27 June 2025. 6th African Union (AU) – European Union (EU) Agriculture Ministerial Conference
In the framework of the Africa-EU Partnership, the sixth AU-EU agriculture ministerial conference centered around strengthening the collaboration and addressing current challenges facing both Continents’ agri-food systems.
The conference discussed in depth four topics that will feed into the overall theme with a good potential for concrete EU-AU partnership. The four topics were:
- Investment and Financing in agri-food value chains
- Sustainable Practices and Climate Resilience
- Research, Innovation, and Technology
- Market Access and Trade Facilitation
High level thematic sessions
Concept note for the panel on investment and financing in agri-food value chains # 3 pp.
Concept note for the panel on sustainable practices and climate resilience # 2 pp.
Concept note for the panel on research, innovation and technology # 3 pp.
Concept note for the panel on market access and trade facilitation # 3 pp.
Side events
1: Enhancing investment, sustainability, and trade: The role of farmers and farmer organisations- The Farmers’ Organizations for Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (FO4ACP) programme (2019-2025) aimed to increase the incomes and improve the livelihoods, food and nutrition security, and safety of organized smallholders and family farmers in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries by strengthening regional, national and local farmers’ organizations. This program consistsed of 23 projects in various countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. The projects were implemented by nine (9) of the twelve (12) AGRICORD member agri-agencies and trusted Farmer Organizations on the national, subnational and local level ranging from country-wide federations to primary producer cooperatives.
- Farmers' Organizations Leading Research & Innovation on agroecology for sustainable food systems (FO-RI, 2022-2026), - managed by AgriCord.
- A new farmers’ organization’s global capacity building program FO4IMPACT is expected to be implemented in Africa through the Panafrican Farmers Organisation (PAFO), its members and AgriCord.
Speakers:
- Keynote – Ms Elizabeth Nsimadala, President of EAFF, Board member of PAFO
- Unlocking finance for smallholder farmers, including youth, and addressing barriers to market access, Mr Musa Sowe, President of National Coordinating Organizations for Farmers Association of the Gambia and, Vice-president of ROPPA
- FOs’ role in IFAD programs and IFAD investments contributing to scaling up, Mr Ron Hartman, Director for Global Engagement, Partnerships and Resource Mobilization, IFAD
- Relevance of supporting FOs within EU policy framework, Mr Philippe Le Clerc Policy Officer, Sustainable Food Systems/DG INTPA, European Commission
- Agroecological/climate-smart farming practices and compensation for ecosystem services, Ms Kati Partanen, Board member of the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners/MTK, Finland and Board member of the WFO
- Summary remarks – Mr Pieter Verhelst, Board member of Boerenbond, Belgium and President of AgriCord
This side event explored how the AU and EU can strategically contribute to global efforts to address inequality, achieve climate justice and the right to food. It linked the conversation to global processes: These include the G20 - now under the Presidency of South Africa - and its Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, the lead-up to COP30 in Brazil, the 53rd Plenary Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS 53), and the recent pledges at the Nutrition for Growth Summit.
This event explored how the recent Kampala Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Declaration alongside the EU Vision for Agriculture and Food, can further strengthen collaboration opportunities to strengthen the evidence-base of economic analysis of policies.
- Opening A. Agumya, Executive Director (FARA)
- Introduction M. Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (AU)
- PANAP: Bridging science and policy presentation - E. Ferrari, Scientific Project Officer (EC-JRC) & Kweku Antwi, Cluster Lead (FARA)
Bridging science-policy in current Africa-EU agri-food policy: opportunities for partnerships
- M. Heydon, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, (Republic of Ireland)
- Senator A. Kyari, Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security (Federal Republic of Nigeria)
- E. Fotabong, Director of Agriculture (NEPAD)
- L. Mizzi, Head of Unit (EC-DG INTPA)
- O. Badiane, Executive Chairperson (AKADEMIYA2063)
- P. Quartey, Professor (ISSER- University of Ghana)
- Moderator - K. Dekeyser, Policy Analyst (ECDPM)
- Wrap-up and take aways A. Zampieri, Director Sustainable Resources (EC-JRC)
The traditional knowledge of the territories where they are rooted, require supportive public
policies to thrive. These policies must secure a favorable legal and administrative framework for their management and protection, support stakeholders in their collective efforts, and help turn these high-quality agricultural and food products into genuine engines of sustainable territorial development.
Strong policies for strong GIs
- Annie Genevard, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, France
- Christophe Hansen, European Commissioner for Agriculture
GIs: Perspectives from Africa and Europe
- Maurizio Martina, Deputy Director-General of FAO
- Alaa Farouk Zaki El-Sayed, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Egypt
- Mabouba Diagne, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, Livestock, Senegal
- Assoumani Mondoha, Comores ambassador
- Mr. Tahirou Pape Kanoute, Executive Director of the NGO and consultancy firm ETDS – Economy, Territory and Development Services, Senegal (via video)
Conclusion and thanks
- Moses Vilakati, African Union Commissioner for Agriculture
- Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, Italy
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