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

Future Food Systems

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. Chinenye (Juliette) Ejezie, Agribusiness Lead at the GCSAYN Secretariat
• Mr. Zacheaus Kafeero, Katikamu Empowered Youth Development Group & Current Youth Lead Ambassador
• Mr. Nshimiyimana Alexandre, Founder and Managing Director, Sanit Wing Ltd

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:

• Ms. Lauri Hanover, SVP Community Agriculture, Netafim
• Mr. Komla Bissi, Senior Advisor on Agricultural Trade and Value Chains, Afcfta

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. Fessou Atasse Tevi, CEO, Give Smile Solutions
• Mr. Bertin Fokou, Founder, WhatsNear
• Ms. Chigozie Bashua, CEO, The Nut Place

Parallel Workshops – AgTech & Digitalization

Accelerating Digital Innovation for Africa’s Food Systems’ Resilience

Although COVID 19 has worsened the existing fault lines in Africa’s food and agriculture sector, it has also accelerated a digital revolution that has fast-tracked the continent's progress in creating more efficient, equitable and environmentally friendly ways to feed the continent’s populace and the globe. To build on this digital transformation opportunity and the rapid integration of digital and innovative technologies within every stage of the agricultural value-chain, it would be important for innovators to ensure that all these innovative solutions address the incidence of needs of African farmers, agribusinesses, policy makers and researchers involved.

This session will focus on concrete outcomes to increase the innovation sustainability of digital solutions for African Agriculture.

Moderator:

• Mr. Akintunde Akinwande, Head Business Development and Digital Projects , OCP Africa, Central Region

Fireside Chat: Matching digital Solutions to Farmers’ Needs

• Hon. Joe Mucheru, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of ICT, Innovation and ICT Affairs
• Mr. Dan Haglund, Advisor, FCDO
• Ms. Maura Barry, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator, USAID

Sequence 1: Leveraging Digital Innovations to Accelerate Food Systems

• Mr. Daniel Asare-Kyei, CEO, Esoko, Ghana
• Mr. Brian King – Coordinator, CGIAR Platform for Big Data
• Mr. Etienne Niyigaba, Agriculture Extension Advisor, Hinga Weze Project in Rwanda
• Ms. Leesa Shrader – Program Director, AgriFin Accelerate (AFA), Mercy Corps
• Mr. Dexter Tangocci, Co-Founder, Integrated Aerial Systems, South Africa
• Dr. Ranveer Chandra - Managing Director, Research for Industry Partner Manager, Networking Research CTO, Agri-Food, Microsoft, USA

Moderator: Mr. Vitalis Wafula, Commercial Director, Africa, Yara East Africa, Kenya

Sequence 2: Strengthening Enabling Environments for Digital Agriculture Public Investments

• Ms. Olekumi Afun-Ogidan, Principal Agribusiness Officer, African Development Bank
• Mr. Boniface Akuku, Director of ICT, KALRO
• Dr. Yifru Tafesse (DBL), Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA), Ethiopia
• Mr. Ken Lohento, Digital Innovation Strategy consultant, FAO
• Dr. Racine Ly, Director of Data Management, Digital Products and Technology, AKADEMIYA2063, Senegal
• Dr. Laurette Dubé, Professor & Scientific Director, McGill University, Canada
• Ms. Elizabeth Mudogo, Senior Manager- Digifarm, Safaricom

Closing remarks
Dr. Boutheina Guermazi, Director Digital Development, World Bank, USA

Parallel Workshops – Trade

Breaking Barriers to Trade for Stronger Food and Nutrition Security in Africa

In order for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to be successfully implemented, African countries will need significant investments in building robust data systems to generate data and information for decision-making. Early warning systems for food and nutrition security are needed to provide alerts on a frequent basis, showing potential areas of surplus and deficits. This will enable different stakeholders to prepare in averting crises, and especially for the private sector to move food from areas of surplus to areas of deficit. To contribute toward the AGRF 2021 outcomes, the Food Trade Coalition for Africa will host two sessions during the AGRF 2021 Summit focused on 1) Removing Barriers to Regional Trade in Food Staples and 2) Building Robust Data Systems: The Regional Food Balance Sheet.

Moderator:

• Mr. Jonathan Said, Head of Inclusive Growth and Private-Sector Development Practice, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

Sequence 1: Panel 1: Breaking the Barriers to Trade for Stronger Food and Nutrition Security in Africa

Keynote Address:

• H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary General, AfCFTA Secretariat
• Dr. Jewel Bronaugh, Deputy Secretary, US Department of Agriculture, USA

Panel Discussion:

• Mr Lobin Lowe, Minister of Agriculture, Malawi
• Mr. Melvin Spreij, Head, Standards and Trade Development Facility, World Trade Organization
• Mr. Gerald Masila, Executive Director, Eastern Africa Grain Council, Kenya
• Ms. Fatma Ben Rejeb, Chief Executive Officer, Pan African Farmer’s Organization
• Dr. Bright Okogu, Chief of Staff to the Director General, World Trade Organization

Sequence 2: Panel 2: Building Strong Food Systems through Inclusive Data Sharing

Moderator:

• Dr. Nalishebo Meebelo, Senior Program Coordinator, ReNAPRI

Keynote Address:

• Hon. Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Trade and Industry; Ghana
• Hon. Adan Mohammed, The Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of East African Community and Northern Corridor Development, Kenya
• H.E Chileshe Kapwepwe, Secretary General, COMESA, Zambia

Panel Discussion:

• Dr. Ade Freeman, Regioal Programme Leader, Regional Office for Africa, FAO
• Mr. Mansoor Ahmad, Team Lead - Africa Agribusiness Investment & Regional Food Trade, Foreign and Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
• Dr. Beth Dunford, Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, African Development Bank

Parallel Workshops – Generation Africa

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

Generation Africa is taking this bold step of proactively examining the state of the ecosystem supporting young Agripreneurs and prescribing the effective interventions to achieving a strong support structure. The overall objective is to achieve well organized and coordinated national ecosystems supporting youth through their entrepreneurship journey across Africa. This will enable easy entry for youth in the food systems and promote their chances of success. In the end, healthy ecosystems will reduce the rate of youth unemployed and under-employed by encouraging and increasing the youth participation in agribusiness as self-employed and employers of fellow youth.

The Ecosystem Development Framework (EDF) initiative will help countries shift from information and studies to a framework approach to strengthen the collaboration and coordination of youth support. This will ease entry for youths into agricultures as well as promote success in their ventures.

Moderator:

• Dr. Simon Winter CHBS, Executive Director, Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture

Keynote Remarks:

• Hon. Rosemary Mbabazi, Minister for Youth and Culture, Rwanda
• Ms. Solange Tetero, Director General, Youth Empowerment, , Ministry of Youth of Rwanda
• Mr. Pierre Ferrari, President and Chief Executive Officer – Heifer International
• Dr. Donal Brown, Associate Vice-President, Program Management Department-IFAD
• Ms. Jane Lowicki-Zucca, Senior Youth Advisor & Program Officer, Inclusive Development Division – USAID
• Mr. Edson Mpyisi, Chief Financial Economist/Coordinator, Enable Youth – African Development Bank (AfDB)
• Ms. Elizabeth Berthe, Associate Director, MSC Microsave
• Mr. Eric Onchanga, Founder of IrriHub, Youth GoGettaz
• Mrs. Fernanda Lopes Larsen, Executive Vice President Africa & Asia, Yara International

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.

Innovator: Heifer International

Africa’s greatest asset, her youth population is rapidly growing and expected to double by 2050.

We understand that youth engagement in agriculture will be essential to recovering from the economic impact of the pandemic, both to rejuvenate the continent’s agri-food system and develop economic opportunities for young Africans. Furthermore, this engagement will bring about the strategic shift needed to secure a sustainable and dynamic future for Africa’s smallholder farmers and Africa’s agricultural sector.

For this reason, Heifer is working with young African entrepreneurs to catalyze ground-up innovation from the youth, creating social businesses that address challenges faced by smallholder farmers at scale, and elevating agriculture as a desirable career. The passion and energy of young Africans can become the driving force of agricultural transformation and job creation in Africa. We are committed to addressing smallholder farmers challenges in Africa and providing a new incentive for young Africans to be bold, innovative and creative in solving food system issues across the continent.

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 the 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 Coco Reinarhz (Burundian, based SA)
• Chef Pinky Maruping (SA)

Participatory Event

Launch of 2021 Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor (AATM)

African countries have diversified both their exports and trade partners over the last decade, but African agricultural trade still suffers from structural problems as well as exogenous shocks. Against this backdrop, the 2021 Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor (AATM) analyzes continental and regional trends in African agricultural trade flows and policies. The report reveals that many African countries continue to enjoy the most success in global markets with cash crops and niche products.

The AATM is produced as a collaborative effort between AKADEMIYA2063 and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Session participants will discuss the research findings and policy recommendations of the 2021 AATM, an annual publication dedicated to addressing intra-African agricultural trade and informing AfCFTA implementation.

• Ms. Sara Mbago-Bhunu, Director, East and Southern Africa Division, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
• Dr. Godfrey Bahiigwa, Director, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission, Ethiopia
• Dr. James Oehmke, Acting Division Chief, Bureau for Resilience and Food Security, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), USA
• Dr. Ousmane Badiane, Executive Chairperson, AKADEMIYA2063, Senegal
• Mr. Yves Bernard Ningabire, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Rwanda
• Dr. Johan Swinnen, Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) & Global Director, Systems Transformation, CGIAR, USA
• Dr. Silver Ojakol, Chief of Staff, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, Ghana
• Dr. Maximo Torero Cullen, Chief Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Italy
• Dr. Heike Hoeffler, Project Lead, Agricultural Trade, Agribusiness, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Germany

AGRF Press Briefing (Media Only)

Launch of 2021 Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor (AATM)

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.

AGRA, WBCSD, CropLife, & AFAP: Deal Room Letters of Intent Signing

Walking the Path to 2030: Commitments Framework

The pathways to transformed food systems demand more vision, resources, creativity, and energy. Collectively we must better align the nutritional needs of our people with the livelihoods of our rural population and fate of our planet. Putting this into action takes will. It also demands accountability. Hear from those working in the Deal Room to fund new entrepreneurship in Africa; those who are investing in the infrastructure to develop our continent; those who providing nutrition in new ways; and the innovators who are leading us to better resilience. This is the future of food systems and arriving there before 2030 is essential.

Moderator: Mr. Jeff Koinange, Citizen TV. Video Presentation

• H.E. Amb. Kamau Macharia, MBS, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ms. Maura Barry, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Resilience and Food Security, USAID
• Dr. Beth Dunford, Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, African Development Bank
• Mr. Leslie Maasdorp, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, New Development Bank
• Dr. Kundhavi Kadiresan, Managing Director for Global Engagement and Innovation, CGIAR
• Mr. Kunal Prasad, COO and CoFounder, CropIn
• Dr. Roy Steiner, Managing Director of Food Initiative at The Rockefeller Foundation
• Mr. Jai Shroff, Global CEO, UPL
• Mr. Dominik Ziller, Vice President, IFAD

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

AGRA Value Chains

Call to Action: Implementation and Governance & Closing Ceremony

As a continent, Africa has several frameworks and commitments which most countries are signatories to including the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Malabo framework, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Africa’s Agenda2063 to name just a few. Despite these lofty and well-crafted programs and frameworks, implementing these commitments, frameworks and declarations for economic growth and shared prosperity has been one that will be classified as collective and collaborative failure due to the lack of collaborative leadership and coordination.

It is time to walk the talk and deliver economic growth, sustainable development and resilient food system through collaborative coordination, transformative governance framework, the right institutional architecture, sector governance and adequate public expenditure that catalyses private sector investments.

This session will therefore afford leaders from the private sector, farmers, civil society, development partners and government (Executive and Legislative branches, national and sub-national), the opportunity to discuss how best to walk the talk, strengthen integrated policy processes, ensure inter-agency collaboration and coordination, engagement of all stakeholders (private sector) and deliver a transformative food system for the continent.

Moderator: Ms. Jennifer Baarn, Acting Managing Director AGRF and Head of Partnerships, AGRA

Sequence 1: Delivering economic growth, sustainability and resilience by 2030

• Dr. James Nyoro, Governor, Kiambu County, Kenya
• Mr. Erik Fyrwald, CEO and Executive Director, Syngenta
• Dr. Godfrey Bahiigwa, ARBE Director, African Union African
• Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, Deputy Governor, Kaduna State Government
• Ms. Lucy Muchoki, CEO, Pan-African Agribusiness and Agroindustry Consortium (PanAAC)
• Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, Deputy Secretary General, Productive and Social Sectors, East African Community

Sequence 2: Closing Ceremony

• Ms. Jennifer Baarn, Acting Managing Director AGRF and Head of Partnerships, AGRA
• Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA and UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Food Systems Summit
• Hon. Peter G. Munya, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperative (Kenya)
• H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Chairperson AGRF Partners Group