8th African Diaspora Agrofood Forum on Forgotten Foods

8 - 10 November 2024. African Diaspora Agrofood Forum (ADAF 2024)

The African Diaspora Agrofood Forum, offered a platform for African diaspora agrofood entrepreneurs, stakeholders and interested members of the public to convene, exchange ideas, explore opportunities for growth in the agrofood sector and experience African food innovations.

It is an annual event organised by the FoodBridge. The FoodBridge, a non-profit organization based in Belgium, manages several projects aimed at promoting food culture, heritage, and community support.

The FoodBridge was selected by the Global Forum for Agricultural Research (GFAiR) among the 21 applications of Expressions of Interest on Forgotten Foods.

• The purpose of this request for Expressions of Interest was to identify organizations interested in participating in a Collective Action (CA) dedicated to reviving forgotten foods, with a particular focus on their inherent nutritional value and resilience to climate change. 
• Through this initiative, the aim is to empower small scale producers as key actors in the pro-poor transformation of agri-food research and innovation systems. 
• The CA will actionable strategies designed to empower farmers to demonstrate the vast potential of their crops, advocate for their challenges and needs, and overhaul research and innovation systems in favour of forgotten foods and of farmers’ traditional knowledge and governance structures.

Key highlights of the event included:

• Expert Panels and Keynote Speeches: leading experts and thought leaders on current trends, challenges, and opportunities within the African agrofood sector.
• Workshops and Training Sessions: interactive workshops designed to enhance skills and knowledge in various aspects of agrofood production, marketing, and consumption.
• 
  Networking Opportunities: Connecting with peers, professionals, investors, and policymakers to build strategic partnerships and collaborations.
  
• Exhibition: 2 days exhibition fair to taste innovative agrofood products
• Presentation of the African Diaspora agrofood entrepreneur of the year award and the annual compendium of African diaspora agrofood entrepreneurs

The ADAF 2024 partners include Sankaa vzw, European Union Global Diaspora Facility(EUDIF), ENABEL, COLEAD, EU Impetus Accelerator Program, Zidi Circle, Alefa Diaspora and others.

Policy Dialogue Panel: Facilitating Innovative Agrofood Entrepreneurship; African Diasporas and the 2030 Agenda

This panel discussed the role of the African Diaspora in driving innovative agrofood entrepreneurshipthat aligns with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

The panel was moderated by GFAiR.

Policy makers, experts and entrepreneurs discussed how to create policies that foster growth,

sustainability and opportunity in agrofood sectors across Africa and its diaspora.

• Mr. Jeremy Knops, general delegate COLEAD
• Ms. Bijou Tshiunza, founder MICRODEV
• Mr. Rashad Al-Khafaji, Director FAO Laison office to the EU & Belgium
• Mr. Marie d'Huart, CEO Virunga Origins

2024 African Diaspora Agrofood Entrepreneur of the year

Entrepreneurship is deeply intertwined with the migration stories of African diasporas, particularly in the agrofood sector. Over the years, many in the diaspora have harnessed their resources to launch agrofood projects, which often go unrecognized in mainstream development narratives and data. To spotlight these efforts, the African Diaspora Agrofood Entrepreneur of the Year award was conceived, honoring those making significant impacts in the sector.

• In 2022, this prestigious award, organized by The Food Bridge, was presented to Mr. Cyril Sanjoh, a Cameroonian entrepreneur revolutionizing the international agrifood landscape. His company, Sansusa, registered as a Common Initiative Group (CIG) in 2014, is committed to sustainable farming practices, producing a diverse range of crops and livestock.
• 
  In 2023, Mr. Alpha Diallo, founder of Africapaid, received the award for his innovative work at WELLI Farm in Senegal. His farm addresses food security challenges by focusing on fruit, vegetable, and dairy production while supporting the local community. Diallo’s approach is especially notable for his collaboration with local women, who collect farm produce on credit
  and sell it at markets, keeping 100% of the profits.
• In 2024 Ms Maimouna Kanté, founder of Maison Kanthé France, has been named the Food Bridge's 2024 African Diaspora Agrofood Entrepreneur of the Year. This award, presented at the African Diaspora Agrofood Forum and sponsored by Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs Belgium, celebrates African diaspora agrofood entrepreneurs who make significant community impacts and show strong potential for growth.

During the award presentation, Mr Bjorn Macauter, General Manager of Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs, highlighted the impressive social impact of the five nominees, all of whom are women. Kanthé stood out as the winner due to her business’s scalability across multiple countries.

In her acceptance speech, Kanté shared that the name of her tea brand honors her heritage (her family originates from Guinee Conakry) and Africa’s rich resources, which she aims to share with tea lovers and connoisseurs worldwide. Kanthé’s offerings include 100% African teas, infusions, and honeys sourced from premium plantations in Malawi, Mali, Rwanda, Guinea, South Africa, and Togo.

Resource: 2024 Compendium of African Diaspora Agrofood Forum

Download: in English and in French # 40 pp.

This publication aims to support and promote the growth of the African Diaspora agrofood entrepreneurship ecosystem. The 2024 African Diaspora Agrofood Entrepreneurs Compendium is produced by The Food Bridge vzw in collaboration with the European Union Global Diaspora Facility (EUDiF). This collaboration is motivated by a mutual desire to facilitate and support the African Diaspora entrepreneurial ecosystem in Europe. The Food Bridge vzw is a Belgian non-profit organisation with different agrofood and diaspora engagement projects in Belgium, Nigeria and Ghana. 

EUDiF is a project funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development. It strives to maximize the potential of diaspora engagement for development by generating knowledge, facilitating dialogue and providing capacity development support to diaspora organizations and partner countries.

It is featuring African diaspora agrofood

entrepreneurs based in Europe, who operate businesses in Africa, the Caribbean, or Europe. Selected entrepreneurs will be highlighted in this year's edition.

Conclusion and recommendations 

Women entrepreneurs engaged in food

processing in Africa,  in particular the African Diaspora, have unique opportunities to improve nutrition by leveraging their positions to create healthier, locally sourced, and culturally relevant food products. For example, women-led businesses can focus on processing traditional, nutrient-dense foods that are often overlooked by large-scale industrial producers, such as indigenous grains, legumes, and vegetables. These women entrepreneurs can innovate by fortifying common foods with micronutrients like iron, vitamins, and

minerals to address local nutritional deficiencies, such as anemia or vitamin A deficiency. 

Additionally, they can promote healthier alternatives to processed snacks by creating low-sugar, high-fiber, and nutrient-rich products that cater to local tastes. By using

local ingredients, women entrepreneurs can also support regional agriculture, boosting food security and encouraging sustainable farming practices. Furthermore, women-run food enterprises can serve as platforms for education, teaching communities about the benefits of nutritious eating and helping to shift consumer behavior towards healthier, more balanced diets. These efforts not only improve the nutrition of local populations but also empower women entrepreneurs to play a central role in shaping the health and economic landscape of their communities.

Highlights - See blogposts:

• Spotlight on GAMAAL: a dynamic homecooked food app dedicated to connecting cultures through the universal language of food https://gamaal.co.uk/
• Spotlight on Virunga origins: Virunga Origins is a social enterprise located in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its mission is to produce delicious, superior quality goods and create lasting societal change through sustainable agriculture, working practices, training, and employment opportunities.
• Spotlight on Glim Africa: Founded in 2020 in France and 2021 in Cameroon, Glim Africa was created to provide local alternatives to the massive imports of wheat and rice in Cameroon and across Africa. Glim Africa focused on promoting local agriculture by developing products from indigenous crops such as cowpea (niébé), recognized by WWF as one of the 50 foods of the future.
• Spotlight on Hordesia: HORDESIA’s catering service, Sekayi, offers a variety of unique products that bring the flavors of the DRC to Belgium. Their main offerings include Sauce Mbika (pumpkin seed sauce), Mbika and vegetable patties, red currant coulis, and baobab powder.
• Spotlight on Vyakulani Africa Project: Vyakulani Africa Project (June 2024 – January 2025) The aim of the project is to document African diaspora foodways in Belgium.

Related:

EUDiF is pleased to invite diaspora organisations, from countries listed in the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) regulation regulation and registered in an EU member state, Switzerland or Norway, to submit a proposal for small-scale projects amounting from 25,000 to 60,000 EUR. D4D Grants aim to promote sustainable development by supporting diaspora-led initiatives in the country of origin in the areas of climate, economy, education and health. Full details on the call are available in the Guidelines for applications.

Key dates: 15 November 2024 – 15 January 2025 23:59 CET: Call open. 29 November 2024: Online info session in English with simultaneous interpretation to French (10:00 CET). Register here. 6 December 2024: Deadline for requesting clarifications through the EUDiF website. April 2025: Notification of outcome. 31 December 2026: Latest date for end of project implementation.

The true impact of Digital Farmer Services (DFS)

7 November 2024. Digital Farmers Services (DFS) and how the 'Meaningful Use' framework can help companies scale DFS solutions to deliver sustainable, impactful benefits for farmers in Africa and Asia.

Traditional metrics like usage frequency or app downloads often fail to capture the true impact of Digital Farmer Services (DFS). The "Meaningful Use" framework fills this gap by evaluating the real benefits that farmers gain from these services. Based on a survey of nearly 5,000 farmers across India, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, and Ethiopia, this approach covers services such as information access, input and equipment markets, and credit offered by 18 DFS providers.

The panel of experts will discuss the design of the 'Meaningful Use' framework in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Busara Center for Behavioral Economics, how DFS is transforming farmers' practices, livelihoods, and resilience, and Insights on scaling DFS solutions to deliver sustainable, impactful benefits for farmers across Africa and Asia.

• Parmesh Shah, Global Lead, Data-Driven Digital Agriculture and Innovation The World Bank; 
• Ellie Turner, Director of Agriculture at 60 Decibels; 
• Sheena Raikundalia, Chief Growth Officer at Kuza; 
• Phyian Karinge, Senior Product Manager at agriBORA; 
• Rajesh Ranjan, Founder, Krishify; 
• Hannah Reed, Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; 
• Luc Christiaensen, Lead Agricultural Economist, Agricultural and Food Global Practice of The World Bank and 
• Sydney Gourlay, Senior Economist, Development Data Group of The World Bank

• Find the Presentation Here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Ne15ZtRt4lXib90IyRi6qJnUKvlBUTZO/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=113395485540901642907&rtpof=true&sd=true
• The World Bank`s "What’s Cooking Digital Agriculture Learning Series" webinar is now on The World Bank Open Learning Campus, OLC. The OLC is available to everyone inside the World Bank as well as externally. 
• and on YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@DataDrivenDigitalAgriculture/videos  
• Have a look at their website and join the community: https://www.worldbank.org/digitalagriculture

Previous webinar

4 Oct 2024. Transforming Agriculture Through Data and Digital Technologies and Enhancing Productivity

The agricultural sector is confronting escalating challenges that threaten both productivity and environmental sustainability. From ensuring food security to maintaining stable production amid climate change, traditional farming methods are increasingly insufficient. The modern agricultural landscape calls for innovative solutions, leveraging advanced technologies such as Internet of Things (IoTs), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Big Data. e-kakashi's Digital Platform: Spearheading the integration of plant science with data-driven technology, e-kakashi offers a digital platform that enhances agricultural practices. 

Utilizing sensors and AI, this system not only captures and visualizes vital environmental and cultivation data but also merges plant physiology with machine learning. This approach provides farmers with real-time, actionable insights to optimize growing conditions, mitigate risks, and improve crop quality and yield. e-kakashi is dedicated to expanding its platform to include a wider range of agricultural data, such as soil conditions and human labor, creating a comprehensive agricultural information network. https://www.e-kakashi.com/en/

Sagri's Geo-Spatial Analytics: Since its inception in 2018, Sagri has been at the forefront of integrating geo-spatial analytics with AI and proprietary models to revolutionize farming techniques. By combining satellite imagery with on-field data, Sagri delivers precise, farm-level recommendations that optimize irrigation and fertilizer use while promoting sustainability. Their advanced satellite analytics also help farmers reduce costs and emissions, capitalize on agriculture carbon credits, and enhance productivity with data-driven methods. Sagri's impact spans across global operations in 10 countries across Asia, South America, and Africa. https://sagri.tokyo/en/technology/

Institutionalizing of Knowledge Management In Organisation

 

By Happy Mulolani

Enhancing Knowledge Management in institutions requires enforcing a national policy aimed at influencing knowledge sharing and serving as a repository of knowledge among stakeholders, key players, and the public.  On 25th October 2024, the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), in partnership with the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), held a Knowledge Management Policy Dialogue at Birchwood Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa, through the Ukama Ustawi Initiative. 

The IWMI-led Ukama Ustawi (UU) Initiative is a four-year project worth approximately USD 40 million that promotes diversification for resilient agribusiness ecosystems in East and Southern Africa (ESA). The initiative is set to end in 2024 and targets 12 countries in this region: Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar, Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The main goal of the UU Initiative is to address food and nutrition security risks in the region, which stem from an overreliance on maize monoculture. The initiative instead promotes a climate-resilient, water-secure, and socially inclusive approach aimed at helping smallholders diversify and de-risk agri-food systems based on maize in the targeted countries. 

Read full story HERE... 

Future Africa-EU Forum

6 November 2024. Te #FutureAfricaEurope Forum – hosted by the Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF) and Friends of Europe – will bring in resource mobilisation and strategic cooperation to explore strategies and practices for a paradigm shift towards a transformative cross-continental partnership in a context of change.

The Forum builds on a far-reaching year-long process, from the work of AEF multi-stakeholder Strategy Groups and the Future Africa-EU Roundtable of July 2024 to Friends of Europe’s Global Europe programme and in the preamble of the State of Europe 2024. Throughout the year, the AEF community has had a strategic focus on ‘sustainable finance’ as a defining domain of cooperation for a forward-looking Africa-Europe Partnership on equal footing.

Extracts of the programme

9:30 am CET Expand Financing our future – Global tax, illicit financial flows & reimagining domestic resource mobilisation

• Donald Kaberuka - High Representative for the Peace Fund of the Africa Union Commission and former President of the African Development Bank
• Arancha González Laya - Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) at Sciences Po and former Spanish minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation 
• Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli - President and CEO of the ONE Campaign
• Simon Mordue - Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS)
• Myriam Ferran - Deputy Director General, European Commission Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA)

Related:

25 September 2024. ONE Campaign  "Africa at the Forefront of Global Financing Solutions,"  discussed the current financing gap for people and planet and African-led ideas and solutions for the future. The event featured panels and discussions on global health financing and the future of replenishments, Africa's seat at the table in shaping our collective future, and ONE's journey of activism and advocacy as we celebrate our 20th anniversary.

 

Food & Agriculture Pavilion

11–22 November 2024, Baku, Azerbaijan Food & Agriculture Pavilion at the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29)

At the Food & Agriculture Pavilion, CGIAR and FAO  will create a platform for collaborative dialogue, knowledge sharing, and decision-making on the unique role of agriculture and food systems in the fight against climate change. These will include sharing efforts to drive adaptation and reduce emissions across food, land, and water systems to ensure food, nutrition, and water security for the most affected small-scale producers and food-insecure communities through targeted adaptation strategies. 

Extracts of the programme

November 12 th at 5:00 pm Asia/Baku. The Convergence Initiative: Synergizing Food Systems and Climate Action for Equitable Food Systems and a Sustainable Future

This side event will showcase national progress and discuss how countries can achieve sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems

November 13th at 9:00am Asia/Baku. Locally led adaptation (LLA) drives bottom-up transformative adaptation. 

This session explores LLA experiences designing food and agricultural climate solutions that engage diverse stakeholders, leverage innovative finance, address structural inequalities, and foster capacity and knowledge exchange.

 

November 13th at 3:00pm Asia/Baku. Shaping a Sustainable Future: Consultation on CGIAR's Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands

Led by ICARDA and ICRISAT, the Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands (GSRD) builds on CGIAR’s 50-year legacy of dryland agri-research, science, and extensive partner networks, to leverage cutting-edge technologies and foster synergies for agri-innovation packages that are tailored to unique dryland challenges.

 

November 14th at 9:00am Asia/Baku. Leveraging Science to Finance Solutions for Sustainable Food Systems 

The current climate financing falls short of enabling net-zero, nature-positive transitions. This event explores science-based solutions to unlock capital for farmers, boosting resilience, food security, and equity, while addressing both adaptation and mitigation in sustainable livestock development. The session highlights barriers faced by women in agriculture, creating a platform for their empowerment in the food system transformation.

   

November 14th at 11:00am Asia/Baku. Overcoming barriers in access to funds at the frontline of climate crisis to accelerate climate financing for adaptation in Agriculture and Nature in Africa 

The window for fast tracking action in agriculture and nature in climate response measures needs to tapped on.

 

November 14th at 5:00pm Asia/Baku. Impact of Bioinputs on Mitigating Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Agriculture: Sustainability and Economics with Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Non-leguminous Crops 

The panel will discuss the findings of a recent study that highlighted the potential of bioinputs, particularly inoculants and biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) techniques, as alternatives to nitrogen fertilizers in non-leguminous Crops such as wheat, rice, sugarcane, corn, and pastures.

   

November 15th at 1:00pm Asia/Baku. Mainstreaming Extension System Reforms for Achieving Climate Resilient Food Systems 

Extension systems are often faced with operational budget constraints, weak technical capacity, coordination challenges, poor research-extension linkages, and unsupportive policy environments for building resilience to climate shocks.

   

November 16th at 9:00am Asia/Baku. Transforming Agriculture through Innovation, Technology, and Finance to Achieve Food Security and Sustainability 

Experts will discuss how cutting-edge innovations are revolutionizing traditional farming methods, promoting resource efficiency, and enhancing resilience in the face of climate change and resource scarcity. Additionally, the panel will explore how financial mechanisms can direct capital toward sustainable practices, ensuring the long-term management of vital resources such as water and land.

   

November 16th at 10:30-12:00 CET. Integrating Climate Action into Africa’s Food Systems for Improved Resilience

Led by AUDA-NEPAD and supported by the Italian Development Cooperation, this program will provide African countries and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) with technical support to integrate climate and food systems policies into actionable investment pipelines, with a focus on regional dimensions and trade corridors.

The event will be live-streamed at www.afdb.org/en/cop29/africa-pavilion

• H.E. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)
• H.E. Amb. Stefano Gatti, Director General Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italy
• H.E. Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, AU Special Envoy for Food Systems (TBC)
• Dr Brian Isabirye, Commissioner, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Uganda
• Mr. Peter Odhengo, Ministry of Finance, Kenya and Coordinator, African Green Climate Finances National, Designated Authorities Network (AfDAN)
• Dr Babafemi Oyewole, Chief Executive Officer, Pan African Farmers Organization (PAFO)
• Representation from African Public and Private Finance Institutions
• Representative of the UAE
• Prof. Dr. Patrick V. Verkooijen, CEO, Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) Rotterdam, The Netherlands (TBC)

November 18th at 2:30pm Asia/Baku.Climate-Smart Solutions for Smallholders: Taking Stock of Progress and Future Opportunities 

An opportunity to announce progress against various initiatives focused on smallholder farmers, taking stock of how recent global and bilateral initiatives have catalyzed investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation.

   

November 18th at 6:30pm Asia/Baku. Impact of Climate Change on Crop Nutrient Quality and Health: Solutions for Resilient African Food Systems 

This side event explores the profound impact of climate change, particularly rising atmospheric CO₂ and extreme weather events, on food supply and the nutrient quality of key staple crops like maize, rice, and wheat.

   

November 19th at 9:00am Asia/Baku. Community-led best practices on food waste prevention, composting and agroecology in Asia. 

Key experts will share (1) food sharing model for food waste prevention in Solo (Indonesia); (2) zero waste and agroecology implementation in Kerala (India); and (3) zero waste communities and organic food production in Rangpur (Bangladesh).

   

November 20th at 11:00am Asia/Baku. Launch of the 2024 Breakthrough Agenda Report: Agriculture 

The ‘2024 Breakthrough Agenda Report: Agriculture’ is the first standalone report to focus on agriculture within the Breakthrough Agenda series. This report draws on CGIAR’s and global stakeholders’ expertise to assess the status of international collaboration toward implementing sustainable practices in agriculture, and to propose clear recommendations for sector-specific actions that governments and non-state actors need to take together. 

   

November 20th at 3:00pm Asia/Baku. Investing in climate-smart agriculture for adaptation and planning for long-term low emissions development: Lessons from Africa 

Representatives from Ethiopia, Kenya, Zambia will launch Climate-Smart Agriculture Investment Plans designed to align climate adaptation in agriculture with NDCs.

   

November 21st at 5:00pm Asia/Baku. Innovative NDCs for food systems: Boosting ambition through agroecology, water, fisheries, and healthy diets. 

This event will highlight the potential of agroecology, water systems, sector-specific initiatives in fisheries and healthy diets for ambitious national climate action.

 

2024 Breakthrough Agenda Report – Agriculture

The 2024 Breakthrough Agenda Report – Agriculture is the first standalone report to focus on the agrifood system in the Breakthrough Agenda series. The report assesses the status of international collaboration toward implementing sustainable practices in agriculture and finds that while efforts are being made, they are not yet delivering the levels of investment and deployment required to drive reductions in global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions required to meet international climate goals.

Spotlighting two sectors of the agrifood system with the greatest contributions to GHG emissions – enteric methane emissions from livestock and emissions from fertilizers production and application – the report outlines several promising technologies that could support climate mitigation if appropriately scaled. It calls on governments to strengthen collaboration in key areas – such as financial and technical assistance, knowledge exchange, demand creation, and the development of common metrics and indicators – to accelerate the much-needed transition to clean, sustainable, agricultural practices.

 

AfriFOODlinks

Launched in December 2022, AfriFOODlinks is an EU funded project*. Coordinated by ICLEI Africa, the project gathers 26 partners across the globe to improve food security and urban sustainability in 65+ cities in Africa and Europe by:

1. Applying an urban food systems lens to promote shifts to healthy, sustainable diets
2. Transforming urban food environments through real-world socio-technical experiments
3. Promoting inclusive multi-actor governance to empower public officials, small businesses and communities with ownership and agency to shape their food systems
4. Accelerating innovative, women- and youth-led agri-food businesses to support local value addition and inclusive economic participation

Related:

22 - 25 May 2024. Transforming urban food systems: Unlocking the potential of open innovation in African cities

BRokering Innovation for Decentralized climate finance and Gender Equality (BRIDGE) 

This project is part of the Step Change initiative, co-funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and IDRC. Step Change is a five-year, CAD28.5-million initiative that aims to accelerate equitable and inclusive locally led adaptation.

Tropical Summit & South-South-North triangular cooperation - Portugal

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 2024. 16.30 - 18.00 CET. FARA side event Catalyzing agro-ecological transitions in the tropics in the context of climate change

The main objectives of Tropical Summit are to promote the transfer of knowledge, stimulate multidisciplinary collaboration and the involvement of stakeholders, and contribute to the co-creation and innovative projects, capitalizing and densifying existing initiatives and collaboration platforms for the rapid implementation of tangible and robust solutions. The focus will be on South-South-North triangular cooperation and 4 thematic areas:

1. ‍PLANETARY HEALTH: Nurturing life within the global boundaries
2. AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT: Sustainability as a path to socioeconomic progress
3. TERRITORIAL AND SOCIAL TRANSITIONS: Building resilient spaces and societies in every dimension
4. HUMAN GROWTH: Empowerment and technology for the times ahead

Extracts of the programme

5/11 High-level Session

• Carmen Neto - Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources
• Florbela Paraíba - President of Camões I.P
• Jeffrey Sachs - President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
• Maria da Graça Carvalho - Minister of the Environment and Energy
• Ravi Khetarpal - Executive Secretary of Asia Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI)
• Ubiraci Pataxó - Master of Knowledge and President of the Korihé Institute

5/11 Catalyzing agro-ecological transitions in the tropics in the context of climate change

Parallel Session - Roundtable
‍Organised by : FARA / CORAF / CCARDESA / RUFORUM / JRC-ISPRA / AE-TPP (CIROF - ICRAF) / IFAD

This panel session discussed the critical role of agroecology in addressing food system challenges in Africa, particularly under the looming impacts of climate change. Opening remarks by Dr. Aggrey Agumya focused on the need for a robust ten-year agricultural strategy from FARA that acknowledges the benefits of agroecology, a point furthered by Dr. Guy Faure’s insights on EU support and the importance of innovation and market access for agroecological systems. Dr. Marc Corbeels highlighted the detrimental effects of climate change, indicating changes in temperature and rainfall that could reduce crop yields. Discussions led by Prof. Rachel Wynberg outlined fundamental principles and necessary transformative approaches to agroecology. The session identified key action items for scientists, researchers, policymakers, and research institutions to bolster evidence, innovation, market access, and research capacity, while also addressing the challenges of urbanization and waste management in agroecological practices. Overall, the meeting underscored the urgency of catalyzing agroecological practices as a resilient response to climate change and food security challenges in Africa.

• Aggrey Agumya, FARA
  

FARA is developing 10-year agricultural strategy for Africa. No mention of agroecology in the strategy despite efforts. Lack of evidence cited as reason for not featuring agroecology prominently. Call for scientists to provide more concrete evidence on agroecology benefits.

• Guy Faure, EC-INTPA

He emphasized need for innovation in agroecology to boost production, Highlighted importance of better market access for agroecological farming systems, EU is funding regional multi-actor research networks to strengthen research capacity

• Marc Corbeels, CIRAD
  
  He presented the CANALLS project. This research project aims to drive agroecological transitions in the humid tropics of Central and Eastern Africa via multi-actor transdisciplinary Agroecology Living Labs (ALLs) and providing holistic agroecological solutions that meet the challenges of the local food systems. The ALLs are based in 
  
  
1. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Bunia in DRC (Lowlands/ cocoa) + Biega in DRC (Highlands/ coffee) + Kabare (Highlands/ coffee) + Uvira (Lowlands/ cassava, rice)
2. CAMEROON: Ntui (Lowlands/ cocoa) 
3. BURUNDI Giheta (Highlands/ coffee) + Bujumbura (Lowlands/ maize)
4. RWANDA Kamonyi (Highlands/ cassava)
   
   
• 
  Rachel Wynberg, University of Cape Town
  
  She presented the RAENS research project: Research for Agroecology Network Southern Africa
  
  She referred to the book
  
  Rachel Wynberg (2024) African Perspectives on Agroecology Why farmer-led seed and knowledge systems matter # 398 pp.
  
  
  
  This book offers a contribution that is enriched by the collaborative, creative, and critical voices of African farmers, activists, scientists, scholars, and policymakers. Their viewpoints combine in this volume to articulate a shared and dynamic vision of a world where agriculture is productive, diverse, and sustainable; where different ways of seeing and knowing are respected; and where seed and food systems are in the hands of farmers and local communities.
  
  
• Baitsi Podisi, CCARDESA
  
  

06/11 Agricultural Development

• Keynote - Sammy Aggrey Professor in Genetics and Genomics at the University of Georgia, Athens
• Bongiwe Njobe - Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)
• Karen Montiel - Technical specialist, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture
• Ravi Khetarpal - Chair of the Global Forum on Agriculture Research and Innovation (APAARI)
• Sylvain Perret - Director of Agrinatura
• Moderator: Oseyemi Akinbamijo Former Executive Director of FARA

06/11 Building Climate-Resilient Agri-Food Systems: Case Studies and Indicators

Parallel Session – Project Showcase

• Transformative Agri-Food Supply Chains for Climate Resilience – Which indicators are suitable to measure resilience and social transformation? - Christine Altenbuchner, BOKU University
• Agroecological Solutions for Resilient Farming in West Africa - The Cape Verde Case Study - Miguel Ribeiro, ADPM - Associação de Defesa do Património de Mértola
• Variability and Trends in the Beginning and End of the Rainy Season in West Africa. The Guinea-Bissau case study - Orlando Mendes, National Meteorological Institute; Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning
• Sustainable Aquaponics for Food Security in SIDS: A Case Study of São Tomé and Príncipe - Britta Kautzman, School of Agriculture; Lisbon School of Economics & Management
• INNOECOFOOD - Eco-innovative technologies for improved nutrition, sustainable production and marketing of agroecological food products in Africa - Ana Faria, CIIMAR – Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research
  
  INNOECOFOOD aims to establish innovative production/ business ECOHUBS and improve local aquaculture farms using AI and IoT in six African countries. To support EU-AU markets and trade, INNOECOFOOD will train rural farmers, youth and women to innovatively produce and process nutritious aquaculture catfish and tilapia, blue-green cyanobacteria spirulina, and insect value chains that will be processed into certified marketable human food products and feed. 
  
  The project aims to establish ECOHUB farms in six African countries, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Namibia, Tanzania and Egypt, where sustainable cultured fish, Spirulina (a green-blue algae) and insects will be produced using innovative artificial intelligence technologies and climate-friendly renewable local energy sources, with optimized production-processing-operation-marketing. This project will also lead to the employment and training of local people with low socio-economic status in these ECOHUB farms, enabling them to sustainably continue the production chain and cycle in the ECOHUB farms, and to produce and process certified, marketable food and industrial products from these innovative farms, thus providing the potential for sustainable social impact.
  
  
• Soil Salinity and Saline Agriculture in Eastern & Southern Africa: Experiences from a Regional Technical Network Initiative - Jakob Herrmann, Weltweit – Association for the Promotion of Local Initiatives e.V.; Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Soil Science and Soil Protection

06/11 Transforming African farming and food systems through research and innovation – A presentation and discussion with six EU-H2020 projects

• Adam Standring, Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão
• Idalina Dias Sardinha, Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão
• Giles Young, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)
• Helena Serrano, Faculty of Sciences - University of Lisbon
• Cristina Branquinho, Faculty of Sciences - University of Lisbon
• Mary Steverink-Mosugu, ISRIC - World Soil Information
• Giovanna Seddaiu, University of Sassari
• Harun Cicek, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture
• Fernando Sousa, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture
• Vladimir Mrkajić, InoSens
• Mila Sell, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)

6/11 Reflections of Agroecology as pathway to climate change adaptation and mitigation

Parallel Session – Roundtable
Organised by: FARA / CORAF / CCARDESA / RUFORUM / JRC-ISPRA / AE-TPP (CIROF - ICRAF) / IFAD

This Panel Discussion  brought together experts to address the critical role of agroecology in achieving sustainable agricultural systems amidst climate challenges. The panelists identified research gaps, including the pressing need for improved dialogue between scientists and policymakers regarding soil health and agroecological practices. 

Key presentations focused on evidence supporting agroecology's benefits for food security and sustainability, alongside the importance of translating research into actionable policies. The discussion also emphasized participatory approaches to certification, farmer compensation for ecosystem services, and fostering effective communication strategies to bridge the gap between science and policy. Collaborative efforts between FARA and Ruforum were highlighted as essential for advancing research and addressing the challenges of farmer adoption of agroecological practices while ensuring immediate economic benefits. Action items include conducting quantitative studies on agroecological impacts and developing compensation schemes for ecosystem service providers.

• Alex Awiti, CIFOR-ICRAF
• Khamis Fathiya, ICIPE
• Irene Kadzere- Forichi, FiBL
• Emmanuel Njukwe, CORAF
• Felix Rembold, Food Security Team Leader at the Joint Research center of the European Commission EC-JRC
  
  
  He presented findings from systematic reviews on agroecology impacts, discussed positive impacts on food security, socioeconomic factors, and food system sustainability, highlighted ongoing review on climate change mitigation and adaptation and he emphasized the need for more quantitative data and modeling.
  
  He has led the development of the anomaly hotspots of agricultural production and was one of the initiators of the African Post Harvest Losses Information. He has lived in Africa for several years and contributes to numerous international research and cooperation projects together with the EU delegations, UN and local organizations.

Transcript of Felix' contribution:

When yesterday I heard in the introduction of Dr. Aggrey Agumya (FARA) that there are still ongoing discussions, even at a very high level and a very strategic political level, where the availability of scientific evidence that proves the potential of agroecology to have an impact on food security, on socioeconomic aspects, on climate change adaptation, and that this is still questioned, I was really feeling to be in the right discussion. 

The Joint Research center's core mission is to provide scientific evidence to European policymakers. And this includes agroecology. We are not engaged in primary research about agroecology. So in the last three years, together with other research centers such as CIRAD but also several European universities, we have started several systematic scientific reviews of scientific literature and also meta analysis. We have already published the results of three of them. 

1. 
   The impacts of agroecology on food security in comparison with conventional systems.
   
   The first review was specific to developing countries and 19 out of 26 are in Africa. It was an opportunity to characterize what agroecological practices are being implemented and are most used by farmers in those 19 African countries.There is a clear positive impact of agricultural practices on food security. It's not only through yield and production, but it's also very clearly in terms of increased availability of nutritious food and dietary diversity (the link between food security and health).
2. Socioeconomic impacts.   In 80 peer reviewed papers scientific we found clear positive association with farmers income, with revenue and also with efficiency and productivity. Of course, agroecology is labor intensive and can increase costs. But we also know that it is always a question of trade offs and cost benefit. It is important to look very specifically at local context to understand whether the overall effect on income prevails on the increase of costs or on pressure, for example on gender inequality that can be linked to the increase of labor need.
3. Food system sustainability.There is clearly less literature available on this. We compared the principles of agroecology with the food systems framework and food systems sustainability dimensions.Biodiversity has a positive impact on food systems. Increased biodiversity. Synergies in crop livestock systems or increased soil fertility with organic material in the soil and above the soil creates a number of synergies that support sustainable food systems. 

We are currently close to finalizing a review of 16,000 scientific papers about the potential of agroecology in terms of climate change mitigation and adaptation. 

Climate change mitigation:

• There is strong evidence that agroecology has a potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in particular CO2 and N2O thanks to the reduced carbon intensive inputs and thanks to the use of less fossil based fertilizers. From the 16,000 papers 300 papers have been full text contributions and some have quantitative data. There is scientific evidence about the fact that the agricultural practices can clearly and strongly increase the carbon stocks in the soil through the various practices from mulching to practices that increase organic material in the soil and agroforestry which clearly contributes to Carbon Sequestration 
• 
  Rice producing systems are contributing very strongly to methane. Methane can be reduced by different agroecological practices. The same applies also to livestock. It's a body of evidence which cannot be ignored and which can guide also political dialogue and policy dialogue and decisions for adaptation. 

Climate change adaptation:

• there is a strong body of evidence that some aspects or some practices in agroecology and in particular diversification at the farm level clearly has a strong potential to contribute to climate change adaptation. 
• Increased biodiversity can support resistance to drought or drought tolerance. 

Challenges:

• One of the challenges with the scientific reviews was to take into account practices which are not named as Agroecology. Another challenge throughout all these reviews is that we most of the time find papers or work on single practices. So the complexity and the systemic aspects are very difficult to evaluate. 
• Policymakers need not only conclusions about the potential and whether the associated  impact of agricultural practices is positive or neutral or negative. They need also more quantitative data. And this is something we started working on and I think also other research centers are working on. 
• We need to do more modeling so that we can also provide quantitative information, possibly in local contexts and not just globally. 
• A lot of research is focused on the farm and on production aspects and not on the other parts of the food system. So there is clearly a gap. The identification of this gap is the second benefit of literature review, after identifying the main comparative advantages of agroecology with conventional: what are the research gaps? This is also something we are discussing with the colleagues of RUFORUM, FARA others. What are the research gaps so that new initiatives can focus on those gaps.

Resources

• Paracchini, M., Justes, E., Wezel, A., Zingari, P.C., Kahane, R., Madsen, S., Scopel, E., Héraut, A., Bhérer-Breton, P., Buckley, R., Colbert, E., Kapalla, D., Sorge, M., Adu Asieduwaa, G., Bezner Kerr, R., Maes, O. and Negre, T., (2020) Agroecological practices supporting food production and reducing food insecurity in developing countries # 80 pp.
• Sirdey, N., Scopel, E., Ferrier, G., Khann, L., Ermolli, M. and Paracchini, M.L., (2023) Mapping the contribution of agroecological transitions to the sustainability of food systems # 78 pp.
• Mouratiadou, I., Wezel, A., Kamilia, K., Marchetti, A., Paracchini, M.L. and Barberi, P. (2024) The socio-economic performance of agroecology. A review AGRONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, # 21 pp.

07/11 FOOD4WA: Sharing Africa's Centers of Excellence and Innovative Agricultural Solutions with the World

Parallel Session - Project Showcase & Debate

Organised by: Food for West Africa Network

In line with strengthening Inter-ACE collaborations, various thematic networks have been created under the ACE Impact Project. The Food for West Africa (FOOD4WA) is one of eight thematic networks established with the aim of advancing collaboration on cutting edge research, to address food insecurity challenges within the region. The Network headquarters are based at the Regional Center of Excellence on Poultry Sciences (CERSA) of the University of Lome-Togo.

• Eh Samba Sylla, Food for West Africa Network (FOOD4WA)
• Centre of Excellence on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Agriculture (CCBAD) of Côte d’Ivoire
• West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI)
• CDA of Nigeria
• AGRISAN of Senegal
• CERSA from Togo

Territorial Markets. Healthy Food, Real Relationships, and a Fair Deal

31 October 2024. Territorial Markets. Healthy Food, Real Relationships, and a Fair Deal

• 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).

This virtual learning session brought together 317 participants from 71 countries. The five speakers from Asia, Africa, and Latin America shared their experiences in strengthening territorial markets as a strategy to address food insecurity, malnutrition, and the climate and livelihood crisis. The initiatives shared in the webinar, from the local to national scale, highlighted the diversity of approaches for transforming food systems through territorial markets and brought out the key role of these markets in building resilience and strengthening relationships between food producers and consumers while favoring trust and solidarity.

The webinar focused on the significance of territorial markets in promoting sustainable food systems, particularly through agroecological economies, with support from the Agroecology Fund active in over 90 countries. Key highlights included discussions on barriers faced by farmers, such as infrastructure and regulatory challenges, and presentations from organizations in Sri Lanka, Benin, and Peru showcasing efforts to empower marginalized communities, particularly women and youth, in agriculture and local markets. 

The session also featured an IPES-Food report that outlined the vulnerabilities of global food systems and underscored the resilience offered by territorial markets compared to corporate supply chains. Recommendations for future actions included necessary policy shifts to bolster support for these markets, enhancing access to agroecological products, and fostering knowledge exchange among farmers globally. Action items were established, such as sharing relevant studies and organizing exchange programs.

To learn more about the speakers’ work, see the following links:

1. Human Development Organization (Sri Lanka)
2. Les Jardins de L’espoir (Benin)
3. Asociación Nacional de Productores Ecológicos (Peru)
4. IPES-Food (Global)

Resources:

FAO (2023) Territorial Markets Initiative. 

Through the territorial markets initiative, FAO aims to highlight the importance of territorial markets to promote healthy food environments and ensure access to healthy diets and nutritious and diversified food. FAO seeks also to identify any gaps that could be addressed, as well as to provide specific recommendations for policies and investments that could be promoted by local and national institutions and governments.

IPES (2024) Food From Somewhere Building food security and resilience through territorial markets # 91 pp.

Persistent crises have also underscored the importance of resilient close-to-home ‘territorial’ markets that feed billions of people every day – from public markets and street vendors to cooperatives, from urban agriculture to online direct sales, from food hubs to community kitchens.

Food From Somewhere provides a comprehensive overview of these diverse food webs. It documents their critical contributions to sustaining producer livelihoods, ensuring access to healthy food for the poorest populations, sustaining cultures and communities, and keeping people fed in the face of shocks. The report urges governments to reinvest in local and regional supply infrastructure, relocalise public purchasing and food security strategies, and curb corporate capture of food systems.

Webinars and events November

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

• Publication: Food systems transformation through dialogues

5 November 2024 @9:00am EST. Virtual Policy Seminar, Learning Support for a Multi-Country Climate Resilience Programme for Food Security

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 2024. 16.30 - 18.00 CET. FARA side event Catalyzing agro-ecological transitions in the tropics in the context of climate change

5-6 November 2024. Future Africa-Europe High-Level Forum.

• By the Africa-Europe Foundation and Friends of Europe

05 - 07 November 2024. Gender-Responsive Agricultural Extension Event

7 November 2024. 2 pm CET. Agroecology Coalition Webinar Series #3 Agroecology in Action: Stories from the Ground

7 November 2024. 3 pm CET. Digital Farmers Services (DFS) and how the 'Meaningful Use' framework can help companies scale DFS solutions to deliver sustainable, impactful benefits for farmers in Africa and Asia.

8-11 November 2024, 8th African Diaspora Agrofood Forum

11-13 November 2024, Brisbane. TropAg 2025,

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

• Food & Agriculture Pavilion

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)

19 - 20 November 2024. Making agricultural trade & global agri-food value chains more sustainable 

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,