] the dissemination of (...) nutritional supplements."


Related:

20 June 2024. EC/INTPA InfoPoint conference: Local Private Sector and Nutrition for Women and Children
  • Mandresy Randriamiharisoa, Director General, Nutrizaza, Madagascar
  • Siny Samba, Director General, Le Lionceau, Senegal

Upcoming:

7 - 11 October 2024. The 9th Africa Nutrition Conference (ANC 2024/ANEC IX)
  • The African Nutrition Society (ANS) and the Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics(GAND) are organizing the 9th edition of the Africa Nutrition Conference (ANC2024 / ANEC IX).
  • Theme: “FOOD AND NUTRITION IN A CHANGING WORLD: Implications for nutrition security and health in Africa”
  • Venue: University of Cape Coast – North Campus, Cape Coast, Ghana

Opportunity:


Pivotal Ventures (of billionaire philanthropist Melinda French Gates) 
  • will launch a call in the autumn to global organisations
  • $250 million
  • to be awarded through an open call, with Lever for Change to identify organizations working to improve women’s mental and physical health worldwide.ations focused on women’s mental and physical health
Since Melinda French Gates founded Pivotal in 2015, it used different kinds of funding to achieve its mission to advance social progress, including venture capital investments, philanthropic grantmaking, advocacy funding, and partnerships. In 2022, Melinda formed Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation, a nonprofit organization, to support philanthropic grantmaking and help enable this flexible approach to driving impact.

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