SESSION

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Session title: Unlocking African PDBs catalytic role (for increased investments in sustainable food systems)

The plenary platform-streamed event on unlocking African PDBs catalytic role aims at linking national and international/regional PDBs, commercial banks, donors/investors, and SMEs/farmers organizations in the effort to create sustainable inclusive and green rural finance value chains. The potential of African Public Development Banks (PDBs) in catalyzing investments for sustainable food systems will be assessed. Moreover, the event will examine challenges, opportunities, best practices, and experiences of PDBs and relevant players in catalyzing and channeling more public and private finance to transform food systems in Africa.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) / African Union Commission and the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat

Session title: Intra-African agricultural trade within the context of the AfCFTA

The side event aims to discuss and highlight the challenges encountered including emerging innovations and opportunities during implementation of the AfCFTA in the agricultural sector since trading under preferential arrangements started on 1 January 2021. It brings together seasoned practitioners to evaluate the achievements made to date in the midst of the ongoing CV-19 global pandemic and other difficulties faced by African countries. In addition, the Side Event will bring forth the opportunities yet to be seized in an agrifood market projected to grow to US$ 1 trillion by 2030 and the tools and innovations available to expand intra-African trade.

International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

Session title: Women inclusion in resilience of agricultural value chains

Via a discussion on how three different research projects in three African regions (East, West and North) can react to contextualized challenges in terms of resilience and equity of food systems, we aim to share knowledge on how multi-stakeholders’ approaches can be used to gain better understanding on the importance of a stronger role of women farmers and their families in the food systems and in key commodities value chains within the system.

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Session title: Building resilient food systems

The plenary platform-streamed event on building resilient food systems will serve as an opportunity for the private sector, farmer organizations, youths government and development partners to discuss and reflect new pathways to building the future development agenda, shaped to improve resilience and equitable livelihoods of rural people in presence of challenges like COVID 19, climate change, fragility & conflicts and inter and intra-continental trade barriers. Moreover, it will identify the role of the private sector, farmer organizations, government, and development partners in transforming the agriculture and food systems in Africa.

Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification (CoSAI)

Session title: Effective instruments for innovation investment

A recent study by the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification (CoSAI) revealed that only 7% of the investment in innovation in the Global South has explicit environmental outcomes and only half of that had clear social objectives. To transform the global system through increased investment in innovation, requires effective instruments that provide financial and/or non-financial support to innovation processes. The session will explore a cohort of instruments, with a focus on understanding the contexts in which they have been used effectively, enabling validation of preliminary findings and suggestions for further evidence.

Growing-Smart Agriculture

Session title: Agro Knowledge food security solutions

Agro knowledge is the most challenging task in the development of modern agriculture. The Practical Agriculture Courses offers a comprehensive approach to teaching agricultural production. The PAC is supporting and improving farming communities, large-scale cultivation firms and food security projects. The Practical Agricultural Courses are based on the regional marketing targets and needs. We take into consideration the local crops, local climate, soil and crop suitability. The PAC emphasis will be made on sustainable and economical agriculture solutions. The PAC program is based on a “train the trainer” concept, Israeli agronomists will teach local candidates to be trainers, enhancing their knowledge and teaching skills.

Transition Break

AGRA's Centre for African Leaders in Agriculture (CALA) and the African Food Fellowship

Session title: The Role of Collaborative Food Systems Leadership In Tackling Sector Implementation Challenges

Sequence 1

This panel discussion on the role of collaborative leadership in unlocking sector implementation challenges brings together Permanent Secretaries as the chief technical experts from government, as well as key representatives from the private sector and state delivery mechanisms to discuss innovative ways of dealing with the known implementation challenges faced by leaders, that hinder progress in achieving national agriculture priorities. They will also highlight the importance of honing collaborative leadership skills, and the potential of the Centre for African Leaders in Agriculture to support leaders to deliver on sector priorities.

Sequence 2

The second sequence at AGRF 2021 asks the question "African food systems leadership - how to shape the future?" and explores how to inspire new forms of leadership in agri-food systems that can accelerate systems-level change across Africa. AGRA'S Center for African Leaders in Agriculture (CALA) and the African Food Fellowship, as new agri-food system leadership support initiatives, seek to catalyze a professional movement of food system leaders who work collaboratively to build sustainable food systems for the well-being of all African citizens and its environment. The session will begin a new dialogue on the nature of African leadership for food systems transformation in Africa and familiarize attendees with the two initiatives.

Heifer International

Session title: Positioning African Youths to Transform Food Systems Through Technology

Heifer International’s 2021 survey report, “The Future of Africa’s Agriculture: An Assessment of the Role of Youth and Technology”, reveals that “smallholder farmers will embrace advanced technologies if the tools are affordable, and they can receive training in how to use them.” The report reveals the urgency of new investments to stimulate access to financing and technology innovation as a means to rejuvenating Africa’s food systems and develop economic opportunities. The side event will review key findings of the report, discuss actionable solutions and chart new pathways to the future of food - fundamentally heralding a generational shift in African agriculture.

Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

Session title: South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC): Promoting Youth-led Agri-food Innovations from the Global South – IFAD and AGRA

Food systems are integral to the health and economic wellbeing of people across the planet. In Africa, where they account for almost 60% of the population, young people have been engaging and investing in activities that support agri-food value chains. However, they face significant constraints that curtail their capacity to contribute to the economy, such as the lack of product visibility. For this year’s AGRF, the South-South and Triangular Cooperation event - organized jointly by IFAD and AGRA - will highlight innovative solutions from the youth that are transforming the agri-food sector in Africa; and provide a platform to tackle some of their existing challenges.

ONE CGIAR

Session title: Science & innovation for sustainable and resilient food systems in Africa

This side event focuses on the roles of science, research, and innovation in sustainable and resilient food systems for Africa. It highlights One CGIAR priorities and commitments and discusses how these can help accelerate inclusive agricultural transformation in Africa. The session begins by briefly outlining key components of the One CGIAR’s newresearch and innovation strategy and its priorities for Africa. In a conversation, CGIAR regional leaders will set out their priorities and actions to accelerate inclusive agricultural transformation. A multi-stakeholder panel of agricultural transformation actors will showcase ways that One CGIAR research and innovation has, and can make a difference to the sustainability and resilience of food systems in Africa. The session concludes by drawing together proposals and recommendations for One CGIAR to deliver its commitments to Africa.

Farm Radio International

Session title: E-Extension: Accelerating Building Back Better

E-Extension services have a direct contribution to increased capacity to generate, analyze and use data and innovations to accelerate recovery and resilience of food systems. E-Extension: Accelerating Building Back Better will explore emerging issues, best practices and evidence in digital extension as a key driver in transforming food systems for sub-Saharan Africa.

AFEX & Smallholder and Agri-SME Finance and Investment Network (SAFIN)

Session title: Digital Financial Services for Agriculture

Financial inclusion and payment systems are a central consideration in digital financial services. Including smallholder farmers means that they can access systems of credit, can keep their money safely, and can be assured of reduced transaction time and costs. Creating appropriately tailored digital financial service innovations for smallholder farmers and other value chain actors, which fit their needs, is one part of the puzzle. This session will drive conversations on the adoption of digital financial services for agriculture, within the context of the challenges it can solve and the huge potential for scalable outcomes that will improve our food systems.

Transition Break

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Session title: One-Health Approach for Building Resilience

The platform-streamed event aims at discussing the opportunities, strengths and main hampering factors for the implementation of the One Health approach (OHA) in the Africa. Major human and animal disease threats and related costs; the importance of OHA and slow rollout in Africa; the means to catalyze the adoption and implementation of the OHA in Africa and the role of governments, UN and donor organizations in supporting and promoting it will be assessed. The prospect for establishing a multi-stakeholder regional/sub-regional platform to discuss emerging issues around human and livestock diseases, raise awareness on the correct use of antibiotics will be proposed.

Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT)

Session title: Technology brokerage for a resilient food system in Africa

As Africa tackles the COVID-19 pandemic, hunger and malnutrition lurk around Africa menacingly. With its population edging towards 2 billion by 2050 amidst relentless urbanisation and climate change, Africa’s ability to feed itself is at great risk unless it strengthens its food systems as an integral part of efforts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and to build resilience. At the core of Africa’s food security challenge is productivity. African agriculture is often uncompetitive and results in around a third of calories consumed in Africa being imported from outside the continent. Recent successes in implementing the African Development Bank’s Feed Africa Strategy via the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme reveal that increased investments in innovative technologies and brokerage can boost agricultural productivity, with important results for the overall strength of food systems. The side event on “Technology brokerage for a resilient food system in Africa” will provide vistas on the efficacy of technology brokerage in building resilient food systems.

African Development Bank (AfDB) &International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

Session title: Livestock Investment Masterplan (LIVEMAP)

The Livestock Investment Master Plan (LIVEMAP) provides a comprehensive framework to shape investment in the livestock sector, and help African countries sustainably raise the productivity, resilience, and profitability of livestock systems, create inclusive employment along the value chains and contribute to food and nutrition security. A ten minute overview of the LIVEMAP will be presented by the moderator followed by discussions by the panelists on how the LIVEMAP can be useful to building resilient food systems in Africa and a question and answer session with participants. For more information see the LIVEMAP narrative and the accompanying LIVEMAP website: https://livestockinvestmentmasterplan.info/

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Session title: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Agriculture, Food Security, and Nutrition in Africa

The side event is to discuss the findings and recommendations of various assessments of the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Agriculture, Food Security, and Nutrition in Africa and to support advocacy and country programming by policy makers and other decision makers who are designing and implementing COVID-19 response and recovery policies, programmes and investments in Africa. The session intends to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of the pandemic in Africa based on an analytical review of available evidence. The keynote presentation will underline the macroeconomic impact as well as the impact on agricultural production, livestock, fisheries, markets, trade, food security and nutrition. In addition, priority countries for response and recovery programmes/investments are identified based on a composite index analysis. A panel will deliberate on the implication of the findings and recommendations as well as highlight promising policy and investment interventions that can stimulate an inclusive recovery to help build back better resilient agri-food systems.

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Session title: Food Systems Transformation for Rural Prosperity

The Rural Development Report (RDR) is IFAD’s flagship research publication. This year it focuses on food systems transformation for rural prosperity and it is due for release right before the Food Systems Summit. The RDR cuts across (i) equitable livelihoods, (ii) nutrition and health and (iii) resilience. Key highlights of the report will be shared, such as the importance of adopting a food systems approach, the key challenges and driving factors, opportunities for transformation, investments, innovation; implications for the environment and the importance of not leaving anyone behind. Some of its key authors from IFAD and the University of Wageningen will participate as well as other key researcher.

SAO GROUP

Session title: Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (Oil Palm and Cocoa Value Chain Development)

The Special Agro-industrial Processing Zones (oil palm and cocoa value chain) are areas of high agricultural potential located across the south-western states in Nigeria with a focus on the oil palm and cocoa value chain. The objectives of this session include;

• To support the development of climate-resilient enabling infrastructure and management of the agro-industrial zones
• Enhancing climate-smart agricultural production and productivity in the oil palm and cocoa value chain
• Seek investors and potential partners in the SAPZ
• Support enabling institutional capacity, policy, regulatory and business environment for agribusiness project management in the oil palm and cocoa value chain
• Seek long term collaboration between the SAPZ and potential off-takers of product for export

Transition Break

Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture/Syngenta

Session title: Soil and root health: how can they be enhanced to tackle climate change, food insecurity and malnutrition?

Africa is severely impacted by soil degradation and climate change. This negatively affects the region’s agri-food systems resilience and ability to strengthen sustainable intensification to improve continental food self-sufficiency. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021 also shows that while Africa remains the most food insecure continent in the world, it also has the fastest growing population and highest prevalence of undernourishment. It is crucial to act now on soil and root health to support recovery and resilience, meet the evolving challenges and unlock Africa’s potential sustainably. The session will share the latest thinking on how collective action and continuous innovation can tackle the challenges of enhancing soil and root health at scale.

Rockefeller Foundation

Session title: Distributed Renewable Energy-Agriculture Modalities (DREAM)

Learning from the experience of Ethiopia in clustering agricultural production and piloting the use of renewable energy towards production, post-harvest management and agro-processing, and India in linking agriculture production with renewable energy mini-grids for strengthened agriculture value chains. These learnings around modelling for economic viability, environmental sustainability, and the importance of intentional ecosystem support will give insights to other countries that may want to pursue similar paths.

AMEA & Harvest Plus

Session title: Forging resilient food systems with smallholder farmers and agri-SMEs

The session aims to highlight the urgent need to support practical, proven, scalable approaches to engaging and empowering those who make up the backbone of African agriculture and food systems: smallholder farmers and agri-food SMEs. The session will do this by diving deeper beyond the high-level discussion of food systems transformation, so that we hear from those “on the ground” about what works, what does not, and what our priorities should be. Examples will be presented from the extensive portfolio from HarvestPlus and the AMEA Network.

AgFlow SA

Session title: Trade Support Information Systems

Africa has taken the direction of digitalization of agricultural markets to boost growth towards food self-sufficiency. For decades, African countries have faced several challenges resulting from an accelerated trend of increasing consumption of agricultural products, increasing production and all this, in line with national policies and efforts. This has led to a growing dependence on innovative financing of agricultural value chains. In this context, promoting agricultural solutions for local and international commodity purchases to supply local agricultural value chains is key to building interconnected African Markets. This will benefit regional food security and stakeholder incomes and livelihoods on an economically viable basis, while respecting the transparency and reliability of agricultural market information and risk management related to the timeliness and transparency of agricultural purchases.

SDG2 Advocacy Hub

Session title: New Consensus for Smallholder Farmers

Good food begins with farmers. Smallholder farmers sit at the heart of our food systems yet struggle to earn enough to feed their own families. The UNFSS, N4G and COP26 are opportunities to coordinate action to invest in smallholders’ health, livelihoods, productivity and sustainability. Recent reports, including Ceres2030 and the CAADP Biennial Review, global and regional initiatives provide a roadmap. In the absence of a clearly articulated policy consensus across diverse stakeholders, however, these efforts compete for resources and fail to achieve the collective impact needed. This session will explore building a new consensus to move from evidence to action.

Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA)

Session title: An Integrated Approach to Address Climate and Food Security Challenges in Rwanda

The interactive AGRF session “An Integrated Approach to Address Climate and Food Security Challenges in Rwanda” will describe the Feed the Future Rwanda Hinga Weze Activity’s integrated approach to advance climate and nutrition sensitive agriculture by sustainably increasing incomes, productivity and market access for smallholder farmers. Panelists will describe how Hinga Weze, implemented by CNFA and funded by USAID, has built resilience to climate change and increased the availability of nutritious foods—addressing key questions such as how climate change affects farmers in Rwanda and which climate-smart agriculture approaches and strategies best address climate shocks while improving food security.

Transition Break

Agriculture Transformation Office, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries & Cooperatives - Kenya

Session title: Kenya’s Pathways to Sustainable Food Systems

In preparation for the 2021 Food Systems Summit, a series of subnational dialogues were held across the country. The results from these dialogues have shaped the Kenyan contribution to the Food Systems Summit and further the national foundations and commitment to transforming food systems. This side event will focus on Kenya’s identified pathways towards Food Systems Transformation – Youth, Digital Innovation, Diverse Diets and Climate Change. The event will create an opportunity for a leadership-focused discussion on outcomes and will finalize the Kenyan vision for the Future of Food Systems.

BIFAD, USAID, AAP, ReNAPRI, World Bank and the African Development Bank

Session title: Agricultural Transformation for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems

Convening leaders from diverse stakeholder including BIFAD, USAID, AfDB, World Bank, ReNAPRI, and Alliance for African Partnership, panel discussion will identify conditions and properties of resilient, sustainable food systems and propose policies and programs for African governments to achieve them. Considering varying conditions across Africa, expert private- and public-sector panelists will explore effective strategies for resilient, sustainable food systems and how these differ across countries, with consideration of fragile and resource-rich states. Discussion will draw from country case studies and recent evidence, including work commissioned by BIFAD, a World Bank publication, and an AfDB report, on linkages between agricultural productivity, economic transformation, and resilience.

Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) / International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

Session title: Rehabilitating acid soils for food security in Africa

In line with the theme of AGRF 2021 on forging pathways to recovery and resilient food systems, this side event will give evidence on how rehabilitating acid soils is important for improved productivity and resilient food security. It highlights the status of the acidic soils and the impact on the productivity on the continent and especially in East Africa. Furthermore, it identifies constraints on the production, distribution and use including the policy aspects but also solutions/lessons from different countries and stakeholders. The outcome of the event will be recommendations for advocacy and actions from private sector and Government in terms of investments and policy reforms to stimulate production and use of quality lime for resilient and sustainable food systems for our continent.

Rockefeller Foundation / IKEA Foundation

Session title: Food Systems and Integrated Policy

The momentum generated by the Food Systems Summit has put food systems transformation at the center of global discourse and many African national agendas. Food systems in Africa are still maturing and can be steered in a healthier, more sustainable, and more equitable direction through integrated and coherent policy. Despite progress in cross-sectoral policy coherence in several African countries, these strategies have focused primarily on agricultural production or maternal and child nutrition. Food systems transformation requires systems thinking and a new level of inter-sectorality and inclusivity in policy development and implementation. This session will explore various experiences and approaches towards food system policies that are integrated and transformational.

Alliance for African Partnership at Michigan State University (MSU)

Session title: Youth and Agri-food System’s Resilience in Africa

Building a sustained and resilient agri-food system is an intergenerational mandate which demands the active engagement of African youth. With their large numbers, relatively high educational levels, and affinity for digital technology, African youth represent an indispensable resource, which if properly harnessed, can foster a more resilient and productive agri-food system. However, questions remain on effective strategies to harness youth innovativeness and energy. To help provide guidance for policy, this session will discuss evidence-based and pragmatic approaches that could foster productive youth engagement supportive of resilient agri-food systems in Africa.

Long-term Europe-Africa Research and Innovation Partnership for Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (LEAP4FNSSA), Wageningen University & Research

Session title: AU-EU Game Changer for Resilient Food Systems

Research can be the game changer for building new food system resilience pathways. The AU-EU Platform is an opportunity for all stakeholders to raise their voice for the transformation they want. Peer reviewed evidence and innovation is the basis for developing policies. Knowledge management systems can make this information easily accessible. Added value for stakeholders comes from new coordination mechanism between stakeholder groups. We invite policy makers, entrepreneurs, civil society actors, youth and scientists to come together for a new way of bi-continental cooperation, that brings together their knowledge to help policy makers make sound policies for driving agri-food development.

Transition Break

KICK OFF AGRF EVENT

Insights: What food systems do we want?

Closing out the day, Insights is a moment for voices with diverse points of view to comment on the day’s activities and bring their insights to the Program. Reflections at end of each day bringing together the varied tracks into common themes and results. Moderator: Mr. Georgie Ndirangu, Media Broadcaster, BBC Multimedia Broadcast

• Mr. Martin Bwalya, AUDA NEPAD
• Mr. Paul Matovu, Head of Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, Vertical Farming, Uganda
• Ms. Ruramiso Mashumba, CEO, Mnandi Africa, Zimbabwe
• Ms. Prity Malde Kara, Member Executive Committee, Malde Kara, Madagascar
• Mr. Michael Mundashi, Chairman, ZAMBEEF
• Mr. Enock Chikava, Deputy Director, Country Systems Transformation Team, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)

Deal Room – Kenya Government Investment Opportunities

Organizers: Government Kenya Delegation

The AGRF 2021 Summit host, Kenya will set the tone for the day with presentation of its flagship programs and investment opportunities.

Good Morning AGRF

Each morning will kick start with the highlights of the upcoming day, understand the themes under discussion, and find out all the interesting places to interact with thought leaders.

Panel:

• Ms. Wangari Kuria, Founder of a YouTube channel called - Farmer on Fire
• Ms. Yunike Phiri, Acting Country Coordinator for the Farm to Market Alliance
• Ms. Mwende Nyamu, CEO & Founder, Plus Fabulosity
• Mr. John Agboola, Global Hunger Fighter, Consultant, Youth & Agriculture

Global Guests:

• Ms. Kate Dempsey, Chief Executive Officer Aqualicense
• Ms. Violet Koech, Climate Smart Agriculture Youth Network (CSAYN)

Food Systems Innovators

Food system innovations are fundamental and will be instrumental to ensuring that future generations are food secure and eat healthy diets. To transition towards sustainability, AGRF 2021 will be showcasing breakthrough innovations that transform the food system into one that creates value for all stakeholders.

A series of 5-minute videos played during the bridge segments, each clip will feature a different African innovator with an emphasis on women, youth, and SMEs.

Innovators:

• Ms. Tracy Kimathi, Founder and Executive Manager
• Ms. Chidinma Eriobu, Founder, Phronesis Foods Nigeria Ltd
• Mr. Dexter Tangocci, Co-Founder, Integrated Aerial Systems

PARALLEL SESSIONS

Deal Room Launch

The Opening Ceremony will launch the Virtual 2021 Agribusiness Deal Room, a matchmaking platform that aims to drive new business deals and commitments. The Deal Room will provide companies in the agriculture and agribusiness sectors with the opportunity to access finance, mentorship, and market entry solutions to support their growth objectives. It also creates opportunities for governments to present investment opportunities, promote investment incentives and engage with interested investors. It will achieve these through a combination of project preparation, pipeline development, project bankability, investment promotion, and enabling policy environment. Participants will also explore trade deals and partnership opportunities that enhance sourcing from African smallholder farmers.

The Agribusiness Deal Room this year will focus on the following subthemes:

• Exploring inclusive, sustainable and resilient investments into Africa’s agriculture sector that will support recovery and growth of our food systems
• Unlocking increased domestic investment into both public and private investment priorities
• Championing access to finance, more specifically for women SMEs
• Strengthening models to enhance Sourcing in Africa and capitalize on the AfCTFA

Mobilizing the eco-system that can leverage inclusive investment opportunities is critical to investment facilitation.

The opening session of the Deal Room will bring to life experiences of different value chain actors, while also presenting the benefits and opportunities in investing in Africa’s food systems.

Moderator: Mr. Sean de Cleene, World Economic Forum, Member of the Executive Committee

Sequence 1: Fireside Chat

• H.E. Lionel Zinsou, former Prime Minister, Republic of Benin
• Mr. Mark Meassick, Mission Director of USAID/Kenya

Sequence 2: Panel discussion – On recovery: An in-depth discussion with investors on their evolving strategies for resilient investments, the horizon for Africa and their expectations.

Moderator: Mr. Sean de Cleene, World Economic Forum, Member of the Executive Committee
Speakers:

• Ms. Diane Karusisi, Chief Executive officer, Bank of Kigali
• Mr. Ben Valk, Head Food and Agri Partnerships, Rabobank

Sequence 3: Aspirations and expectations in engaging in the Agribusiness Deal Room A series of short interventions and presentations from Deal Room participants.

Moderator: Mr. Sean de Cleene, World Economic Forum, Member of the Executive Committee

Speakers:

• Mr. Taziona Chaponda, CEO, Malawi Agriculture and Industrial Investment Corporation
• Mr. William Asiko, Managing Director, Rockefeller Foundation
• Mr. Kebba Colley, Director, Inclusive Business Development, IDH
• Mr. Samuel Kwame Ntim, CEO, Yedent Agro Group of Companies Ltd.

Sequence 4: Agribusiness Deal Room

Moderator: Ms. Vanessa Adams, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Chief of Party, AGRA

A short address by the Agribusiness Deal Room co-chairs and the official opening of the Deal Room

• Dr. Donal Brown, Associate Vice President, IFAD
• Mr. Zephanie Niyonkuru, Deputy CEO, Rwanda Development Board (RDB)
• Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA and UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Food Systems Summit

Farmers Forum

Inclusive and sustainable agriculture transformation aims to revolutionize smallholder agriculture into a highly productive, efficient, competitive, and sustainable business. This vision is further underpinned by the need for multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral collaborations to leverage resources and capacity of other partners to consolidate change at the systems and farmer-level. The Farmers Forum will put a spotlight on the continent’s farmers and discuss pathways to ensure they are thriving and contributing to building resilient food systems for the continent.

Moderators: Ms. Nozipho Tshabalala, Chief Executive officer, The Conversation Strategist

Opening Remarks: Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA and UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Food Systems Summit

Farmers Roundtable: Is Doubling Farmers income enough to reach Zero Hunger?

• Ms. Elizabeth Nsimadala, President, PAFO
• Mr. Ajay Vir Jakhar, Chairman of Bharat Krishak Samaj (Farmers’ Forum India)
• Ms. Agnes Kirabo, Executive Director, Food Rights Alliance (Uganda)
• Mr. Nga Célestin, CEO, PROPAC (Cameroon, Central Africa)
• Mr. Paul Zakariya, Executive Director of Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union (ZFU)
• Mr. Chris Muyunda, Chair, CAADP Non-State Actors Coalition (CNC)
• Dr. Daniel M. M’Mailutha, CEO Kenya National Farmers Federation (KENAFF)
• Ms. Mary Afan, Smallholder Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria (SWOFON)
• Mr. Stephen Muchiri – Chief Executive Officer, Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF)
• Mr. Ishmael Sunga, Chief Executive Officer, Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU)
• Mr. Bagna Djibo, Chairman, PAFO

Parallel Workshop (Gender): Equitable Livelihoods for Women through Innovative Financing and Climate Adaptation

This equitable livelihoods workshop will narrow in on the themes of innovative financing and strengthening women’s climate resilience and adaptation (Building women’s resilience in crisis situations), by highlighting how innovative financingis contributing to gender equality and women’s empowerment across the continent and the need to scale these initiatives through commitments from financial institutions for the benefit of all women in agriculture. As we gear up for COP 26 and the race to net zero, the session will also explore mechanisms for ensuring women shape and lead climate adaptation plans. For food systems transformation to occur at a global scale, we must recognize that Africa is not at par with the rest of the world and financing is critical for African women to catch up and be part of this transformation. The session will call for action and draw commitments from financial institutions, governments, private sector players, development partners and other stakeholders to increase financing for women in agriculture, including climate finance.

Moderator: Dr. Susan Chomba, Director of Vital Landscapes for Africa, World Resources Institute

Keynote:

• Amb. Raychelle Awuor Omamo, Cabinet Secretary, Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya
• Ms. Sicily K. Kariuki, EGH, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation

Setting the Scene

• Dr. Juliette Biao, Regional Director, UNEP Africa Office
• Hon. Frank Kagyigyi Tumwebaze, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries

Sequence 1 – Innovative financial inclusion and networks
Panel discussion

• Ms. Laura Davis, Managing Partner & Investor Relations, RENEW
• Ms. Jamie Anderson, Senior Financial Sector Specialist, Rural and Agricultural Livelihoods – CGAP / World Bank Group
• Ms. Nigest Haile, Founder & Executive Director Center for Accelerated Women’s Economic Empowerment (CAWEE) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• Ms. Salamatu Garba, WOFAN, Executive Director/ Founder - WOFAN & UNDP-GEF Project/ Senior Gender Specialist
• Ms. Edith Wheatland, CEO, Rockland Farms
• Ms. Beatrice Gakuba, Executive Director, AWAN Afrika
• Mr. Birama Sidibé, CEO and President, AgroBiotech
• Mr. Parmesh Shah, Lead Rural Development Specialist, World Bank

Sequence 2: Build up to COP26 – Strengthening women’s climate resilience and adaptation
Panel discussion

• Mr. Jean Claude (JC) Rubyogo, Bean Programme Leader & Director, PABRA, CIAT
• Dr. Jemimah Njuki, Africa Director, IFPRI, & Gender Lever Custodian, UNFSS
• Ms. Leticia Mpuya, Country Director Tanzania, Heifer International
• Ms. Ndaya Beltchika, Technical Specialist, Gender Targeting and Social Inclusion, IFAD
• Ms. Agnes Kanjala, Director of Global Field Operations, Pula Advisors

Food Systems Innovators

Food system innovations are fundamental and will be instrumental to ensuring that future generations are food secure and eat healthy diets. To transition towards sustainability, AGRF 2021 will be showcasing breakthrough innovations that transform the food system into one that creates value for all stakeholders

A series of 5-minute videos played during the bridge segments, each clip will feature a different African innovator with an emphasis on women, youth, and SMEs.

Innovators:

• Prof. Barhoum Kharbouch, CEO and Founder, Lombrisol
• Mr. Dickson Juma, Co-Founder, Kuruwitu Conservation Welfare CBO
• Ms. Vera Osei-Bonsu, Start Right Nutrition Limited

Networking Exhibition

The AGRF 2021 networking exhibition allows participants to connect directly in a live, virtual booth or meeting space for introductions and deal -making. Delegates can arrange multiple high-quality, investment-focused meetings and benefit from attending the free-flowing and structured networking events, workshops, and exhibitions

Participatory Events

Stretch your world and immense yourself in an engaging virtual experience, where you will have an opportunity to share, learn and interact with other participants.

Chef Chat with Chefs' Manifesto

Chefs are influencers, artisans, and part of the food system. They can encourage food use well beyond the customers they serve and the books they write. AGRF 2021 and the Chef’s Manifesto of the SDG2 Advocacy Hub will bring together some of Africa’s biggest food influencers to spark interest in African cuisine sourced from African products with an emphasis on diverse healthy diets

The purpose of this collaboration between the Chefs’ Manifesto and AGRF is to continue to connect the consumption side of food with the production side. It is also to create exciting and stimulating content that amplifies key messages of Good Food For All and shows the link to the AGRF’s Action Tracks.

These chefs will foster commitments to:

• Nutritious food that is accessible and affordable
• African cuisines
• Celebrating African ingredients and products from across the continent
• Promoting diverse crops and diets

Moderator: Mr. Paul Newnham

• Chef Kiran Jethwa (Kenya)
• Chef Ska Moteane (Lesotho)

Participatory Event

Stretch your world and immense yourself in an engaging virtual experience, where you will have an opportunity to share, learn and interact with other participants.

Meet the Author

Food Entrepreneurs in Africa: Scaling Resilient Agriculture Businesses, Routledge 2021 Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of the agriculture and food sectors in Africa, which is projected to exceed a trillion dollars by 2030. This book captures the author’s personal experiences and her engagement with over 80 successful African entrepreneurs. It explores how entrepreneurs can develop scalable business models, attract and retain talent, leverage innovation & technology to leapfrog and adapt to climate change, raise patient and catalytic financing, build strong brands, shape their ecosystem and grow resilient businesses that can withstand future shocks and stresses. Engage Ms. Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli as she unpacks her experiences while penning this great resource that is a must have for budding entrepreneurs.

Ms. Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli

AGRF Press Briefing (Media Only)

Stretch your world and immense yourself in an engaging virtual experience, where you will have an opportunity to share, learn and interact with other participants.

Meet the Author

The AGRF is the world’s premier forum for African agriculture, bringing together stakeholders in the agricultural landscape to take practical actions and share lessons that will move African agriculture forward. And as part of the contributions to the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS), the 2021 AGRF Summit is expected to yield tangible and concrete outcomes in four areas: Equitable & Inclusive Livelihoods, Build Forward Better, Healthy People and Planet, and Sustainable Food Systems.
year’s AGRF Summit aims to elevate the single coordinated African voice to the UNFSS and identify immediate actions and steps that need to be taken to accelerate progress and recovery towards inclusive agricultural transformation.
Fascinating headliners and thought-provoking sessions will inspire each day’s discussions and activities. The daily AGRF press briefings will engage food systems experts, and agriculture specialists will inspire action on African food systems.

Commitments Showcase

These will be 15-minute highlights from key stakeholders and actors in the space highlighting initiatives and commitments to transform food systems and accelerate Africa’s delivery of the 2030 targets.

4K Club Commitment

Africa is the world’s youngest continent with nearly 60% of our population being under the age of 25 years. Our young people must take charge of their future, and this includes being able to feed themselves with nutritious and safe diets that will nourish them and promote the health and wealth of our people. Come witness our host, Kenya, showcase its 4K Commitment that will reach over 10 million young people from their formative years, inculcating a positive mindset towards agriculture. 4K will ensure school-going children transition with the necessary skills to be the next generation of agri-preneurs that will feed the continent. As a global leader in school meals, Kenya is also playing a leadership role on the School Meals coalition of the United Nations Food Systems Summit. There is no better time than this to put young people on the forefront of the continent’s food systems agenda.

• H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, President, Kenya; Patron, 4K Club

PLENARY & HEADLINERS

Africa Agriculture Status Report (AASR) Launch

This year's Africa Agriculture Status Report (AASR) focuses on unpacking the concept of sustainable and resilient agri-food systems. Key topics covered in the report include digital transformation, job creation, market opportunities, global sustainability, enhancing nutritional quality of food products and regreening Africa through ecosystem restoration.

Moderator: Mr. Kinyua M'Mbijjewe, Corporate Affairs Director, Monsanto Kenya Ltd

Introducing the AASR Context: Mr, Andrew Cox, Chief of Staff and Strategy, AGRA

Keynote Presentations

• Prof. Joachim von Braun, Chair of the UNFSS Scientific Group
• Dr. Beth Dunford, Vice President Agriculture, Human and Social Development, African Development Bank
• Prof. Lulama Traub, ReNAPRI
• Dr. Mandefro Nigussie, CEO of ATA, Ethiopia

Sequence 2 Overview of the AASR
Panel Discussion

• Mr. Wandile Sihlobo, Chief Economist / Advisor to President of South Africa
• Prof. Adesoji Soji Adelaja, Michigan State University
• Hon. Lobin Lowe, Minister of Agriculture, Malawi
• Dr. Lawrence Haddad, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
• Prof. Louise Fox, Brookings Institute
• Ms. Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Sahel Consulting

AASR 2021 book launch: Prof. Joachim von Braun, Chair of the UNFSS Scientific Group

Commitments Showcase

These will be 15-minute highlights from key stakeholders and actors in the space highlighting initiatives and commitments to transform food systems and accelerate Africa’s delivery of the 2030 targets.

Dairy Nourishes Africa (DNA)

DNA is a public-private partnership that leverages the collective strength of the dairy sector to address critical global issues. In this commitment showcase, see how the world’s leading dairy companies are collaborating with local communities, governments, and other stakeholders to execute outcome-oriented projects designed to create opportunities for small dairy enterprises to grow into local champions.

DNA’s work harnesses the proven power and promise of dairy to deliver nutritional, societal, economic, and environmental imperatives that create resilient, food secure, economically, and environmentally sustainable communities. Providing the highest quality nutrition with the shortest supply chain, dairy plays an essential role in COVID-19 recovery.

The Dairy Nourishes Africa initiative aims to contribute to the achievement of several SDGs - SDG Goal 2: Zero Hunger in particular - as it relates to ending hunger, providing nutritious food, ending stunting, and promoting sustainable agriculture. DNA is also committed to improving environmental sustainability of the dairy farms and enterprises with whom they work, facilitating women’s active participation throughout the value chain, and creating bright future careers for youth.

• Margaret Munene, CEO, Palmhouse Dairies Ltd.
• Vikki Tam, Partner, Head of Global Social Impact Practice, Bain and Company
• Jay Waldvogel, Senior Vice President of Strategy and International Development, Dairy Farmers of America
• Gladness Ndosi, Smallholder Farmer
• Dr. Deo Temba, Grande Demam Founder and Veterinarian
• Japhet Mwakila, Grande Demam Marketing Manager

Plenary: Ensuring Equitable Livelihoods and Living Incomes

Inequality and power imbalances – at household, community, national and global levels – are consistently constraining the ability of food systems to deliver poverty reduction and sustainable, equitable livelihoods. This plenary session will discuss the most effective approaches to sustainably eradicate poverty and inequality and improve livelihoods.

Ms. Nozipho Tshabalala, Chief Executive officer, The Conversation Strategist

Sequence 1: Keynote Remarks

• Ms. Michelle Nunn, Chairperson, UNFSS Action Track 4, Advance Equitable Livelihoods, & President and Chief Executive Officer, CARE USA
• Hon. Prof. Hamadi Iddi Boga, Principal Secretary, State Department for Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries (Kenya)
• Dr. Mark Schneider, CEO, Nestlé
• Dr. Susan Chomba, Director of Vital Landscapes for Africa, World Resources Institute

Sequence 2: Panel Discussion

• Hon. Olegaria dos Anjos Banze, Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mozambique
• Mr. Sean Granville-Ross, Regional Director, Africa of Mercy Corps
• Mr. Fred Swaniker, Chief Executive Officer, Africa Leadership Academy
• Mr. Gerald Chirinda, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Future Africa Investments
• Mr. Vimal Shah, Co-Founder and Chairman of Bidco Africa
• Prof. Kevin Urama, African Development Institute, African Development Bank Group, Senior Director
• Mr. Fayçal Benameur, SVP of East Africa, OCP

Sequence 3: Panel Discussion

• Hon. Ms. Lindiwe Zulu, Minister of Social Development (South Africa)
• Ms. Blayne Tesfaye, Co-founder and CEO TruLuv
• Dr. Simon Winter, Executive Director, Syngenta Foundation
• Mr. Peter Njonjo, CEO Twiga Foods
• Prof. Sheryl Hendricks, Professor and Head of Department, University of Pretoria

Commitments Showcase

These will be 15-minute highlights from key stakeholders and actors in the space highlighting initiatives and commitments to transform food systems and accelerate Africa’s delivery of the 2030 targets.

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Private Sector Financing Programme (PSFP), a financing facility designed to promote increased investment into small-scale agriculture. The facility offers financing directly to operating companies as well as financial intermediaries on-lending, investing or offering services to small farmers, rural poor and MSMEs.

Rural Resilience Programme (2RP)

IFAD is scaling up its impact and accelerating progress on the fight against rural poverty and hunger, fostering sustainable food system transformation and building resilience to climate change through two key programmes. Established in February 2021, the Private Sector Financing Programme (PSFP) program offers financial solutions and leverages on the Fund’s extensive experience to crowd in private sector investments know-how and innovation for the benefit of small-scale producers, women, youth and rural communities. PSFP projects are expected to be impactful, commercially viable, adhere to strict environmental and climate standards and promote good governance and coordination between public and private sector efforts. Launched in 2020, the Rural Resilience Programme (2RP) will focus on alleviating climate change drivers of food insecurity, irregular migration and land degradation. The 2RP will equip small-scale producers, landless poor and their communities with the resources needed to implement locally appropriate and proactive resilience strategies.

Plenary: Food Systems Transformation – Accelerating Action

The food we eat today is unsustainable in various ways: the food system causes unacceptable environmental impacts, and it is depleting non-renewable resources. Food systems — encompassing the interlinked biophysical and human systems that span from agricultural production, through post-harvest manufacturing and distribution, to food consumption — should be engineered primarily to boost productivity in delivering healthy dietary needs supply sufficient to avoid famines in the face of human population growth. The urgency of transforming Africa’s food systems is irrefutable.

Moderator: Jeff Koinange, Citizen TV

Sequence 1
Framing Keynotes

• Dr. Maximo Torero, Chief Economist, Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)
• Ms. Hanneke Faber, President, Foods & Refreshment Foods, Unilever
• Dr. Juliette Biao, Regional Director, UNEP Africa Office

Sequence 2
Panel Speakers

• Hon. Anne Nyaga, Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock Fisheries and Cooperatives in the Government of Kenya
• Ms. Elizabeth Nsimadala, President, Pan-African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO)
• Mr. Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu, Founder/CEO of ColdHubs Limited
• Mr Daniel Hailu, Regional Head for East and Southern Africa, Mastercard Foundation
• Luis Alfredo Perez, SVP Business Unit Africa, Yara International
• Dr. Godfrey Bahiigwa, ARBE Director, African Union African

Commitments Showcase

These will be 15-minute highlights from key stakeholders and actors in the space highlighting initiatives and commitments to transform food systems and accelerate Africa’s delivery of the 2030 targets.

UPL: The Rice Race

In food security, sustainable agricultural development, and climate resilience, collaboration is the key to transformation. When we take care to listen to real food system needs and make binding food system commitments, we can catalyse radical progress.

UPL doesn’t just believe in the potential for the African continent to achieve self-sufficiency, it is actively working to make it a reality through the scaling and strengthening of the rice value chain. At last year’s AGRF, UPL’s high-level panel began the work to outline this opportunity and build a coalition to take it forward. But this year, as we look at the Pathways to Recovery, it is time to go further.

The Rice Race will bring together leading voices from seeds, sustainable agricultural inputs, farmer collectives, development finance, NGOs, processers and off-takers, to demonstrate the power of collaboration, and establish the real needs and commitments of each player as we work together to transform rice cultivation across Africa.

• Florent Clair, Head of Partnerships for Sustainability, UPL Ltd
• Abdoulaye Kabore, Rice Manager W&CA, UPL Ltd.
• Ougfaly Badji, Lead Global Food Security Expert, Islamic Development Bank
• Reji George, Vice President, OLAM International, Nigeria
• Jai Shroff, Global CEO, UPL Ltd
• Marcel Dreyer, Regional Head (AMEANZ), UPL Ltd.
• Ndavi Muia, Regional Head, Middle East & Africa, ADVANTA
• Jean-Paul Aka, General Manager, LOCAGRI
• Fadel Ndiame, Vice President, AGRA,
• Isaac Mungoma, Investment Manager, FarmFit Fund, IDH Kenya

Insights: Can African agriculture contribute to Net Zero?

Closing out the day, Insights is a moment for voices with diverse points of view to comment on the day’s activities and bring their insights to the Program.Reflections at end of each day bringing together the varied tracks into common themes and results.

Moderator: Mr. Georgie Ndirangu, Media Broadcaster, BBC Multimedia Broadcast

• Mr. Leonard Mizzi, Head of Unit at the European Commission, Directorate-General (DG) for International Cooperation and Development
• Ms. Poorva Pandya, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), ETG Farmers Foundation (EFF)
• Dr. Ruben Echeverria, Chair, Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification
• Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo, Executive Director, Forum for Agricultural Research (FARA)

Experiences Mitigating COVID19’s Impacts on its Food System; Strengthening Resilience and Possible Takeaways for Africa

COVID19 Pandemic has created significant tension in the global food system since early 2020, alongside the horrific impact on the global health system. As the first country to be hit by the Pandemic, China’s own food system was under huge pressure the whole year. How did China manage to mitigate COVID19’s impact on its food system?

Moderator:
Dr. Fadel Ndiame, Deputy President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

SEQUENCE 1:
Keynote Speech:

• H.E. Mbelwa Kairuki, Ambassador of Tanzania to China

SEQUENCE 2:

• Dr. Fengying Nie, Director General and Research Fellow, Agriculture Information Institute, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Science
• Prof. Zhigang Chen, Professor of School of public affairs of Zhejiang University, also the China Program Leader and Senior Research Fellow of International Food Policy Research Institute
• Dr. Jiqin Han, Professor and Dean, School for International Education, Nanjing Agricultural University
• Dr. Lixia Tang, Professor and Deputy Dean, School for South-South Agriculture Cooperation, China Agriculture University
• Dr. Yuan Zhou, Head of Agriculture Policy and China Program, Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture

Good Morning AGRF

Each morning will kick start with the highlights of the upcoming day, understand the themes under discussion, and find out all the interesting places to interact with thought leaders.

Panel:

• Ms. Wangari Kuria, Founder of a YouTube channel called – Farmer on Fire
• Ms. Yunike Phiri, Acting Country Coordinator for the Farm to Market Alliance
• Ms. Mwende Nyamu, CEO & Founder, Plus Fabulosity
• Mr John Agboola, Global Hunger Fighter, Consultant, Youth & Agriculture

Global Guests:

• Ms. Mary Ann Sayoc, Executive Director at East West Seed
• Dr. Shenggen Fan PhD, Dean of Academy of Global Food Economics and Policy (AGFEP)/ Chair and Professor of China Agricultural University (CAU)/ Former Director General, IFPRI

Food Systems Innovators

Food system innovations are fundamental and will be instrumental to ensuring that future generations are food secure and eat healthy diets. To transition towards sustainability, AGRF 2021 will be showcasing breakthrough innovations that transform the food system into one that creates value for all stakeholders.

A series of 5-minute videos played during the bridge segments, each clip will feature a different African innovator with an emphasis on women, youth, and SMEs.

Innovators:

• Mr. Andreas Gengenbach, Co-Founder & CTO, Flamingoo Foods Company Ltd
• Mr. Omar Coulibaly, Director General, InnoFaso
• Mr. Fred Zamblé, Co-Founder & CEO, Seekewa

PARALLEL SESSIONS

Ministerial Roundtable (closed)

CHAIRS:

The High-level Ministerial Roundtable Session will provide a platform for reflection and stocktaking on political, policy and financial and innovations the continent has achieved. The session will also focus on what is needed to advance the implementation of commitments made at the Malabo Heads of State Summit as well as meeting the SDGs in the context of food systems

Moderator: Dr David Nabarro, Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Climate Change

Sequence 1: Welcome and Setting the Scene
Remarks:

• H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn, Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Chairperson AGRF Partners Group
• Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)

Keynote Remarks:

• H.E. Josefa Sacko, Commissioner, Department for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (DARBE), African Union Commission

Sequence 2: Ministerial Interventions
Special Remarks:

• Hon. Thoko Didiza - Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, South Africa, and Chair of the Africa Union Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment
• Hon. Peter G. Munya, EGH, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, host Government

Remarks by Agriculture Ministers

• Hon. Dr. Gerardine Mukeshimana, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Rwanda
• H.E. Oumer Hussein Oba, Minister of Agriculture, Ethiopia
• Hon. Lobin Lowe, Minister of Agriculture, Malawi
• H.E. Moussa Balde, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Equipment, Senegal
• H.E. Celso Ismael Correia Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mozambique
• Hon. Said Hussein Iid, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Somalia
• Hon. Salifu Ouedraogo, Minister of Agriculture, Burkina Faso
• Hon. Aziz Akhannouch, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Kingdom of Morocco
• Hon. Amie Fabureh, Minister of Agriculture – Gambia
• Hon. Prof. Adolf Mkenda, Minister of Agriculture – United Republic of Tanzania
• Hon. Olegaria dos Anjos Banze, Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mozambique
• Hon. Frank Kagyigyi Tumwebaze, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries
• Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Minister for Food and Agriculture Ghana
• Hon. Eugene Wamalwa, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Devolution and ASAL, Kenya

Remarks by Finance, Budget and Planning Ministers

• Hon. Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and Planning, Nigeria

Remarks by Ministers of Health

• Hon. Mutahi Kagwe, EGH Cabinet Secretary for Health, Kenya
• Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, MP Minister of Health, Malawi
• Minister of Health of Ethiopia

Remarks by Trade Ministers

• Hon. Betty Maina, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development, Kenya
• Hon. Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Trade & Industry, Ghana

Remarks by Environment Ministers

• Hon. Keriako Tobiko, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Kenya
• Hon. Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and innovation (MESTI), Ghana
• Hon. Barbara Creecy, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries
• Ms. Sicily K. Kariuki, EGH, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation

Remarks by National Convenors of Food Systems

• Dr. Alfred Acakpo, Secrétaire Permanent du Conseil National de l’Alimentation et de la Nutrition, Benin
• Mme. Julie Kasa-Kanga Tshilombo Coordonnatrice Adjointe de la Coordination des Ressources Extérieures et du Suivi des Projets Présidence de la République, Democratic Republic of Congo
• Hon. Kemiso Mosenene, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Kingdom of Lesotho
• H.E. Mrs. Francess Piagie Alghali, Minister of State, Office of the Vice President, Sierra Leone
• Hon. Prof. Adolf Mkenda, Minister of Agriculture – United Republic of Tanzania

Remarks by Global Partners

• Hon. Wu Peng, Director-General, Department of African Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, People’s Republic of China

Remarks by All Participating Development partners

Closing Remarks:

• H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Chair of the Board of Directors of AGRA and AGRF Partners

Parallel Workshop – Resilience & Adaptation

Session Title: Building Agricultural Resilience to Multiple Shocks and Risks

CHAIRS

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. This session will identify and share global experiences in resilience building and showcase best practices in addressing vulnerability and risk in Africa. A platform for policy debate and influence for reducing agricultural risks and vulnerabilities will be developed.

Moderator: Dr. Ekta H. Patel, Scientist & Bioscience Communications Manager, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

Setting the Scene: Framing remarks

• Prof. Saleem Huq, Director, International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD)

High Level Remarks:

• Ms. Natasha Santos, Vice-President of Global Stakeholders’ Strategy & Affairs at Bayer Crop Science
• H.E. Salifu Ouedraogo, Minister of Agriculture, Burkina Faso
• Mr. Dominique Burgeon, Director, FAO Liaison Office in Geneva and OiC of OER, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Sequence 2: Panel Discussion

• Mr. Ndavi Muia, Regional Head - Africa & Middle East, Advanta Seeds, Kenya
• Dr. Dennis Garrity, Senior Fellow, ICRAF & Drylands Ambassador, UN, Nairobi
• H.E. Prof. Fekadu Beyene, Commissioner with the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission of Ethiopia
• Dr. Jane Kamau, Commercialization and Agribusiness Manager, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

Sequence 3: Panel Discussion

• Ms. Jannifer Muthike, Entomologist & Youth Representative, YALTA , Kenya
• Dr. Tilahun Amede, Head of Resilience, Climate and Soils at AGRA (Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa) (AGRA)
• Dr. Jean Senahoun, Senior Economist for Africa, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Rome
• Dr. Canisius K. Kanangire, Executive Director of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF)

Parallel Workshops – Rural & Market Development

African food security lies in its opportunity link markets and add value to improve the livelihoods. 80% of global multi-dimensional poverty occurs in rural areas so it is essential to see the agro-ecosystem as a continuum from the farm to value added processing to products on the grocery store shelves. Leading academics, insightful business leaders, and finance experts will help chart a course to more robust value chains on the continent. From farmers, to aggregators, processors, to retailers, this session will speak about interventions in logistics and marketing as well as the means to get integrated value chains functioning more effectively in Africa.

Moderator:

• Ms. Thato Moagi, Agricultural Scientist and Agripreneur, South Africa

Keynote:

• Hon. Dr. Gerardine Mukeshimana Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Rwanda

Setting the Scene:

• Mr. Tom Kehoe, Deputy Director, Agriculture, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Panel Discussion: Strengthening mechanisms in processing, logistics and market infrastructure

• Prof. Siza Tumbo, Deputy PS, Ministry for Agriculture, United Republic of Tanzania
• Mr. Ayodeji Balogun, Chief Executive Officer, AFEX Nigeria
• Mr. Peter Njonjo, CEO & Co-Founder, Twiga Foods
• Mr. Mauricio Adade, Vice President. DSM
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• Ms. Atsuko Toda, Director of the Agriculture Finance & Rural Development Department of the African Development Bank
• Dr. Holger A. Kray, Practice Manager Agriculture & Food Security, The World Bank

Panel Discussion: Strengthening Ag value chain systems.

• Ms. Hellen Onyango, Crop Aggregator, Farm to Market Alliance
• Ms. Michelle Kagari, One Acre Fund’s Global Director of Government Relations and Policy
• Ms. Jo Ryan, CEO, Tru Trade
• Ms. Khadijah Mohamed Churchill, CEO, Kwanza Tukule
• Prof. Edward Mabaya, Research, International Programs, Cornell University
• Ms. Ashini Patel, Program Coordinator, Fund for Rural Prosperity, KPMG Kenya

Conclusion:

• Dr. Joe DeVries, President, Seed Systems Group, SSG: Agro-Ecosystem Development Enterprise

MIDDAY

Food Systems Innovators

Food system innovations are fundamental and will be instrumental to ensuring that future generations are food secure and eat healthy diets. To transition towards sustainability, AGRF 2021 will be showcasing breakthrough innovations that transform the food system into one that creates value for all stakeholders

A series of 5-minute videos played during the bridge segments, each clip will feature a different African innovator with an emphasis on women, youth, and SMEs.

Innovators:

• Ms. Blayne Tesfaye, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, TruLuv Granola
• Mr. Tantoh Nforba, Farmer, Save Your Future Association (SYFA)
• Mr. Bakary Doumbia, Rice Farmer

Networking Exhibition

The AGRF 2021 networking exhibition allows participants to connect directly in a live, virtual booth or meeting space for introductions and deal -making. Delegates can arrange multiple high-quality, investment-focused meetings and benefit from attending the free-flowing and structured networking events, workshops, and exhibitions

AGRF Press Briefing (Media Only)

The AGRF is the world's premier forum for African agriculture, bringing together stakeholders in the agricultural landscape to take practical actions and share lessons that will move African agriculture forward. And as part of the contributions to the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS), the 2021 AGRF Summit is expected to yield tangible and concrete outcomes in four areas: Equitable & Inclusive Livelihoods, Build Forward Better, Healthy People and Planet, and Sustainable Food Systems.

This year's AGRF Summit aims to elevate the single coordinated African voice to the UNFSS and identify immediate actions and steps that need to be taken to accelerate progress and recovery towards inclusive agricultural transformation.

Fascinating headliners and thought-provoking sessions will inspire each day's discussions and activities. The daily AGRF press briefings will engage food systems experts, and agriculture specialists will inspire action on African food systems.

Pitch AgriHack Competition

CHAIRS:

This session seeks to inspire young people in Africa to leverage ICT innovation to transform the agrifood sector in Africa. The Pitch AgriHack competition aims to promote ICT innovation and entrepreneurship in agriculture in African countries. With support from Heifer International, the 2021 Pitch AgriHack Competition targets African businesses that bring technological innovation to the agriculture industry. The competition will identify and amplify efforts by young innovators to build resilience beyond COVID-19 through digital agriculture products and services. These innovations should be scalable and generate measurable impact in Africa’s food systems. Winners of the competition will receive funding and continued support to scale up their innovations into products that can help transform the entire sector.

MC: Ms. Bonolo Monthe, MD Maungo Craft & 2019 GoGettaz Grand Prize Winner

Special remarks:

• Ms. Adesuwa Ifedi, Senior Vice President, Africa Programs, Heifer International
• Ms. Jennifer Baarn, Acting Managing Director AGRF and Head of Partnerships, AGRA

Judges:

• Ms. Ebunoluwa Bolodeoku, Head Transformation, Africa – Heifer International
• Mr. Elisee Kamanzi, Country Director, Rwanda, Heifer Africa
• Mr. William Matovu, Country Director Uganda, Heifer Africa
• Mr. Ken Lohento, – Digital Innovation Strategy Consultant, FAO
• Mr. Nixon Gecheo, Senior Program Officer – Digital Systems & Solutions for Agriculture, AGRA
• Ms. Barbra Muzata, Communications and Brand Leader, Africa Middle East, Corteva
• Ms. Grace Vuhya Obeda, Principal Youth Employment Expert, African Development Bank
• Ms. Hafou Touré-Samb, SME Development and Finance Specialist, African Development Bank

PLENARY & HEADLINERS

GoGettaz Agriprenueur Cheetah’s Chase

Generation Africa is proud to bring together young entrepreneurs, innovators, movers and shakers in Africa’s agri-food sector and present inspiration from 10 young agripreneurs competing for this year’s prestigious GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize. The session will feature key messages from Generation Africa Steering Committee (Steerco) members, Generation Africa Steerco Co-Chairs and Generation Africa Co-Catalysts.

MC: Ms. Sherrie Silver, UN IFAD Advocate for Rural Youth, Emcee for Generation Africa

Co-MC: Ms. Ada Osakwe, Founder of Agrolay Ventures and Generation Africa Ambassador

Judges:

• Ms. Ellen Katherine Rasmussen, EVP Scalable Enterprises, NORFUND
• Ms. Winnie Wanjiku Karanu, Microsoft, Insight Management Consultants
• Ms. Barbra Muzata, Communications and Brand Leader, Africa Middle East, Corteva AgriScience
• Mr. Thierno Mountaga Diarra, Principal Solutions Architect, African Development Bank
• Mr. Ishmael Sunga, CEO, Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU)
• Mr. Paul Brown, Co-Director, Master of Business Creation Program, University of Utah

President’s Summit

The President’s Summit is the highest-level moment of the AGRF, comprised of Heads of State & Government, eminent persons, and hundreds of leaders and stakeholders present from across Africa’s agriculture and agribusiness sectors. This AGRF 2021 Presidential Summit will be convened under the leadership of H.E. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya. It will focus on the gains that have been made in Africa’s agriculture landscape. Leaders will speak on bold steps they are already taking in putting in place major policy and political decisions to drive food systems transformation across their own countries and within their regions.

Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony will launch the hybrid (physical and virtual) 2021 AGRF. The theme of the summit, Pathways to Recovery and Resilient Food Systems, will be highlighted with a call to unlock new commitments to the future of African food systems. The Opening Ceremony will also set the stage for the single coordinated African voice to the UN Food System Summit.

Africa Food Prize 2021

The Africa Food Prize is the preeminent award that recognizes an outstanding individual or institution that is leading the effort to change the reality of farming in Africa—from a struggle to survive to a business that thrives.

The US $100,000 worth prize celebrates Africans who are taking control of Africa’s agriculture agenda. This year, the ceremony will put a spotlight on bold initiatives and technical innovations that can be replicated across the Continent to create a new era of food security and economic opportunity for all Africans.

GoGettaz Agriprenueur Prize

Generation Africa brings partners together to strengthen the ecosystem for young agripreneurs across the continent. The GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize aims to find Africa’s brightest young agrifood entrepreneurs. Two winners, one woman and one man, with scalable and impactful business or social ventures will be announced and will each receive US$50,000 for their businesses.

VALUE4HER Award

VALUE4HER is AGRA’s continental program, aimed at increasing the performance of women agri-enterprises, through access to markets and trade, finance and investments, knowledge and skills, networking and building women’s collective voice. The program VALUE4HER is powered by VALUE4HERConnect, Africa’s first women in agribusiness integrated digital resource, designed to assist women agri-enterprises transcend gender and market entry barriers, built upon digital technologies capabilities to connect, amplify, and deliver customized service. Winners of the VALUE4HER Innovation Grant (IG) will be announced and each qualifying agribusiness will receive USD 9,000.

Sequence 1: Welcome and Setting the Scene
Welcome Heads of State Procession – Moderator: Mr. Jeff Koinange, Citizen TV.

Video Presentation

Welcome Remarks: Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President, President of AGRA and UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Food Systems Summit

Framing Remarks: H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Chairperson AGRF Partners Group

Special Remarks: H.E. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy-Secretary General, United Nations

Moderator of Presidential Panel: Dr. Vera Songwe, Director General UNECA

Sequence 2: President’s Address and Heads of State Panel Discussion

• Introduction of H.E. President by Hon. Peter G. Munya, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperative (Kenya)
• President’s Address – H.E. Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, C.G.H, President of the Republic of Kenya on Pathway to Recovery and Building Resilient Food Systems

Heads of States and Governments Panel Discussion

Each Head of State and Government will have the opportunity to respond to four questions about what they are doing to improve their food systems in the wake of the African Union deadlines by 2025 and UN by 2030.

• H.E. President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, Kenya
• H.E. President Paul Kagame, Rwanda
• H.E. President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré , Burkina Faso
• H.E. Dr. Phillip lsdor Mpango, Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania
• H.E. President Ismail Omar Guelleh, Djibouti
• H.E. President Yoweri Museveni, Uganda
• H.E. President Lazarus Chakwera, Malawi
• H.E. President Kais Saied, Tunisia
• H.E. President Geingob, Namibia

Sequence 3: Leaders Panel: The Great Debate

Moderator: Mr. Jeff Koinange, Citizen TV

Speakers:

• H.E. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary- General, United Nations
• Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, – President – Africa Development Bank
• Dr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, President, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
• Mr. Strive Masiyiwa, Chief Executive Officer, Econet
• Mr. Svein Tore Holsether, President and Chief Executive Officer,
• Dr. Hajia Salamatu Garba, WOFAN, Executive Director/ Founder - WOFAN & UNDP-GEF Project/ Senior Gender Specialist
• Hon. Josefa Sacko, Commissioner, Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission

Sequence 4: Awards Ceremony: Africa Food Prize, GoGettaz, VALU4HER

Awards Ceremony

Moderated by Mr. Jeff Koinange, Citizen TV

Video remarks:

• Mr. Strive Masiyiwa, Chief Executive Officer, Econet
• Mr. Svein Tore Holsether, President and Chief Executive Officer, Yara

Awards presented by:

• Hon. Josefa Sacko, AU Commissioner (DARBE)
• Prof. Margaret Kobia, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Public Service and Gender
• H.E. President Obasanjo, Africa Food Prize Chair and Former President of Nigeria
• Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA and UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Food Systems Summit

Commitments Showcase

These will be 15-minute highlights from key stakeholders and actors in the space highlighting initiatives and commitments to transform food systems and accelerate Africa’s delivery of the 2030 targets.

African Development Bank

$15B Facility for Financing Food and Nutrition Security in Africa (FFFNSA) The AfDB’s $15 billion Facility for Financing Food and Nutrition Security in Africa (FFFNSA) could be catalytically used to invest in building adaptation and resilience of the African food systems and nutrition across the continent. The proposed multi-donors Facility will have four pillars: i) Scaling proven food production technologies; ii) Creation of an enabling environment for enhancing agricultural production; iii) Building of critical backbone infrastructure linking production areas to markets; iv) Crowding in private sector investments and access to finance; and v) support to the SEAF) on famine and drought. The principal objective of the FFFNSA is to build a sustainable and resilient African food system that provides nourishing, affordable and safe food to all Africans. It also builds on the objectives of the AfDB Feed Africa strategy and its support to the four specific goals of CAADP viz.: a) contribute to eliminating extreme poverty in Africa by 2025; b) end hunger and malnutrition in Africa by 2025; c) make Africa a net food exporter; and d) move Africa to the top of export-orientated global value chains where it has comparative advantage.

• Dr. Beth Dunford, Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, African Development Bank

Insights: The Path to Resilience; priorities towards 2030

Closing out the day, Insights is a moment for voices with diverse points of view to comment on the day’s activities and bring their insights to the Program.Reflections at end of each day bringing together the varied tracks into common themes and results.

Moderator: Ms. Femi Oke, Co-Founder, Moderate The Panel

• Ms. Maura Barry, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Resilience and Food Security, USAID
• Dr. Nakumolo Covic, Senior Research Coordinator at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) for the CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH)
• Mr. Ziad Hamoui, National President - Ghana, Borderless Alliance
• Dr. Manuel Otero, Director General, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)

Gala Dinner (by invitation only)

A celebration of fellowship on the continent in the beautiful setting of Nairobi. The event will capture the momentum of the Presidential Summit and the future of Africa through its great minds, energetic leaders, and action-oriented partners.

Good Morning AGRF

Each morning will kick start with the highlights of the upcoming day, understand the themes under discussion, and find out all the interesting places to interact with thought leaders.

Panel:

• Ms. Wangari Kuria, Founder of a YouTube channel called - Farmer on Fire
• Ms. Yunike Phiri, Acting Country Coordinator for the Farm to Market Alliance
• Ms. Mwende Nyamu, CEO & Founder, Plus Fabulosity
• Mr. John Agboola, Global Hunger Fighter, Consultant, Youth & Agriculture

Global Guest:

• Mr. Daniel Vennard, Chief Sustainability Officer at Syngenta
• Mr. Divine Ntiokam, Managing Director, Climate Smart Agriculture Youth Network Global (GCSAYN)

Food Systems Innovators

Food system innovations are fundamental and will be instrumental to ensuring that future generations are food secure and eat healthy diets. To transition towards sustainability, AGRF 2021 will be showcasing breakthrough innovations that transform the food system into one that creates value for all stakeholders.

A series of 5-minute videos played during the bridge segments, each clip will feature a different African innovator with an emphasis on women, youth, and SMEs.

Innovators:

• Ms. Elizabeth Gulugulu, Programs Manager, African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC)
• Ms. Evelyne Wangari Kuria, Founder and CEO, Farmer on Fire
• Mr. Tabi Joda, Team Lead, One Billion Trees for Africa

Youth Town Hall

The youth townhall is an annual event of the AGRF, curated and organized by the AGRA through its Gender and Inclusiveness Unit and AGRF’s Generation Africa platform, in collaboration with relevant ecosystem partners. The event is conducted under the Youth entrepreneur platform of the AGRF. The Youth townhall provides a unique platform for young people to present their issues, challenges, aspirations to Governments and stakeholders for policy consideration as well as interact with various ecosystem players and their peers.

This year’s youth townhall will spotlight 4-K Clubs, a new policy recently approved by Kenyan government, with the aim of returning agricultural learning and clubs in schools, both at primary and secondary schools’ levels in Kenya. At the youth Townhall for AGRF 2021, an agreement has been made with stakeholders to create awareness about the 4-K club’s policy, bolster its implementation in Kenya and inspire other governments in Africa to replicate this policy. The event will be hosted in a hybrid format in Kenya and presided over by H.E. Hon Uhuru Kenyatta, the President of the Republic of Kenya who is also the Patron of the 4-K Club.

Moderator: Mr. Georgie Ndirangu, Media Broadcaster, BBC Multimedia Broadcast

Sequence 1:

• Children and Youth in Agriculture: Hon. Anne Nyaga - Chief Administrative Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives
• 4-K Club Presentation: In School Youth Representative Skit/Poem presentation
• Opening Remarks & Introduction of the President: H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn, Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Chairperson AGRF Partners Group
• Introduction of H.E. Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta: Hon. Peter G. Munya EGH (Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture) will introduce the President
• H.E. President’s Speech: H.E. Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, President, Republic of Kenya and Patron 4K Club

Structured questions to the president: 3 Youth representatives

• Mr. Joseph Mathenge, Founder, G-Star Youth Group (Kenya)

Sequence 2: Ministerial Interactive Session

• Hon. Rosemary Mbabazi - Minister for Youth in Rwanda
• 2 Youths from across the continent
• Ms. Ify Umunna, Co-Founder/Co-CEO (ICT & Programs), Nourishing Africa (Nigeria)
• Mr. Diego Dieudonné Twahirwa, Gashora Farms, Rwanda
• Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Minister for Food and Agriculture Ghana
• Youths from across the continent
• Mr. Kofi Kisiedu Acquaye, YPARD Africa Coordinator
• Ms. Dorcas Omole - Youth in Ag (Nigeria)

Sequence 3: Youth Call to Action Youths across the continent have a call to action for 2030

• Mr. Bertin Fokou, Founder, Manager and Business Developer, WhatsNear (Cameroon)
• Mr. Aloys Ntezimana, Pan African Movement (Rwanda)
• Mr. Mike Nkhombo Khunga - a Global Youth Advocate for Nutrition and the vice chair of the UN Food System Summit Action Track 5 (Malawi)
• Ms. Sharon Olang, Member, Lake Region CSO Network

Parallel Workshops – Food Systems & Nutrition

Session Title: Africa’s Solutions towards safe and nutritious food for all.

Healthy diets are currently out of reach for an estimated three billion people worldwide. This session seeks to identify innovations and strategies that are helping Africa improve the availability, access and affordability of nutrient rich food that is sustainably produced. Mechanisms for scaling up of these successful innovations and strategies will be highlighted.

Moderator:

• Ms. Betty Kibaara, Director, Food Initiative, The Rockefeller Foundation, Kenya

Sequence 1:
Keynote Presentations

• Mrs. Nane Annan, Board Member and Nutrition Advocate, Kofi Annan Foundation

Sequence 2: Panel Discussion

• Mr. Larry Umunna, - Regional Director, West Africa, Technoserve
• Ms. Patience Mukweza, Operations Executive, Food Solutions, a subsidiary of Beams & Rays Packaging, Zimbabwe
• Dr. Dorothy Nakimbugwe, Director, Nutreal Ltd & Associate Professor, Department of Food Technology & Nutrition at Makerere University, Uganda
• Ms. Tei Mukunya Oundo, CEO, Nature Lock, Kenya
• Ms. Isabel Dimitrov, Cargill
• Ms. Lauren Landis, World Food Program Kenya, Representative and Country Director

Parallel Workshops – Getting to Zero: Sustainable Productivity Platform

Session Title: Leveraging Innovation in Africa’s Input Systems to Build Resilience and Enhance Sustainable Productivity

In line with the theme of AGRF 2021 on forging pathways to recovery and resilient food systems, this session highlights innovative models that aid to build the resilience of input systems for Africa’s sustainable productivity. Moreover, it identifies areas of convergence and best models that future proof input systems from disruptions including climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic as well as trade and market distortions. The outcome of the session will be recommendations for action for the next 10 years towards innovation in sustainable productivity and a transformative agenda of Africa’s input systems in the context of an inclusive, resilient and sustainable food system.

Moderator: Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, Executive Director, Rise

Fireside Chat:

• Dr. Naoko Ishii, Executive Vice President, Professor, Institute for Future Initiative/ Director, Center for Global Commons, University of Tokyo/ Former CEO, GEF
• Dr. Segenet Kelemu, Director General & CEO of the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE)

Sequence 1: Setting the Scene

• Mr. George Kubai, Managing Director, Agriculture Finance Corporation
• Mr. Jason Scarpone, President & CEO, AFAP

Sequence 2: Panel Discussion

• Dr. Martin Fregene, Director, Agriculture & Agroindustry, AFDB (to speak on the Africa Fertiliser Finance Mechanism
• Ms. Rose Goslinga, Co-founder and Co-CEO, Pula Advisors
• Mr. Okisegere Ojepat, CEO, Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya (FPCK)
• Mr. Peter Veal, Operations Lead, Africa Venture Team, Syngenta
• Mr. Piwai Nigel Chikasha, – Managing Director, Alley Capital Group & GoGettaz Awards Finalist

Closing Remarks

• Dr. Edward Mabaya, Research Professor, Department of Global Development, Cornell University

Food Systems Innovators

Food system innovations are fundamental and will be instrumental to ensuring that future generations are food secure and eat healthy diets. To transition towards sustainability, AGRF 2021 will be showcasing breakthrough innovations that transform the food system into one that creates value for all stakeholders

A series of 5-minute videos played during the bridge segments, each clip will feature a different African innovator with an emphasis on women, youth, and SMEs.

Innovators: Borlaug Field Award

World Food Prize Foundation Announces the 2021 Borlaug Field Award Recipient

The Norman E. Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, endowed by the Rockefeller Foundation, annually recognizes a young scientist under the age of 40 who best emulates the intellectual courage, stamina and determination demonstrated by Dr. Borlaug while he was developing miracle wheat in Mexico. In 2021, the World Food Prize Foundation celebrates the tenth anniversary of awarding the prestigious “Borlaug Field Award” by naming its tenth recipient. We invite you to join the World Food Prize Foundation President, Barbara Stinson, as we look back at the ten-year history of the award and announce the 2021 Recipient of the $10,000 Borlaug Field Award.

Networking Exhibition

The AGRF 2021 networking exhibition allows participants to connect directly in a live, virtual booth or meeting space for introductions and deal-making. Delegates can arrange multiple high-quality, investment-focused meetings and benefit from attending the free-flowing and structured networking events, workshops, and exhibitions.

Participatory Events

Stretch your world and immense yourself in an engaging virtual experience, where you will have an opportunity to share, learn and interact with other participants.

Chef Chat with Chefs' Manifesto

Chefs are influencers, artisans, and part of the food system. They can encourage food use well beyond the customers they serve and the books they write. AGRF 2021 and the Chef’s Manifesto of the SDG2 Advocacy Hub will bring together some of Africa’s biggest food influencers to spark interest in African cuisine sourced from African products with an emphasis on diverse healthy diets.

The purpose of this collaboration between the Chefs’ Manifesto and AGRF is to continue to connect the consumption side of food with the production side. It is also to create exciting and stimulating content that amplifies key messages of Good Food For All and shows the link to the AGRF’s Action Tracks.

These chefs will foster commitments to:

• Nutritious food that is accessible and affordable
• African cuisines
• Celebrating African ingredients and products from across the continent
• Promoting diverse crops and diets

Moderator: Mr. Paul Newnham

• Chef JJ Johnson (USA)
• Chef Zoe Adjonyoh (Ghana)

Participatory Event

Urban Food Systems Including Green Cities in Africa

Greening Cities: A Pathway to Resilient Urban Food Systems in Africa

Cities are growing fast, facing major challenges. Over two thirds of the global population will live in cities and towns by 2050; 90 percent of this urbanization happen in Africa and Asia, threatening to spark major climate, environment, poverty and food crises. The COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating these challenges. But we can turn crisis into opportunity by supporting cities to develop urban and peri-urban agriculture and forestry in a greener, inclusive, efficient, sustainable and holistic way.

This side event aims to bring together decision makers, researchers, extension professionals, community organizers and change makers in urban food systems to share and gain knowledge on urban food systems challenges in Africa and their role in food security. It also aims to create a framework for discussion on how to harness urban food systems for sustainable development and human well-being. It will provide linkage between urban food system and FAO Green Cities Initiative so that to promote significant actions and commitments towards sustainable urban green transition, exchanging perspectives of local governments representatives and various urban food systems stakeholders.

Moderator: Mr. Gouantoueu Robert Guei, Sub Regional Coordinator, FAO West Africa

Participatory Event

One Discussion – CGIAR

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the complex interlinkages between human, animal, and environmental health into stark relief, especially in Africa. Here, rapid and intense population growth will burden the environment as cities expand; demand for food increases; and people, wildlife, and livestock are put in ever closer proximity, increasing risks of zoonotic disease emergence and transmission. Taking a “One Health” approach, or addressing the challenges that emerge where human, animal, and environmental health intersect in a multisectoral, multidisciplinary way, will be critical to pandemic recovery and building resilient food systems. CGIAR, through an emerging portfolio of One Health research initiatives as well as ongoing work including its COVID-19 Hub, is engaged with partners at the forefront of this effort.

This session will provide a lively glimpse into some of that work and engage scientists with audience members to identify solutions for some of the biggest health and food security challenges facing Africa today.

Moderator: Vivian Atakos, Regional Communication Specialist, International Potato Center (CIP)
Panel:

• Steve Staal, Editor Global Food Security, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
• Aminou Arouna, Program Leader & Impact Assessment Economist, AfricaRice Centre
• Dina Najjar, Gender Scientist, International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA)

AGRF Press Briefing (Media Only)

The AGRF is the world's premier forum for African agriculture, bringing together stakeholders in the agricultural landscape to take practical actions and share lessons that will move African agriculture forward. And as part of the contributions to the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS), the 2021 AGRF Summit is expected to yield tangible and concrete outcomes in four areas: Equitable & Inclusive Livelihoods, Build Forward Better, Healthy People and Planet, and Sustainable Food Systems.

This year's AGRF Summit aims to elevate the single coordinated African voice to the UNFSS and identify immediate actions and steps that need to be taken to accelerate progress and recovery towards inclusive agricultural transformation.

Fascinating headliners and thought-provoking sessions will inspire each day's discussions and activities. The daily AGRF press briefings will engage food systems experts, and agriculture specialists will inspire action on African food systems.

Commitments Showcase

These will be 15-minute highlights from key stakeholders and actors in the space highlighting initiatives and commitments to transform food systems and accelerate Africa’s delivery of the 2030 targets.

IKEA Foundation & Rockefeller Foundation Historic $1 Billion Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) Initiative

While funding to support energy transition has increased at a global level, many organizations struggle to identify viable, investment-ready projects. As a result, many emerging economies still depend on unreliable and polluting energy sources. Join IKEA’s CEO Per Heggenes and the Rockefeller Foundation CEO Dr. Rajiv J. Shah at the AGRF 2021 Summit as they showcase their historic $1 Billion Initiative to Catalyze Investments in Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE). Africa is set to benefit from half of this fund, $0.5 billion. This single largest distributed renewable energy initiative aims to reduce 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions and improve 1 billion lives by kick-starting post-pandemic economic recovery and enabling emerging economies to leapfrog to renewable energy. It will deliver clean and reliable power to the 800 million people worldwide who lack electricity, and a further 2.8 billion who have unreliable access. The initiative will be operated through a new global platform will oversee the organizations’ combined matching funds.

• Mr. Per Heggenes, CEO, IKEA Foundation
• Dr. Rajiv Shah, President, Rockefeller Foundation

Food Systems Pathways Perspectives from Regional Dialogues: East

This session will focus on sharing regional perspectives on current and emerging food systems trends. What are the drivers to transition into the new food systems? What are the opportunities we should be harnessing? What will it take?

Moderator: Ms. Thule Lenneiye, Coordinator, ATO

Regional Overview:

• Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, Deputy Secretary, General Productive & Social Sectors, East African Community

Country presentation on key priorities for go forward action:

• Hon. Harry Kimtai, Principal Secretary State Department for Livestock, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation, Kenya
• Prof. Siza Tumbo, Deputy PS, Ministry for Agriculture, United Republic of Tanzania.

Stakeholder Reflections:

• Ms Maggie Kamau-Biruri, Head of Partnerships and Resource Mobilization, HarvestPlus

Food Systems Pathways Perspectives from Regional Dialogues: South

This session will focus on sharing regional perspectives on current and emerging food systems trends. What are the drivers to transition into the new food systems? What are the opportunities we should be harnessing? What will it take?

Moderator:

• Dr. Elizabeth Mkandawire, Network and Research Manager, FSNet-Africa, University of Pretoria

Country presentation on key priorities for go forward action:

• Mr. Momade Nemane, National Director for Cooperation and Market, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADER), Mozambique
• Dr. Rodwell Mzonde, Director of Planning, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Malawi

Stakeholder Reflections:

• Dr. Simon Mwale, Programmes and Grants Manager, Centre for Coordination of Agriculture Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA)

Food Systems Pathways Perspectives from Regional Dialogues: Central

This session will focus on sharing regional perspectives on current and emerging food systems trends. What are the drivers to transition into the new food systems? What are the opportunities we should be harnessing? What will it take?

Moderator:

• Mr. Helder Muteia, FAO Coordinator for Central Africa Sub-Region

Regional Overview:

• Mme. Julie Kasa-Kanga Tshilombo, Coordonnatrice Adjointe de la Coordination des Ressources Extérieures et du Suivi des Projets Présidence de la République, Democratic Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo

Stakeholder Reflections:

• Mr. Divine Ntiokam, Managing Director, Climate Smart Agriculture Youth Network Global (GCSAYN)

Food Systems Pathways Perspectives from Regional Dialogues: West

This session will focus on sharing regional perspectives on current and emerging food systems trends. What are the drivers to transition into the new food systems? What are the opportunities we should be harnessing? What will it take?

Moderator:

• Dr. Abdou Tenkouano, Executive Director CORAF, Senegal

Regional Overview:

• Mr. Sékou SangaréCommissioner for Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Country presentation on key priorities for go forward action:

• Mme. Halimata Cisse Sylla, Chargée d'Etudes, Secrétariat général/MAAH, Burkina Faso
• Mrs. Olushola Idowu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Nigeria

Stakeholder Reflections:

• Ms. Onyaole Patience Koku, Replenish Farms CEO

Food Systems Pathways Perspectives from Regional Dialogues: North

This session will focus on sharing regional perspectives on current and emerging food systems trends. What are the drivers to transition into the new food systems? What are the opportunities we should be harnessing? What will it take?

Moderator:

• Dr. Medhat El-Helepi, United Nations Economic Commission For Africa (UNECA)

Country presentation on key priorities for go forward action:

• H.E. Ehab Badawy, Assistant Minister for Multilateral Affairs and International Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Redouane Arrach, Director of Strategy and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forestry

Stakeholder Reflections:

• Mr. Fayçal Benameur, Senior Vice President of East Africa, OCP
• Br Momodou Ceesay, Senior Sector Lead in Agriculture and Rural Development Islamic Development Bank

Commitments Showcase

These will be 15-minute highlights from key stakeholders and actors in the space highlighting initiatives and commitments to transform food systems and accelerate Africa’s delivery of the 2030 targets.

Centre for African Leaders in Agriculture (CALA)

AGRA’s Centre for African Leaders in Agriculture has been established to provide African Agriculture sector leaders with the practical skills to navigate, coordinate and solve agriculture challenges and therefore improve the implementation of national sector priorities. CALA was set up with funding from the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) through the KfW Development Bank and led by AGRA in collaboration with the African Management Institute (AMI), the Centre’s lead implementer and learning partner, and USAID’s Policy LINK. CALA’s inaugural Advanced Leadership Programme: Collaborative Leadership for Africa’s Food Security and Sustainability includes 80 leaders from government, the private sector and civil society from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Over the first three years (2021 -2023), CALA will enable two cohorts of 160 established and emerging leaders to enhance their capacity to deliver on national agriculture transformation initiatives by providing coaching, engagement in Action Learning Projects based on participants’ work, an online learning series, the attendance of the participants in four leadership forums as well as in the African Green Revolution Forum.

• Thierry Ngoga, AGRA’s Head of Policy and State Capability
• Nungari Mwangi, CALA
• Brenda Wandera, Program Lead for CALA at the African Management Institute (AMI)
• Carla Le Roux, Senior Learning Designer, AMI
• Robert Ouma, Regional Head, Policy LINK

Plenary: Delivering Healthy Diets for People and Planet

Dietary habits are changing in ways that harm human well-being and the planet. Shifting towards a more sustainable diet is critical to improving health while reducing global warming and other environmental impacts. This plenary session will discuss opportunities to shift current trends in all forms of malnutrition, prioritizing nutritious food availability and affordability for all.

Moderator: Ms. Nozipho Tshabalala, Managing Director, Akwande Communications

Framing Remarks: Dr. Gunhild A. Stordalen, Founder and Executive Chair - EAT Forum

• Dr. Gerda Verburg, Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, Assistant Secretary-General
• H.E. Ambassador Josefa Sacko, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE), African Union Commission
• Prof. Sheryl Hendriks, Professor and Head of Department, University of Pretoria
• Mr. Tony Simons, Executive Director, CIFOR-ICRAF
• Dr. Evan Girvetz, Principal Scientist and Global Program Leader, Finance, and Investments for Climate Action, Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)

Commitments Showcase

These will be 15-minute highlights from key stakeholders and actors in the space highlighting initiatives and commitments to transform food systems and accelerate Africa’s delivery of the 2030 targets.

Corteva

Corteva Agriscience is committed to advancing sustainable agriculture to enrich lives and our planet for generations to come. We’ve established 14 goals to achieve by 2030 to help increase the resilience of our global food system. We're in it for good: A mission with purpose

The Elders Council

A pace setting session involving eminent leaders from Africa and around the world discussing the status of food systems in Africa and the urgent need to build resilient systems. Immediate actions and steps that need to be taken to accelerate progress and recovery towards inclusive agricultural transformation will be highlighted.

Moderator:

• Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki, Former Prime Minister, Niger
• Dr Apollos Nwafor, Vice President, Policy and State Capability, AGRA
• H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn, Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Chairperson AGRF Partners Group

Sequence 1: A moderated fire side chat with former Heads of State and Government chaired by H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn, Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Chairperson AGRF Partners Group

Sequence 2: A moderated fire side chat with former Heads of State and Government chaired by H.E. Dessalegn

• H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
• H.E. Dr. Jakaya M. Kikwete, Former President of the United Republic of Tanzania
• H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Former President of Liberia
• H.E. John K. A. Kufuor, Former President of Ghana
• H.E. Lionel Zinsou, Former Prime Minister of Benin

Commitments Showcase

These will be 15-minute highlights from key stakeholders and actors in the space highlighting initiatives and commitments to transform food systems and accelerate Africa’s delivery of the 2030 targets.

Equity Bank

Insights: Are we walking the path to change?

Closing out the day, Insights is a moment for voices with diverse points of view to comment on the day’s activities and bring their insights to the Program. Reflections at end of each day bringing together the varied tracks into common themes and results.

Moderator: Ms. Femi Oke, Co-Founder, Moderate The Panel

• Ms. Betty Kiplagat, Head of Government Affairs at Corteva Agriscience in Africa Middle East, Corteva
• Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Chief Scientist, FAO
• Dr. Jean Lebel, President, International Development Research Centre, Canada
• Mr. Frank Braeken, Partner, Black Volta Ventures/ Board Member, AGRA
• Dr. Joao Campari, Global Leader, Food Practice, WWF
• Dr. Usha Zehr, Director and Chief Technology Officer at Maharastra Hybrid Seeds Company (MAHYCO), Board Member, AGRA