2nd Brazil–Africa Dialogue on Food Security

20 - 22 May 2025. Brasília, Brazil. 2nd Brazil–Africa Dialogue on Food Security: the Fight Against Hunger, and Rural Development – Ministerial Dialogue

The event convened 43 African Ministers of Agriculture, alongside senior policymakers, technical experts, and development partners from both continents. Following the success of the first edition held in 2010, this meeting promoted the exchange of knowledge and successful experiences, contributing to the strengthening of local food production. Through dialogue, whether in panels or in conversations during field visits, the event provided opportunities to contribute to the strengthening of resilient, inclusive and healthy food systems in African countries. At the same time, the interaction offered a privileged opportunity to reflect on Brazilian experiences considering the observations of the African delegations.

Extract of the programme

Panel 1: Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Agri-Food Systems and the Importance of Family Farming – National Experiences

• Executive Director of COP30, Ana Toni
• Minister of Agriculture and Forests of Angola, Isaac dos Anjos
• Minister of Agrarian Development and Family Farming of Brazil, Paulo Teixeira
• Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources of Rwanda, Cyubahiro Marc Bagabe
• Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil, Carlos Fávaro

Panel 2 – Research, Development, and Innovation for Terrestrial and Aquatic Agri-Food Systems

• Moderator: Secretary for Trade Promotion, Science, Technology, Innovation and Culture of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Ambassador Laudemar Gonçalves de Aguiar Neto
• Minister of Agriculture of Eswatini, Mandla Tshawuka
• Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Brazil, André de Paula
• Minister of Agriculture and Food Security of Nigeria, Abubakar Kyari
• President of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Silvia Massruhá

Panel 3: The Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty and the Role of Public Policies for Food and Nutritional Security

• Moderator: Deputy Chief Advisor to the Presidency and Brazil’s Representative to the Global Alliance Council of Champions, Ambassador Audo Faleiro
• Vice President of Tanzania, Philip Isdor Mpango
• Minister of Social Development, Family and the Fight Against Hunger of Brazil, Wellington Dias
• Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Temesgen Tiruneh Dinku
• Assistant to the General Director of Itaipu Binacional, Silvana Vitorassi

Panel 4: Financing for Agri-Food Systems and Rural Development and the Role of Multilateral Development Banks

• Moderator: Secretary for Climate, Energy and Environment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Brazil’s BRICS Sherpa, Ambassador Mauricio Lyrio
• Vice President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Geraldine Mukeshimana
• Secretary for International Affairs at the Ministry of Finance of Brazil, Ambassador Tatiana Rosito
• Minister of Animal and Fisheries Resources of Côte d'Ivoire, Sidi Tiémoko Touré
• Socio-Environmental Director of the Brazilian National Development Bank (BNDES), Tereza Campello
• Director of Agriculture at the African Development Bank (AfDB), Martin Fregene

Strengthening South–South cooperation

FARA's team actively engaged in high-level discussions focused on strengthening South–South cooperation and advancing agricultural transformation across Africa. Key engagements included strategic dialogues with:

• 
  Nigeria’s Ministers of Agriculture and Livestock, and the Presidential Adviser on Food Security,to explore Nigeria’s potential hosting of the next Africa Agribusiness Science (AASW).
• Partners from Embrapa to deepen collaboration under the ARIFA fellowship program, supporting African researchers in Brazil.
• Brazil’s National Cotton Producers Association Abrapa - Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Algodão to explore linkages with NICOTAN and scale innovations across cotton value chains.

Delegation visited Embrapa units, cooperatives and production enterprises, with the aim of presenting, in a practical way, technologies and methods applied in Brazil to strengthen sustainable agriculture. (see picture with Abdulrazak Ibrahim, Cluster Leader @ FARA | TAAT Capacity Development.

FARA also held  consultations with AGRA, the African Union Commission, AUDA NEPAD, the African Development Bank Group, and the Gates Foundation, reaffirming its shared commitment to inclusive, science-based agricultural development.

The Dialogue concluded with a Joint Declaration and the signing of six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and three sanitary protocols between Brazil and African countries-including Nigeria, Ethiopia, Benin, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire. In a major breakthrough, nine African markets were officially opened to Brazilian agricultural products, creating new avenues for trade, innovation, and technology exchange.