From the AGRF Blog

Mar 8, 2023
Fatou Manneh, Founder of Jelmah Herbella, on Supporting Women in Agriculture

The VALUE4HER Women Agripreneurs of the Year Awards, known as WAYA recognizes African female agripreneurs who have excelled in the agricultural value chains and have demonstrated remarkable innovation by contributing…

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Mar 8, 2023
Une vision, un objectif et beaucoup de courage: Kiel bien-être, une histoire personnelle

Listen to podcast Le prix Value4her, femme “agripreneur de l’année”, connu sous le nom “WAYA”, est un prix qui reconnait les femmes agripreneurs africaines, qui ont vraiment contribué de facon…

Feb 23, 2023
Data key for food systems transformation ahead of critical Stocktake moments

By Nixon Mageka Gecheo Senior Program Officer – Digital Systems & Solutions for Agriculture|AGRA This year marks the end of the first Global Stocktake, which began in 2021 to monitor…

Feb 20, 2023
Accelerated national food systems pathways require strong leadership and accountability

Slightly over 16 months ago, African heads of State and 20 ministers presented their national pathways for food systems transformation at the UN Food Systems Summit. The pathways are envisioned…

Feb 7, 2023
The power in your plate – Transforming Africa’s food systems through better nutritional choices  

As of 2023, four out of 10 people in Africa live in cities, where they are exposed to new dietary trends and habits, including the regular consumption of highly processed…

Sep 29, 2022
At AGRF 2022, we were sure to spill the beans!

Tiny but mighty beans made a splash at AGRF’s 2022 Summit in Rwanda 5-9 September. The SDG2 Advocacy Hub worked closely with partners – including PABRA, AGRA, CGIAR, the Rockefeller…

Sep 9, 2022
YOUTH TOWN HALL GIVES A VOICE TO THE YOUNG

The Youth Town Hall event, held today at the AGRF 2022 Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, saw policy makers, NGO leaders, business leaders and young entrepreneurs come together, providing a platform…

Sep 9, 2022
Closing Plenary: Stronger Together

As the sun sets on a hugely successful and incredibly important AGRF 2022, the closing plenary reflected on the week’s events, activities and outcomes – to scrutinise and discuss the…

Sep 8, 2022
Plenary – Council of the Wise

For only the second time in history following the inaugural event last year The Council of the Wise and Elders this morning brought together some of the foremost African leaders…

Sep 8, 2022
Accelerating Climate Action through Food Systems Part I

Kicking off Day 2 of the summit this exciting session looked to address the topic of accelerating climate action through food systems – both from a strategic/policy driven position and…

Sep 8, 2022
Cassava value addition entrepreneur named Woman Agripreneur of the Year during First Ladies meeting at AGRF Summit

Oluyemisi Iranloye, the managing director of Psaltry International, a Nigerian agro-processing company that refines cassava into starch for consumer products like toothpaste, is the winner of the 2022 VALUE4HER Women…

Sep 8, 2022
The Great Debate – Stopping Crises by Seizing Opportunities to Build Resilient Food Systems

The briefing notes that were issued prior to this debate cited the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. quote, “Before you finish eating breakfast in the morning, you’ve depended on more…

Sep 8, 2022
Presidential Summit – Advancing pathways for people, planet and prosperity

Arguably the centrepiece of the week – The Presidential Summit is the highest-level moment of the AGRF, with Heads of State & Government, eminent persons, and hundreds of leaders and…

Sep 8, 2022
Plenary – Leadership, Finance & Accountability: Advancing National Food Systems’ Pathways.

With more than two thirds (37) of African countries pledging to unite behind a Common African Position on food systems transformation last year, with a goal of achieving the 2030…

Sep 7, 2022
Regeneration and reward: empowering and incentivising farmers for climate-positive agriculture

By Shanni Srivastava, Regional Head of East Africa, Middle East & IOI at UPL A glance at recent news coverage – from the extremes of flooding in Pakistan to droughts…

Sep 7, 2022
Special Event – Farmers Forum: Leaders in dialogue with African Farmers.

On Day 1, in the first special event of the in-person AGRF 2022 Summit it is the farmers themselves that are at the heart of the conversation. Moreover, they are…

Sep 6, 2022
AGRF 2022 Officially Launched in Kigali, Rwanda

The 2022 AGRF Summit, in Kigali Rwanda, was officially opened on Tuesday September 6, during a session attended by leaders in Africa’s agriculture and food systems.   The AGRF is…

Aug 22, 2022
With eight years left to 2030, bold actions are required for Africa to feed herself

Promising progress is being made in Africa’s agricultural transformation. On my recent mission to Malawi, I witnessed the plans to create an Agricultural Transformation Agency in the country, a significant…

Jul 27, 2022
Grow, Nourish, Reward – Bold Actions for Resilient Food Systems: AGRF 2022 theme explained

This is our time. Our time to connect, unite, seek catalytic solutions and take bold action, to build on commitments, and to tackle food insecurity. For the AGRF 2022 Summit…

Sep 10, 2021
AGRF 2021 Summit Ends with Plea for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems

After four days of active engagement around the creation of resilient and sustainable food systems in Africa, the AGRF 2021 Summit came to an end on the evening of Friday…

Sep 10, 2021
Launch of the 2021 Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor Report (AATM)

Moderating the launch of the AATM today during the AGRF 2021, was Ms. Sara Mbago-Bhunu, Director, East and Southern Africa Division, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). She noted that…

Sep 10, 2021
A transformation of trade in Africa

Economic transformation is at the center of Africa’s economic development as it continues to experience unprecedented population growth. The implementation of knee-jerk and uncoordinated government policies and regulations in food…

Sep 10, 2021
Walking the Path: Commitments Framework

During the penultimate session of The AGRF 2021 Summit, Citizen TV’s Jeff Koinange was joined by a stellar line-up of senior leaders, brought together to publicly declare their commitments to…

Sep 10, 2021
Ecosystem Development Framework (EDF): Enabling youth through their agripreneurship journey and participation in the food systems.

Generation Africa is a partnership initiative that strengthens the ecosystem for youth entrepreneurs in the agri-food sector across the continent. Making agriculture more attractive to young farmers and creating decent…

Sep 10, 2021
AGRF Panelists Show How Africa Can Ride on Agricultural Technologies for Food Systems Transformation

While the COVID-19 pandemic complicated the situation for farmers in various ways, it positively invited attention to the need for digital technologies in driving Africa’s food system transformation. This was…

Sep 9, 2021
Elders Council

The Elders Council brings together African Former Heads of State and Government willing to support the continent’s efforts in achieving the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) or Malabo declaration…

Sep 9, 2021
Insights: Are we Walking the Path to Change?

Pathways to recovery and resilient food systems have been the focus of this year’s AGRF, and in the last session of day three a panel were asked if we are…

Sep 9, 2021
Scientists: Africa’s diets must change for better health and stable environment

Recent research has linked the world’s changing diets to global warming and other adverse effects on the environment. Indeed, a special report commissioned by the United Nations includes a policy…

Sep 9, 2021
Food Systems and Nutrition in Africa

The high cost of healthy diets and persistently high levels of poverty and income inequality continue to keep healthy diets out of reach for around 3 billion people. Although nutrition…

Sep 9, 2021
Africa’s Youth Outline their Priorities for an Inclusive Agricultural Transformation

Youth comprise the biggest demographic in Africa, with nearly 60 percent of the continent’s population being under 25 years. To get the views of this group in informing the creation…

Sep 8, 2021
Presidents Engage in Discussions on Africa’s Food System Transformation

Five of Africa’s presidents met at the AGRF Summit in Nairobi on Wednesday September 8, 2021 to review strategies for fast-tracking Africa’s food system transformation. The five were: host Uhuru…

Sep 8, 2021
Strengthening Food Systems Through Rural and Market Development

Despite the setbacks in 2020 across the globe due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Africa is on the edge of a breakthrough in agriculture. This is evident as seen in the…

Sep 8, 2021
Experts: Smallholder Farmers Should Be at The Center of Africa’s Resilience Building Strategies

Food insecurity and poverty in Africa are primarily driven by multiple shocks and risks that include conflicts, climate extremes, and disease outbreaks, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A session…

Sep 8, 2021
What can Africa’s agri-food sector learn from China’s response to COVID-19?

Speaking on Day 2 of the AGRF 2021 Summit, a stellar line up of agri-food experts from Africa and China convened to uncover what Africa can learn from China’s response…

Sep 8, 2021
Leaders define what it takes to create sustainable food systems in Africa

Africa’s agricultural production has been invariably linked to adverse environmental impacts including the loss of natural ecosystems. In Kenya, for example, there has been extensive damage to the Kakamega Forest,…

Sep 7, 2021
Insights: Can African agriculture contribute to Net Zero

The insights session provided a thought-provoking stance on achieving net zero, moderated by Georgie Ndirangu Media Broadcaster, BBC Multimedia Broadcast. Dr. Ruben Echeverria Chair, CGIAR Global Commission on Sustainable Agriculture…

Sep 7, 2021
Achieving Equitable & Inclusive Livelihoods

The Poverty, inequality, and power imbalances at household, community, national and global levels are a major constraint to the attainment of sustainable food systems. More than 700 million people, or 10…

Sep 7, 2021
AGRF Agribusiness Dealroom officially launched

Agripreneurs and investors can now engage in the 2021 Agribusiness Dealroom after its official launch on Day 1 of the AGRF Summit in Nairobi, Kenya on Tuesday September 7, 2021….

Sep 7, 2021
Africa Agriculture Status Report (AASR) Launch

There has never been a time in Africa when sustainability and resilience have been more important – food security and a robust agri-food system are crucial in a world where…

Sep 7, 2021
Transforming Food Systems from a Farmers’ Perspective

Eradicating hunger and achieving food security remain major challenges to humanity and to sustainability. More than 690 million people in the world are hungry, Covid19 has exacerbated this further. Indeed,…

Sep 6, 2021
Africa must pull together to sow seeds of food security

Courtesy: Nation Daily, Bean harvest in Djibomben village, North Togo. AFP By Peter Munya, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives What you need to know: The government listed food…

Jul 9, 2021
AGRF 2021 to focus on partnerships, inclusivity and commitments in food systems resilience

In a critical year for food systems transformation, 140 distinguished delegates from the private sector, governments, civil society, media, and development partners gathered at the Sankara Hotel, Nairobi, for the…

Jul 5, 2021
Kenya to Host the AGRF 2021 Summit

Nairobi, 1 July 2021 – Kenya will host the AGRF 2021 Summit, which this year will focus on the bold actions needed for agriculture to fuel the continent’s recovery from the…