Delegates at this year’s Africa Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) Summit yesterday called for bold and speedy actions to end hunger across the continent.
Speaking at the opening of the Summit in Kigali, on Monday, Rwandan Prime Minister, Dr. Edouard Ngirente, said the forum is an opportunity for governments to build and accelerate comprehensive transformation of food systems to avert crises across Africa.
He said: “This summit has gathered the continent to shine the spotlight on how we can advance food systems transformation to ensure that it is inclusive, sustainable and resilient for the food security of all.
“It is time to build action for production and supply of food for households to meet their food needs.”
The summit gathers over 2500 delegates including African presidents, ministers of agriculture, private sector, development partners, civil society, and value chain experts.
Some of the key highlights will include the Agribusiness Deal Room, a platform for connecting innovators with critically needed capital, the Presidential Summit, Farmers Forum, and a Youth Town hall.
Hosted by the Government of Rwanda and the AGRF Partners Group, the Summit, which runs until Friday, is themed: “Grow. Nourish. Reward – Bold Actions for Resilient Food Systems.”
Discussions at the five-day summit will focus on how Africa can successfully navigate the crises currently affecting the global food supply chain and ensure that African Governments can mobilize investment and accelerate commitments to deliver a food secure continent.
These are meant to address bottlenecks hindering development of strong food systems while highlighting approaches and initiatives that have worked across different markets.
The AGRF said: “2022 Summit will seek to find catalytic solutions to: grow the coordinated and large-scale action by stakeholders across multiple sectors; nourish innovations that will translate the commitments made into actionable strategies and progress on ground; reward and recognise champions and celebrate country pathways.”
This summit has gathered the continent to shine the spotlight on how we can advance food systems transformation to ensure that it is inclusive, sustainable and resilient for the food security of all.
Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame, will lead a presidential summit comprising current and former African Heads of State to review the gains made in Africa’s agricultural landscape.
AGRA’s Board Chair, and Chair, AGRF Partners Group and former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Dessalegnm noted that the summit comes as the continent grapples with challenges in global food supply and effects of the pandemic that have undone gains in efforts to end hunger and build food security.
“Food systems transformation is key to economic transformation. We need to take bold actions urgently, this calls for new, stronger, innovative and strategic leadership to ensure that food systems are more resilient,” he added.
This year’s Summit will also include discussions around building strong foundations required to avert crises such as those currently witnessed with the rising cost of living for African people.
These discussions will lay out visions of success as well as what is at stake for the people at this time of crisis, while emphasising the type of leadership and action needed to move forward with more resilient food systems.
AGRF partners and key stakeholders will also highlight initiatives and commitments to transform food systems and accelerate Africa’s delivery of the 2030 targets.
