Farmers across the African continent are being challenged to increase the resilience of their crops, farms, and livelihoods in the face of accelerating environmental degradation and tumultuous trade links. Balancing food and nutritional security, income stability, and a positive relationship with the natural world presents a compelling challenge, but a refreshed approach to how farmers use and think about crop cultivation may offer a path to true resilience and prosperity.

Regenerative agriculture recognizes that farmers live in harmony with their farms, and that the health of their cropping conditions is tantamount to the health of their crops. Offering a pragmatic framework of actions, from crop diversification, to agroforestry, and cover cropping, regenerative agricultural interventions offer farmers a broad spectrum of resilience outcomes, from hardier crops, reduced water intensification, and manifold biodiversity benefits. But chief among these outcomes – and central to their realization – is soil health. Building and preserving the health of soils provides immediate and long-term benefits to farmers and the food system, integrating regenerative practices as a first principle while acknowledging and championing the natural technologies contained within soils as the reactive area for healthy crops, predictable yields, and even soil-carbon sequestration.

Moderator: Ms. Susan Chomba, Director of Vital Landscapes for Africa, WRI

Welcome Remarks and introduction:

• Ms. Barbara Stinton, President, The World Food Prize Foundation

Keynote remarks

• Dr. Cynthia Rosenzweig, 2022 World Food Prize Laureate and Climatologist and Senior Research Scientist, NASA

Fireside Chat – Raising Our Ambitions for Climate Action

• Mr. Mohamed Mohieldin, Egyptian High-Level Champion for Climate
• Mr. Nigel Topping, UK High-Level Champion for Climate
• Mr. Patrick Verkoijjen, CEO, Global Center for Adaptation

Panel Discussion 1

• H.E. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, Egypt
• Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Niger
• Mr. Zhenghua Xie, Special Envoy of Climate Change, China
• Prof. Joachim von Braun, Director of the Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn
• Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
• Prof. Saleemul Huq, Director, International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD)
• Ms. Razan Al Mubarak, President, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Panel Discussion 2

• Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mozambique
• Ms. Bogolo Kenewendo, Africa Director, UN Climate Change High-Level Champions
• Ms. Sara Mbago-Bhunu, Director East and Southern Africa Division, IFAD and Commissioner, Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification (COSAI)
• Mr. Enock Chikava, Acting Director, Agricultural Development, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Mr. Ibrahima Cheikh-Diong, UN-ASG and CEO, Africa Risk Capacity Group
• Mr. Santiago Alba-Corral, Director, Climate Resilient Food Programs, IDRC
• Amb. Asghar Ali Golo, Pakistani Ambassador to the African Union

Moderator Wrap Up Remarks

Agriculture in Africa has a massive social and economic footprint. More than 60 percent of the population of sub-Saharan Africa is smallholder farmers, and about 23 percent of sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP comes from agriculture. Yet, Africa’s full agricultural potential remains untapped. Realizing Africa’s full agricultural potential will require significant investment. Sub-Saharan Africa will need eight times more fertilizer, six times more improved seed, at least $8 billion of investment in basic storage (not including cold-chain investments for horticulture or animal products), and as much as $65 billion in irrigation to fulfill its agricultural promise.

This session brings in key private sector players, financiers and development partners to agree on a roadmap to realise Africa's full agriculture potential.

Moderator:

• Mr. Khalid Bomba, Managing Director, Agrifood Transformation Agency Support Center (TASC)

Framing Remarks – The Latest Evidence

• Mr. Jeff Dykstra, Co-Founder & CEO, Partners in Food Solutions

Fireside Chat – Raising Our Ambitions

• Mr. Aliko Dangote, Founder and CEO, Dangote group

Panel Discussion – The Latest Business Efforts

• Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nigeria
• Mr. Vimal Shah, CEO, BIDCO
• Ms. Hanneke Faber, President of Foods & Refreshment, Unilever
• Mr. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, CEO, DP World
• Mr. Daan Wensing, CEO, IDH
• Mr. Frank Braeken, AGRA Board Member
• Dr. Benedict Oramah, President, Afrexim Bank

Closing Remarks – Country and Regional Leadership

• Hon. Moussa Baldé, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Equipment, Senegal

Moderator Wrap-Up Remarks

In the AU Year of Nutrition, African governments and their partners have been challenged to ensure nutrition is at the forefront of priorities and action plans for COVID-19 response and recovery. A strong base of political will is present, as advancing healthy diets from sustainable food systems emerged as the #1 priority of African countries coming out of the UN Food

Systems Summit, with more than 90% of countries including this in their national pathways for food systems transformation. But this is ambitious priority, requiring work not just on increasing productivity, but also on increasing accessibility, desirability, affordability, and sustainability. It requires leadership across the board, advocating for adequate financing, implementation capacity, and coordination to drive effective implementation.

With the leadership of First Ladies across the continent – drawing in coalitions from community to global level – this session will elevate and champion the transformative actions and investments needed to increase access to healthy diets today, while also protecting the environment and climate for the future.

Facilitator: Ms. Fiona Mbabazi, Anchor

Co-host Welcome Remarks

• H.E. Roman Tesfaye, Former First Lady of Ethiopia
• H.E. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission

Framing Remarks - The Latest Evidence

• Dr. Gunhild Stordalen, Founder and Executive Chair, EAT Forum and Founder, Food Forward Consortium

Guest of Honor Remarks –

• H.E. Jeannette Kagame, First Lady of Rwanda

Roundtable Discussion of First Ladies and Experts in Healthy Diets & Nutrition

Moderator: Ms. Redi Tlhabi, Anchor, UN Global Journalists Corps

First Ladies in attendance

• Hon. Minister of Health
• Hon. Minister of Agriculture
• H.E. Auxillia Mnangagwa, First Lady, Republic of Zimbabwe
• H.E. Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar
• Ms. Kate Hampton, CEO, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF)
• H.E. Gerda Verburg, Coordinator, Scaling Up Nutrition Movement
• Chef Sam Kass, Food Entrepreneur
• Chef Marcus Samuelsson, Ethiopian-Swedish Chef
• Ms. Nancy Roman, President and CEO, Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA)
• Prof. Ruth Oniang’o, Founder and Director, Rural Outreach Africa

Announcement of Winner WAYA competition

Award Presenter & Speakers

• Attending First Lady
• Ms. Hajia Salamatu Garba, WAYA 2021 winner

Award Winners: TBC

Award Judges

• Ms. Betty Kiplagat, Government Affairs Leader, Africa & the Middle East, Corteva
• Ms. Marieme Esther Dassanou, AFAWA Coordinator, African Development Bank (AfDB)
• Ms. Robynne Anderson, President, Emerging Ag Inc

Moderator Wrap Up Remarks

Presentation of Strategic investment opportunities targeted at private sector investors looking to set up operations or trade with the country, Development Finance Institutions supporting implementation of public projects, financial providers providing both debt and equity financing to ag-businesses and institutional investors financing large projects.

Moderator:

• Dr. Godfrey Bahiigwa, Director of Agriculture and Rural Development, AUC and Coordinator of the AU Response Group

Host Welcome Remarks:

• H.E. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, Commissioner, African Union

Framing Remarks on the Abuja Declaration

• H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President, Nigeria, and Outgoing Chair of the Africa Food Prize Committee

Presentation on Progress, Priorities and Issues

• Dr. Godfrey Bahiigwa, Director of Agriculture and Rural Development, AUC and Coordinator of the AU Response Group
• Mr. Christian Witt, Senior Program Officer, Soil Health, BMGF

Fireside Chat:

• Prof. Richard Mkandawire, Vice President, African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership
• Mr. Albin Hubsher, President and CEO, IFDC
• Mr. Svein Tore Holsether, CEO, Yara International ASA
• Mr. Mostafa Terrab, CEO, OCP Group

Panel Discussion:

• Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Ethiopia
• Hon. Mohamed Sadiki, Minister of Agriculture, Morocco
• Mr. Bimal Kantaria, CEO, Elgon Kenya
• Prof. Pedro Sanchez, Director, Agriculture & Food Security Center
• Ms. Alzbeta Klein, CEO and Director General, International Fertilizer Association (IFA)
• Ms. Marie Claire Kalihangabo, Coordinator of the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM), AfDB
• Mr. Michael Sudarkasa, CEO, AFAP
• Mr. Tom Kehoe, Deputy Director, Africa Agriculture, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Mr. Bashir Jama, Agricultural Development Expert, Islamic Development Bank
• Mr. Kolyang Palebele, President, Pan-African Farmers Organization (PAFO)

Closing Remarks by:

• H.E. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission

Presentation of Strategic investment opportunities targeted at private sector investors looking to set up operations or trade with the country, Development Finance Institutions supporting implementation of public projects, financial providers providing both debt and equity financing to ag-businesses and institutional investors financing large projects.

Africa is not on track to meet the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADPs) and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2) targets to end hunger and ensure access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food by 2025 and 2030 respectively. Against this backdrop, The AGRF 2022 comes at a pivotal time, in Africa’s recovery and progress towards the attainment of sustainability and resilient agricultural-led economic transformation. In order to fast-track actions toward national food systems transformation the Policy and State Capability Thematic platform will host the Ministerial Roundtable, convening the foremost leaders on the continent.

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

• Fadel Ndiame, AGRA
• H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Chair, AGRF Partners Group and Former Prime Minister, Ethiopia
• H.E. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission
• African Ministers

Currently 95% of climate finance is supplied by public sources and allocated towards low-hanging fruit to mitigate climate change. To get beyond the low-hanging fruit the world will have to consider smaller investment opportunities that, in aggregate, can significantly adapt to climate change in Africa. If no action is taken, climate impacts in Africa will lead to overall yield reductions of up to 30% by 2050, while extreme weather events will result in higher post-harvest quality and quantity losses.

This session will explore how to effectively attract more funding to the agri-SME sector to achieve this aim while managing the risks.

Moderator

• Mr. Patrick Verkoijjen, CEO, Global Center for Adaptation

Presentation of the Key Findings of the Climate Investment Research

• Mr Mathias Hague, Research Lead, CASA

Speakers:

• Ms Fiona Napier, Africa Nature Lead, UNFCC Climate Champions team
• Dr. Catherine Nakalembe, Lead, NASA Harvest
• Ms. Thouraya Tiriki, Director, Sustainable production, markets and institutions, IFAD
• Ms. Daniela Chiriac, Global Lab for Climate Finance, Climate Policy Initiative
• Mr. Jerry Parkes, CEO, Injaro Investments and ABC Fund
• Mr. Abdulmajid M. Nsekela, CEO, CRDB
• Mr. Shailendra Mishra, Head of Climate, Environment & Natural Capital, Olam Group
• Mr. Samir Ibrahim, CEO Sunculture
• Boston Consulting Group Representative

Introduction
Moderator: Ms. Nozipho Mbanjwa, Anchor

Opening Video - Grow. Nourish. Reward – Bold Actions for Resilient Food Systems

Welcome from the Host Government

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

AGRF Remarks

• Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President, AGRA and Host of the AGRF Secretariat
• H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Chair, AGRF Partners Group and Former Prime Minister, Ethiopia

Presidential Keynote Remarks

• H.E Paul Kagame, President, Rwanda

The road to COP and Commitments to action

• Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP, Secretary of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, United Kingdom
• Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, Secretary-General, Commonwealth Secretariat
• Mr. Alvaro Lario, President-Elect, IFAD
• Mr. Rodger Voorhies, President, Global Growth & Opportunity, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Mrs. Reeta Roy, President, Mastercard Foundation
• Mr. Akinwumi Adesina, President, AfDB (video)

Presidential Panel
Invited Heads of State and Government

• H.E. President, Rwanda
• H.E. President, Senegal and Chair of the AU
• H.E. President, Zambia
• H.E. President, Tanzania
• H.E. Prime Minister, Morocco
• H.E. President, Zimbabwe
• H.E. President, Mozambique
• H.E. President, Malawi
• H.E. President, Niger
• H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson, AUC
• H.E. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, UN

Call to Action Beans Challenge

• Chef Marcus Samuelsson, Ethiopian-Swedish Chef
• Chef Sam Kass, Food Entrepreneur
• Chef Dieuveil Malonga, Food Entrepreneur, Congo-Brazzaville
• Mr. Paul Newnham, Coordinator, SDG2 Advocacy Hub

End of Ceremony and Official Photo

A celebration of the Africa Food Prize Laureate, as the premier award showcasing individuals or institutions helping transform African food systems and agriculture. VIP attendees to include all Members of the Africa Food Prize Committee, all former Africa Food Prize Laureates, and CEOs of Africa Food Prize Funders.

Introduction
Moderator: Mr. Georgie Ndirangu, Anchor

Opening Video

Winner GoGettaz Competition

• Grand Prize Award: Award Presenter TBC
• Impact Award: Award Presenter TBC
• Award Prize Winner Speeches
• Grand Prize Award: Winner TBC
• Impact Award: Winner TBC

Africa Food Prize

Speakers:

• H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President, Nigeria and Outgoing Chair of the Africa Food Prize Committee
• H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, Incoming Chair, Africa Food Prize Committee and Former President
• Award prize winner

Presenters of the Africa Food Prize Award on stage

Award Prize Winner Speech

Dinner & Celebration

Following a successful inaugural session in 2021, this year’s Council of the Wise aims to encourage African leaders to increase funding to the agriculture sector, meeting CAADP, SDGs and Food Systems targets by 2030 and to solicit stronger accountability of the AGRF partners in delivering on commitments.

Moderator: Ms. Nozipho Mbanjwa, Anchor

Welcome Remarks

• Ms. Jennifer Baarn, Managing Director, AGRF

Framing Keynote Remarks: Our Future with Business as Usual

• Mr. Maximo Torero, Chief Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Council of the Wise Panel Discussion

• H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Chair, AGRF Partners Group and Former Prime Minister, Ethiopia
• H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President, Nigeria and Outgoing Chair of the Africa Food Prize Committee
• H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, Former President, Tanzania and Incoming Chair of the Africa Food Prize Committee
• H.E. John Kufuor, Former President, Ghana
• H.E. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Former President, Liberia
• H.E. Joyce Banda, Former President, Malawi
• H.E. Lionel Zinsou, Former Prime Minister, Benin
• H.E. Ibrahim Hassane Mayaki, Former Prime Minister, Niger
• Rt. Hon. Tony Blair, Executive Chairman, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
• H.E. Mary Therese Winifred Robinson, Former President of Ireland, and chair of the Women Leaders Network
• Mr. Tidjiane Thiam, Former CEO, Credit Suisse
• Mr. Donald Kaberuka, Former President, AfDB

Moderator Closing Remarks

Co-Moderators:

• H.E. Amb. David Lane, President, The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands
• Ms. Frannie Leautier, Senior Partner, SouthBridge Group and CEO, SouthBridge Investments

Fireside Chat:

• Amb. Cindy McCain, United Nations Permanent Representative to UN Agencies in Rome
• Hon. Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Rwanda
• Mr. Mostafa Terrab, CEO, OCP Group

Roundtable Discussion 1

• Hon. Minister of Agriculture
• Hon. Minister of Agriculture
• Mr. Svein Tore Holsether, President and Chief Executive Officer Yara
• Mr. Mostafa Terrab, CEO, OCP Group
• Mr. Erik Fyrwald, CEO, Syngenta
• Mr. Jai Shroff, CEO, UPL
• Mr. Vimal Shah, CEO, BIDCO
• Ms. Elizabeth Nsimadala, President, East African Farmers Federation
• Mr. Alvaro Lario, President-Elect, IFAD
• Mr. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, CEO, DP World
• Mr. Ramon Laguarta, CEO, Pepsico
• Mr. Nick Barigye, CEO, Rwanda Finance Limited
• Mr. James Mwangi, CEO, Equity Bank
• Ms. Geraldine Matchett, Co-CEO, Royal DSM
• Mr. Faustin Mbundu Kananura, Executive Chairman, MFK Group Rwanda
• Mr. Joost Oorthuizen, CEO, Invest International
• Mr. Ulf Mark Schneider, CEO, Nestle (video)

Roundtable Discussion 2

• Ms. Delphine Traore, Regional CEO, Allianz Africa
• Mr. Venkataramani Srivathsan, Director Africa and the Middle East, Olam
• Mr. Sean de Cleene, Member of the Executive Committee, Head of the Future of Food, World Economic Forum
• Dr. Wai-Chan Chan, Managing Director, Consumer Goods Forum
• Mr. Cheikh Oumar Seydi, Director for Africa, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Dr. Beth Dunford, Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, African Development Bank
• Ms. Viktoria de Bourbon de Parme, Food and Agriculture Transformation Lead, World Benchmarking Alliance
• Dr. Jewel Branaugh, Deputy Secretary, USDA
• Mr. Ekko Oosterhuis, Managing Director, Silverlands Tanzania ltd.

Moderator Closing Remarks

Perhaps the most critical component of Food Systems in Africa, certainly the most visible to the majority of Households, is the Food Market. Households across the continent depend on food markets to provide them with access to nutrition. However, with recent disruptions caused by COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war, how can we build diverse food markets that will secure our most vulnerable communities against malnutrition and undernutrition?

Moderator: Ms. Lindiwe Sibanda, Co-Chair, Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture (GACSA)

Welcome and Framing Remarks:

• Ms. Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, Founder of Nourishing Africa and Managing Partner, Sahel Consulting

Panel Discussion

• Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nigeria
• Mr. Daan Wensing, CEO, IDH,
• Mr. Nico Janssen, Programme Manager, Agricultural Livelihoods, IKEA Foundation
• H.E. Lionel Zinsou, Board Member, Danone and Former Prime Minister of Benin
• Mr. Chris Hegadorn, Secretary, Committee on World Food Security (CFS)
• Ms. Betelhem Lakew, Youth Leader, #Act4Food #Act4Change
• Ms. Lynn Brown, Director of Alliances and Policy, HarvestPlus
• Mr. Mohamed Fall, Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, UNICEF
• Mr. Ibrahima Coulibaly, Network of Farmers and Producers Organizations in West Africa (ROPPA)

COVID-19 has exacerbated challenges to Africa’s food and agriculture sector and to its millions of smallholder farmers. At the same time, the pandemic has accelerated innovative efforts to develop and deploy the transformative power of digital technology to address these problems in ways that leapfrog past practices and traditional solutions. This session will showcase the latest on new digital technologies and infrastructure developments targeted at farmers and SMEs across the continent.

Moderator:

• Ms. Robynne Anderson, President, Emerging Ag Inc

Welcome and Framing Remarks:

• Mr. Martin Fregene, Director of Agriculture and Agro-Industry, African Development Bank

Keynote Remarks:

• Mr. Simeon Ehui, Regional Director for Sustainable Development for Africa, World Bank
• Ms. Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman and Managing Director, Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited (TAFE)

Panel Discussion:

• Hon. Hussein Mohamed Bashe, Minister of Agriculture, Tanzania
• Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Côte d’Ivoire
• Ms. Kristina Skierka, CEO, Power for All
• Mr. Elad Levi, Vice President, Head of Middle East & Africa, Netafim
• Mr. Nel Stephan, Head of Sales, East Africa & Middle East, John Deere Africa Middle East
• Dr. Canisius K. Kanangire, CEO, African Agriculture Technology Foundation (AATF)
• Mr. Mike Michener, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Resilience and Food Security, USAID
• Mr. Bram Govaerts, Director General, CIMMYT

Closing Remarks

The Global South has a majority of the world’s population and landmass, and, according to the OECD, may also account for a majority of world GDP by 2030. In this session, leaders from Africa, Asia and the Americas will share experiences, lessons and ambitions for the next phase of development. Cooperation is paramount, with the session revealing how countries in the Global South can forge, then leverage, closer political, economic, financial and cultural ties; solving shared problems while creating new opportunities.

Moderator:

• Mr. Juan Lucas Restrepo, Global Director of Partnerships and Advocacy, CGIAR and Director-General of the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)

Co-Host Welcome Remarks

• Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President, AGRA
• Dr. Manuel Otero, Director General, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)

Framing Remarks on Africa-Americas Cooperation

• Prof. Jean Jacques Muhinda, Regional Head, East Africa, AGRA
• Mr. Jorge Werthein, Senior Adviser to the Director General, IICA

Fireside Chat: South-South Cooperation

• Prof. Shenggen Fan, Professor Chair, China Agricultural University
• Dr. Godfrey Bahiigwa, Director of Agriculture and Rural Development, AUC and Coordinator of the AU Response Group
• Dr. Naoko Ishii, Executive Vice President, Director for Center for Global Commons, University of Tokyo, Japan

Roundtable Discussion

• Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mozambique
• Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development , Togo
• H.E. Amb. Christine Nkulikiyinka, CEO, Rwanda Cooperation Initiative
• Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Argentina
• Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Brazil
• Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Barbados
• Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Guyana
• Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Mexico
• Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Republic of Costa Rica
• Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Suriname
• Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Bahamas
• Mr. Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, Confederation of Indian Industries
• Mr. Zavi Apfelbaum, Head of Global Partnership Developmen, Israel Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV)
• Ms. Bev Postma, Executive Director, Grow Asia
• Amb. Asghar Ali Golo, Pakistani Ambassador to the African Union
• Dr. Jacqueline d'Arros Hughes, Director-General, ICRISAT

Moderator Closing Remarks

Regional food trade is one of the pathways for Africa’s recovery. It can be a critical driver in building resilient food systems and an important engine for sustainable economic growth. The intended outcome of this session will be to gather commitments and encourage governments to align national and regional strategies and policies to support the successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area. Furthermore, this session will also seek to gain commitment from development partners and private sector, to support the building of robust data systems to strengthen and inform food and nutrition security, trade policies, address constraints to food trade, and guide investment decisions in regional food value chains in Africa.

Moderator: Mr. Brian King, Lead of the Platform for Big Data in Agriculture, CGIAR

Welcome and Framing Remarks:

• Mr. Daniel Njiwa, Head of Regional Food Trade and Secretariat, Regional Food Trade Coalition

Presentation of the Key Findings of the Africa Trade Status Monitor (ASTM)

• Dr. Apollos Nwafor, Vice-President, Policy & State Capability, AGRA
• Dr. Ousmane Badiane, Founder and Executive Chairperson, Akademiya 2063

Panel Discussion:

• Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Ghana
• Hon. Minister of Trade, Zambia
• Mr. Wamkele Mene, Secretary General, AfCFTA - African Continental Free Trade Area
• Hon. Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, President, ECOWAS Commission
• Hon. Chileshe Kapwepwe, Secretary-General, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
• Ms. Clara Park, Regional Gender Officer for the Asia and the Pacific, FAO
• Ms. Annie Kneedler, Vice President, Social Sustainability, Cargill
• Ms. Debbie Palmer, Director for Africa, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
• Ms. Maura Barry Boyle, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Resilience & Food Security, USAID
• Mr. Bomi Fagbemi, CEO, Bioloop
• Mr. Ishmael Sunga, CEO, Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU)
• Mr. Frank Matsaert, CEO, TradeMark East Africa (TMEA)
• Mr John Oppong-Otoo, Food Safety Specialist, AU

Launch of The Regional Food Balance Sheet

• Keynote Remarks:
• Hon. Chileshe Kapwepwe, Secretary-General, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
• Ms. Debbie Palmer, Director for Africa, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
• Minister for Trade, Rwanda
• Minister for Agriculture Malawi

Regional Food Balance Sheet Launch

Closing remarks by the moderator

Heifer International is sponsoring the 2022 Pitch AgriHack Competition, targeting 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.

Welcome remarks

• Ms. Sherrie Silver, UN IFAD Advocate for Rural Youth, Emcee for Generation Africa
• Mr. Dickson Naftali, Head, Generation Africa

Judges:

• Mr. Jehiel Oliver, Founder & CEO, Hello Tractor
• Mr. Dayo Adoruja, Youth & Innovation Lead, Heifer International
• Mr. Peris Bosire, Founder & CEO, FarmDrive
• Ms. Isis Nyon’go Madison, Principal, Asphalt & Ink
• H.E. Joe Mucheru, EGH, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Kenya

Pitch AgriHack Finalists Pitches

• 12 Young Agripreneur Finalists pitches

Closing remarks and word of thanks

• Ms. Jennifer Baarn, Managing Director, AGRF
• Mr. Dickson Naftali, Head, Generation Africa

Presentation of Strategic investment opportunities targeted at private sector investors looking to set up operations or trade with the country, Development Finance Institutions supporting implementation of public projects, financial providers providing both debt and equity financing to ag-businesses and institutional investors financing large projects.

In Africa, the population of young people is growing rapidly. In 2015, 226 million youth aged 15-24 lived in Africa. By 2030, it is projected that the number of youths in Africa will have increased by 42 per cent. Africa’s youth population is expected to continue to grow throughout the remainder of the 21st century, more than doubling from current levels by 2055 . Agriculture provides the single most important platform for employment, income generation and food security and can drive poverty reduction through increased productivity, value addition and links to other sectors.

The youth population has however not been well harnessed for Agriculture and food systems transformation. Most young people don’t often see a future in agriculture; they see it as a back breaking labour that is a preserve of the uneducated people. They also face series of hurdles, including access to land, finance, and other productive resources necessary to start a viable agriculture-based livelihood. This consequently leads to youth taking up agriculture as the last remedy amongst other business and employment opportunities.

Moderator: Mr. Georgie Ndirangu

Special Guest Remarks

• Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President, AGRA and Host of the AGRF Secretariat

In Conversation with African Youth

• H.E. President, Senegal
• Mr. Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Executive Chairman, Econet
• Ms. Reeta Roy, President and CEO, Mastercard Foundation
• Ms. Barbara Stinton, President, The World Food Prize Foundation and World Food Prize Winner

Youth Panel: Nothing About Us, Without Us

• Youth speakers

Closing remarks:

• Rt. Hon. Édouard Ngirente, Prime Minister of Rwanda

In agriculture and food systems, when women are enabled to access resources, they are well able to not only increase agricultural productivity but also increased income that contributes to better adaptation to climate change through technologies that contribute to sustainable farming and conservation.

This session will unpack opportunities for directing investments to women led ag businesses. Using an evidence-based approach, the session will create a platform for establishing scalable mechanisms that build resilience in agriculture and food systems while demonstrating the impact of access to resources for this group. As women are very often on the frontline of livelihoods and adapting to the effects of climate change, they are powerful agents of change and promoters of adaptation and mitigation action. Their knowledge and experience make for a compelling business case to achieve lasting changes leading to positive development outcomes and tangible impact.

Moderator: Ms. Aggie Konde, Vice President, AGRA

Welcome and Framing Remarks:

• Ms. Sabdiyo Dido, SME and Gender Expert

Keynote Remarks:

• Hon. Prof. Jeannette Bayisenge, Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Rwanda
• Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development, Global Affairs Canada

Panel Discussion - Women-Led Businesses

Moderator: Ms. Redi Tlhabi, Anchor, UN Global Journalists Corps

• Ms. Sakina Usengimana, CEO and Founder Rwanda AFRI foods Fresh food export
• Ms. Adanne Uche, CEO, Ady’s Food Mart
• Ms. Sipamandla Manqele, Founder, Local Village Foods
• Ms. Towera Jalakasi, Founder Malawi Naturals Limited

Presenting New Evidence on Women and Climate Adaptation & Nutrition

• Dr. Suzan Kaaria, Director, AWARD
• Dr. Nicoline de Haan, Platform Director, CGIAR GENDER Platform
• Mr. Tony Simons, Executive Director, CIFOR-ICRAF

Panel Discussion - Supporting SME Growth

Moderator: Ms. Redi Tlhabi, Anchor, UN Global Journalists Corps

• Ms. Beauty Manake, Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, Botswana
• Dr. Dominic Charron, Vice President, Programs and Partnerships, IDRC
• Ms. Christine Campeau, Global Advocacy Director, Food Systems, CARE
• Ms. Vicki Wilde, Senior Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Mr. Mehrdad Ehsani, Vice President for the Food Initiative in Africa, The Rockefeller Foundation
• Ms. Victoria Sabula, CEO, Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF)

Alongside unprecedented growth in plant-based diets and vegan outlooks in light of climate change and concerns for animal welfare in the mass production of meat, alternative proteins in the form of meat-like products have grown in popularity alongside legumes. While legumes already form a large proportion of protein-sources for diets in the Global South and also increasingly in the North, meat-like products are still yet to dominate market share. In taste, texture and price, alternative proteins are, however, quickly matching their conventional counterparts.

In many places they have gone mainstream, and are expected to comprise more than 10% of the overall protein market by 2035. Building on both scientific and indigenous knowledge, this session outlines the investments, policies, technologies and innovations required to drive the next phase of growth in sustainable, affordable alternatives to traditional, input-heavy food sources. In an era of climate change, and expanding issues of food security, the commercial, ecological and developmental dividends are clear.

Moderator

Welcome and Framing Remarks:

• Mr. Sean de Cleene, Member of the Executive Committee, Head of the Future of Food, World Economic Forum

Keynote Remarks:

• Hon. Mariam Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, United Arab Emirates and Co-Lead, Food Innovation Hubs

Panel Discussion:

• Mr. Eugene Kandel, CEO, Start Up Nation Central
• Mr. Kees Aarts, Founder and CEO, Protix
• Ms. Kefilwe Moalosi, Acting Head of Nutrition at AUDA-NEPAD
• Rockefeller Representative

Closing Remarks and Special Announcement

• Hon. Gerardine Mukeshimana, Minister of Agriculture & Animal Resources
• Mayor City of Kigali

This session will highlight AGRA’s results and journey since 2006 as well as the new strategy for 2023-2027. This platform provides an opportunity to reengage existing participants and potential partners to showcase AGRA’s continuous effort in leveraging its learnings to deliver stronger, more resilient food systems on the continent.

Presentation of Strategic investment opportunities targeted at private sector investors looking to set up operations or trade with the country, Development Finance Institutions supporting implementation of public projects, financial providers providing both debt and equity financing to ag-businesses and institutional investors financing large projects.

Presentation of Strategic investment opportunities targeted at private sector investors looking to set up operations or trade with the country, Development Finance Institutions supporting implementation of public projects, financial providers providing both debt and equity financing to ag-businesses and institutional investors financing large projects.

Times of crisis are times of change. The past few years have been characterised by war, pandemics and extreme weather events. A shattered status quo means that new visions emerge, and as the dust settles the opportunity arises to rebuild in a way that learns from the past while looking to the future. We are in such a moment; this session debates how we react. Leading individuals from trade, development, health, finance and international civil society will discuss how to safeguard local, regional, national and international food systems, highlighting the opportunities that must be grasped and changes that must be made to build resilience for a more dynamic, more uncertain world in the midst of geopolitical and economic tumult.

Moderator: Mr. Jeff Koinange, Anchor

Setting the Scene:

• Mr. Joe Studwell, Author, Journalist

High-level Panelists

• Hon. Ministers of Agriculture
• H.E. Ibrahim Hassane Mayaki, Former Prime Minister, Niger
• Mr. Wamkele Mene, Secretary General, AfCFTA - African Continental Free Trade Area
• Mr. Khalid Bomba, Managing Director, Agrifood Transformation Agency Support Center (TASC)
• Ms. Cristina Duarte, UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Africa
• Mr. James Mwangi, CEO, Equity Bank
• Mr. Acha Leke, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Co
• Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General, World Trade Organization
• Mr. Paul Polman, CEO, Imagine
• Dr. John N. Nkengasong, Director, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
• Ms. Samantha Power, Administrator, USAID
• Ms. Inger Andersen, Executive Director, United National Environmental Programme (UNEP)
• Dr. Sandy Thomas, Director, Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition

Moderator Closing Remarks

Moderator: Mr. Jim Leape, William & Eva Price Senior Fellow and Co-Director, Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions

Welcome and Framing Remarks:

• H.E. Peter Thomson, UN Special Envoy for Oceans

Keynote Remarks:

• Dr. Shakuntala Thilstead, World Food Prize Laureate and Research Program Leader for Value Chains and Nutrition, World Fish Center

Panel Discussion:

• Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Mali
• Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Uganda
• Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Bahamas
• Dr. Bernice Mclean, Head, Blue Economy Programme, AUDA- NEPAD
• Ms. Anastasie Obama, CEO, Defuscam
• Mr. Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, Secretary-General, Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS)
• Ms. Editrudith Lukanga, Convener, Tanzania Women Fish Workers Association (TAWFA), Co-president, World Forum of Fish Harvesters and Fish Workers (WFF) and General Secretary, African Network of Women Fish Processors and Traders (AWFISHNET), Tanzania
• Ms. Sara Mbago-Bhunu, Director East and Southern Africa Division, IFAD and Commissioner, Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification (COSAI)
• Mr. Samuel Ondiek, Chairman, Kakamega Fish Cooperative, Kenya
• Ms. Beth Wagude, Program Manager Aquaculture, IDH

The 2021 UNFSS highlighted multiple perspectives on the livestock sector. On the one hand, governments and development professionals stressed the numerous benefits that different livestock systems provide to the transformation of food systems in many countries. On the other, many focused on the harms of livestock systems to the environment and the health of humans. Livestock-derived foods are essential building blocks of balanced diets, yet they have a delicate interface with human health and the environment.

African countries' challenge is to foster a positive transition that contributes to food and nutrition security and livelihoods without damaging the environment or human health. This session will look at specific cases of livestock contributions to food systems transformation and draw out lessons learned in transforming the sector.

Moderator: Ms. Shirley Tarawali, Chair, Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock (GASL)

Welcome and Framing Remarks:

• Ms. Adesuwa Ifedi, Vice President, Africa Heifer International

Keynote Remarks:

• Dr. Jimmy Smith, Director General, ILRI

Four ‘rapid-fire’ case presentations with a focus on different aspects of food systems transformation: environment/climate, gender/youth, region, and value chain diversity

Panel Discussion:

• Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Chad
• Ms. Emma Naluyima, Smallholder Farmer, Uganda
• Mr. Ishmael Sunga, CEO, Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU)
• Mr. Khalid Bomba, Managing Director, Agrifood Transformation Agency Support Center (TASC)
• Mr. Faustin Mbundu Kananura, Executive Chairman, MFK Group Rwanda
• Mr. Ekko Oosterhuis, Managing Director, Silverlands Tanzania ltd.
• Mr. Gbola Adesogan, Director, Food Systems Institute, Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems

Over 10 million young Africans join the labor force each year, yet the continent creates only 3.7 million jobs annually. By 2035, more young people will be entering Africa’s workforce each year than in the rest of the globe combined. There is an opportunity to reduce the unemployment rate by encouraging the youth to join the food systems as agripreneurs. Generation Africa has designed a youth in Ag Ecosystem development framework through Generation Africa. The tool will ensure that Governments are able to coordinate collaborative actions from different actors to focus on creating an enabling environment that will ensure the youth are accounted for in the development and inclusion.

Moderator: Mr. Simon Winter, Executive Director, Syngenta Foundation

Welcome and Framing Remarks:

• Mr. Dickson Naftali, Head, Generation Africa

Keynote remarks – Rwanda’s Prespective:

• Hon. Rosemary Mbabazi, Minister of Youth and Culture, Rwanda

Presentation of Youth Employment Development Framework

• Mr. Henry Lagat, Associate Partnership Officer, Generation Africa

Panel Discussion:

• Hon. Moussa Baldé, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Equipment, Senegal
• Dr. Donal Brown, Associate Vice President, Programme Management, IFAD
• Ms. Maureen Muketha, Founder, Tule Vyema
• Ms. Uduak Odungide, CEO, Udyfoods
• Mr. Daniel Hailu, Regional Director, Eastern and Southern Africa, Mastercard Foundation
• Mr. Fred Swaniker, Founder and CEO, African Leadership University
• Mr. Pascal Murasira, Managing Director - East Africa, Norrsken Foundation
• Mr. Amadou Fall, IT specialist and Technical lead on 1000 Digital Villages initiative in Senegal, FAO

In his Wealth of Nations, published 1776, Adam Smith posed a famous paradox: why is water, so necessary for life, worth so much less than diamonds, which are not? Almost 250 years later, food markets remain some of the most essential, extensive and complex on earth. With insights from leading policymakers, researchers, experts and advocates, this session will unpack the critical role of food in development, highlighting new ways to think about food and food markets, the impact of subsidies and buying cartels, alongside strategies for resilience, sustainability, access, inclusion and organisation in food systems.

Moderator: Mr. Roy Steiner, Senior Vice President, Rockefeller Foundation

Welcome and Framing Remarks:

Keynote Remarks – The True Value of Food in Africa

• Mr. Peter Bakker, CEO, World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Panel Discussion:

• Minister of Environment, Gabon
• Hon. Minister of Environment, Rwanda
• Dr. Lawrence Haddad, CEO, GAIN
• Prof. Sheryl Hendricks, Head of Department and Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension, and Rural Development, University of Pretoria, South Africa
• Mr. Mamadou Goita, Executive Director, Institute for Research and Promotion of Alternatives in Development, Mali
• Mr. Tabi Joda, Expert in Local Communities' Ecosystems Resilience
• Mr. Ben Valk, Global Head Food and Agri Partnerships, Rabobank
• Ms. Helena Leurent, Director General, Consumers International
• Ms. Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Africa, International Labour Organization (ILO)
• Dr. Line Gordon, Director, Curt Bergfors Professor in Sustainability Science, Stockholm Resilience Centre
• Ms. Belinda Bwiza, Rwanda Deputy Country Director, One Acre Fund
• Ms. Amandla Ooko-Ombaka, Economist and Associate Partner, McKinsey

The overall objective of the session is to discuss the risk – return trade off that informs the decision to invest, the cost of finance and sector allocation. This session will also explore the ‘high risk’ label attached to agricultural investments and its gender and climate dimensions. We will also explore the need to maximize the de-risking instruments available in the market.

Moderator: Mr. Frank Braeken, Board Member, AGRA

Welcome and Framing Remarks:

Panel discussion 1:

• Minister of Agriculture
• Ms. Hixonia Nyasulu, Board Member, AGRA
• Mr. Jules Ngankam, CEO, Africa Guarantee Fund
• Mr. Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, CEO, ARC
• Mr. Yannick Glemarec, CEO, Green Climate Fund
• Ms. Rose Goslinga, CEO, PULA
• Ms. Hope Murera, CEO, PTA Insurance

Panel Discussion 2:

• Hon. Amadou Hott, Minister of Economy, Finance and Planning, Senegal
• Mr. Yosuke Kotsuji, Acting Manager of Agribusiness and Forestry, IFC Africa
• Samirah Ade-Adebiyi, Managing Director, AFEX Investments (AFIL)
• Mr. Jerry Parkes, CEO, Injaro Investments
• Ms. Tokunbah Ishmael, CEO Alitheia, impact fund manager
• Mr. Birama Sidibe, CEO, Interface
• Mr. Joost Oorthuizen, CEO, Invest International
• Ms. Atsuko Toda, Acting Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, AfDB
• Mr. Nick O’Donohoe, CEO, British International Investment
• Mr. Michael Jongeneel, CEO, FMO
• Ms. Nneka Eze, Partner, Vested World
• Annie Kneedler, Vice President, Social Sustainability, Cargill

The overall objective of the session is to review the role of digital technology in catalyzing, enabling, and supporting the scaling up of agriculture and food security solutions, including innovation, good practices for transitions from trials and pilot projects. The session will also discuss how digital is transforming lives and improve livelihoods in agriculture by helping to secure savings, find affordable insurance and tools to manage risk, increase access to financial services, providing employment and business opportunities. Moderator: Nixon Gecheo, Senior Program Officer – Digital Systems & Solutions for Agriculture- AGRA Speakers: • DELUCQ, Marie-Christine, Airbus • Sriram Bharatam, Founder & Chief Mentor Kuza Biashara • Anna-Marie Silvester, Microsoft • Jehiel Oliver, CEO Hello Tractor • Kwabena Frimpong, Regional Director – Africa, IGNITIA • Yusuf Oguntola, Chief Technology Officer-AFEX

Moderator: Ms. Fiona Mbabazi, Anchor Welcome Remarks • Ms. Jennifer Baarn, Managing Director, AGRF Framing Remarks: • Dr. Ousmane Badiane, Founder and Executive Chairperson, Akademiya 2063 Keynote remarks Mr. Wamkele Mene, Secretary General, AfCFTA - African Continental Free Trade Area Panel Discussion – Reinforcing Global Cooperation for Food Systems • African Minister of Trade • Representative of the Government of Denmark • Hon. Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, India • H.E. Amb. Hans Hoogeveen, Independent Council Chairperson, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) • Dr. Manuel Otero, Director General, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) • Mr. Yerlan Alimzhanuly Baidaulet, Director General, Islamic Organization for Food Security • Mr. Willem Olthof, Deputy Head of Unit, Rural Development, Food Security, and Nutrition, European Commission • Mr. Harry Hagan, The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), United Kingdom • Mr. Jai Shroff, CEO, UPL • Ms. Anne Nuorgam, Chair, UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues • H.E. Amb. Ertharin Cousin, Founder and CEO, Food Systems for the Future and Former Executive Director, WFP • CEO Bank of Kigali AGRF Highlights Video from the Week Synthesis, Key Messages, and Outcomes of AGRF Summit 2022 • Ms. Jennifer Baarn, Managing Director, AGRF Thematic Platform Highlights and call for Action • Mr. Adam Gerstenmier, Executive Director, Food Action Alliance Key Announcements and Award Ceremony Celebrations • Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President, AGRA and Host of the AGRF Secretariat Closing remarks & AGRF Host country 2023 Announcement • H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Chair, AGRF Partners Group and Former Prime Minister, Ethiopia Official Closing Remarks and Passing the Baton to the AGRF Summit 2023 Host • Rt. Hon. Édouard Ngirente, Prime Minister of Rwanda AGRF Family Photo {ENDS}