25 September 2026. Food scientists, researchers, industry professionals and other stakeholders came together online for the session From Chemistry to Commerce – Ensuring Authenticity and Building Trust in Africa’s Food Systems.
The session explored the important connection between scientific knowledge and commercial practice, with a particular focus on food authenticity, quality and consumer trust. The discussion highlighted the role that scientific approaches can play in addressing some of the challenges facing Africa’s rapidly evolving food systems.
He explored how chemistry could move beyond the laboratory to support real-world commercial activities and contribute to more reliable and trustworthy food systems. By connecting analytical science with market needs, the session underscored the importance of credible methods for verifying food authenticity and quality. Such approaches can help strengthen confidence among producers, businesses, regulators and consumers, while supporting fairer and more transparent food markets across Africa.
The discussion also demonstrated that building trust in food systems required collaboration across disciplines and sectors. Scientific expertise, commercial knowledge, regulatory frameworks and practical experience all had a role to play in ensuring that food products met expected standards and that claims about their authenticity could be supported by evidence.
Ultimately, the session offered a valuable perspective on the journey from chemistry to commerce. It showed how advances in food science and analytical approaches could contribute not only to detecting problems, but also to creating the evidence and confidence needed for stronger food value chains. For Africa’s food systems, where opportunities for expanding markets and value addition continue to grow, ensuring authenticity and building trust remained important foundations for sustainable and inclusive food-sector development.
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