Working together for resilient food systems: towards a Europe – Africa platform for research and innovation.

24/11. Working together for resilient food systems: towards a Europe – Africa platform for research and innovation.

The LEAP4FNSSA project together with RUFORUM and EFARD, organised this panel. Over 120 participants joined this discussion on the ambition of UN Action Track 5 to ensure that food systems are able to deliver food and nutrition security and equitable livelihoods for all despite shocks, such as natural disasters, conflicts, and diseases.

• Facilitation: Prof. Lindiwe Sibanda, Director: African Research Universities Alliance Centre of Excellence in Food Security & Co-Chair of the Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture.
• Key Speaker: Mr. Prof. Dr. Patrick Caron, vice-president of the University of Montpellier (MUSE).
• Hon. Jeanine Milly Cooper, Minister of Agriculture, Liberia.
• Mr. Hans- Jörg Lutzeyer, Research Programme Officer European Commission, DG, European Commission.
• Ms. Caroline Jacquet, Project Manager at Bio Innovation Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe.
• Mr. Anthony Mun-Gavin, Vice president of food and refreshments Africa, UNILEVER.
• Mr. Hakim Baliraine, Chairperson of ESAFF, the Eastern and Southern Africa small-scale Farmers Forum.
• Mr. Samuel Rigu, Founder and CEO Safi Organics, Kenya.

After the welcoming remarks by Prof. Adipala Ekwamu, the Food Systems Resilience topic was introduced by Prof. Patrick Caron. The session explored the perspectives of different stakeholders within food systems on resilience pathways and how new ways of collaboration in the field of R&I should look like. The panel consisted of 6 members: her Excellency Honorable Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Liberia, Mrs. Jeanine Milly Cooper, Dr. Hans- Jörg Lutzeyer from the European Commission, Ms. Caroline Jacquet from the NGO Bio Innovation Zimbabwe, Mr. Anthony Mun-Gavin vice president of food and refreshments Africa Unilever, Mr. Hakim Baliraine, chairperson of the Eastern and Southern Africa small-scale Farmers Forum, and Mr. Samuel Rigu. CEO of Safi Organics Kenya. The panelists enriched the discussions with evidences and experiences from their diverse backgrounds. Because the resilience of food systems is a challenge to both Europe and Africa, the potential role of a bi-continental Research & Innovation Platform in addressing food systems resilience was also discussed.