CABI has highlighted its expertise in supporting resilient and sustainable food production at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) 2024 held in Kigali, Rwanda, and attended by more than 3,000 people from over 70 countries.
Specialists, including those in Sanitary and Phytosanitary Systems (SPS), gender and youth empowerment, food safety and trade, data management and digital innovation, soil health and landscape-scale approaches, from CABI’s regional centre for Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, participated in the event.
The AFSF is the world’s premier forum for African agriculture and food systems. It featured over 350 speakers and brought together stakeholders to take practical actions and share lessons that will move African food systems forward.
Unleash and leverage the creative potential of Africa’s youth and women
The theme of the AFSF this year was ‘Innovate, Accelerate and Scale: Delivering food systems transformation in a digital and climate era’ with a special focus on the urgent need to ‘unleash and leverage the creative potential of Africa’s youth and women to accelerate economic development.’
It is hoped these efforts, complemented by innovations and digital technologies, will expedite the shift towards more sustainable, equitable, inclusive, and climate-resilient food systems for improved livelihoods and food security.
CABI took part in three side events on the first day of the AFSF. Dr Monica Kansiime, Deputy Director, Development and Outreach, Africa, was a panellist at ‘Gender Responsive Approaches Driving Food Transformation’ side event co-moderated by Deogratius Magero, Youth Engagement Manager, Africa.
This was followed by Dr Gbemenou Joselin Benoit Gnonlonfin, Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS), Global Program Lead, who presented at the ‘Innovation in Safe Trade: Toward Food Systems Transformation Across Africa’ side event. This event was moderated by Dr MaryLucy Oronje, Senior Scientist, SPS.
Diverse and intersecting needs and priorities of SPS systems
Dr Gnonlonfin said, “There is an increasing demand for higher-quality and safer food which necessitates a growing need for greater SPS compliance that will, in turn, see the expansion of global value chains as well as inter and intra-regional trade.
“Africa’s agriculture can contribute towards the supply of sufficient and nutritious food, but regulatory frameworks must keep evolving to mitigate the risks posed by increasing trade – including crop pests and diseases – exacerbated by climate change.
“In short, the need to strengthen SPS capacities at national and regional levels, to address emerging food safety challenges, has never been more pertinent as Africa’s population, which needs feeding, is expected to rise to 2.5 billion by 2050.”
Later, Henry Mibei, Manager, Digital Development, Africa, spoke about partnerships for data-driven agrifood transformation. Also on the first day, Alvaro Valverde, Private Sector Engagement Manager, and Dr Lydiah Gatere, Climate Change Expert for Africa, took part in a session entitled ‘Coordinating the Implementation of the African Fertilizer Soil Health Action Plan and Soil Initiative for Africa.’
Phyllis Ombonyo, Director of Strategy and Engagement, International Development, also facilitated roundtable discussions as part of the ‘Closing the Conservation Loop’ side event CABI co-organised with The Nature Conservancy.
This event looked at accelerating agrifood systems transition through innovative business and landscape-scale approaches and was also convened in partnership with other organisations including Rockefeller Foundation and Sustainable Agriculture Foundation – Africa.
Other CABI staff who attended the Forum included Dr Daniel Elger, CABI CEO, Dr Dennis Rangi, Director General, Development, Dr Morris Akiri, Senior Regional Director, Africa, Dr Martin Parr, Director, Data Policy and Practice, Dr Ivan Rwomushana, Global Lead – Pest Preparedness, and Clara Antonian, Philanthropy and Partnerships Manager.
Framework for sustainable national soil information systems
CABI’s involvement coincided with the launch at the AFSF of an innovative new online platform which showcases a framework for sustainable national soil information systems (SISs).
Created by CABI and ISRIC – World Soil Information, the framework is a central part of the Soil Information Systems Review, a project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The framework is designed to provide guidance for all key individuals and institutions who could potentially be involved in the design and development of a new SIS or in enhancing an existing one. This includes SIS owners, system developers, funders, implementing partners and research institutions.
CABI CEO Dr Daniel Elger (far left) with colleagues Clara Antonian, Dr Morris Akiri and Dr Dennis Rangi (Credit: AFSF).
Ms Ombonyo said, “CABI was delighted to have participated in the Africa Food Systems Forum where, as part of the conversations and collaborations to help transform Africa’s food systems, we showcased our expertise on a range of vital topics.
“Our centres in Kenya, Ghana and Zambia support our work in Africa to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. We work closely with communities and partners, including our 17 Member Countries in Africa, to address the problems farmers face using sustainable approaches to food systems transformation.
“CABI’s vision is a world where the sharing of agricultural and environmental knowledge empowers people and protects the planet. Our attendance at the ASFS was an opportunity to show how in partnership we strive to attain those goals.”
Efforts to promote sustainable crop health highlighted
As part of CABI’s involvement in the AFSF, efforts to promote sustainable crop health were highlighted.
This included how the CABI-led PlantwisePlus programme in 2023 supported over 13 million farmers – with innovative digital decision support tools and online learning products – to grow more and lose less to crop pests and diseases such as the papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus).
Furthermore, in highlighting how CABI brings science-based agricultural knowledge to millions of smallholder farmers – helping to increase their yields – the Pest Risk Information Service (PRISE) was showcased as a successful pest forecasting system.
CABI breaks down barriers to women and young people’s employment
Ways in which CABI breaks down barriers to women and young people’s employment – to benefit agriculture, food security and communities – were also featured. For example, in Uganda, PlantwisePlus and its partners set up an agro-input programme, training over 200 youths in various agricultural skills, including safe pesticide handling and use.
Other CABI capabilities mentioned at the AFSF included how nature-based solutions like biocontrol and Integrated Pest Management can be important components for an Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) approach to scaling regenerative landscapes and safeguarding biodiversity.
Additional information
Main image: Dr Gbemenou Joselin Benoit Gnonlonfin, Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS), Global Program Lead at CABI, speaking at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) (Credit: AFSF).
Relevant stories
‘The role of intra-African trade in Africa’s food systems transformation.’
Find out more about CABI’s participation at AFSF via our dedicated webpage here.
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