DAR ES SALAAM: THE Africa Food System Forum 2023 has been a landmark event for unifying the continent and the entire globe under the banner of transformation, regeneration and action.
With collaboration, inclusivity, innovation and financing, the summit has been pushing the agenda to accelerate African food systems transformation in the continent for young people and women.
The Managing Director of the AGRF Mr Amath Sene disclosed that while delivering the meeting’s synthesis and declaration at the closing of the summit in Dar es Salaam, on Friday.
He noted that the meeting focused on identifying solutions rather than exploring problems to food systems transformations.
“The 13th Summit provided a platform to reflect a coordinated life scale of action, leading thinkers, policy makers, innovators,” said Mr Sene, expressing gratitude to President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the government for the unwavering support that made the gathering a success.
Besides, the MD noted that outcome of the summit was a moment to define, set and reset the political agenda from ministers, among others, including the COP 28. With regard to solutions, the meeting delved on various solutions to accelerate and boost food systems on the continent. However, the Summit set the stage by ensuring investments are reaching the small businesses to become micro and major businesses.
“The commitment and main decision for the Africa Food System Forum 2023 in numbers comprise 5,400 delegates, the largest ever in terms of representation, from 90 countries around the globe. “Five Heads of State and six former Heads of State and 80 international agencies represented 1,200 delegations from the private sector,” he noted.
More importantly, he said the Summit focused on inclusion to put youths and women at the centre and in terms of statistics, 57 per cent of the participants were women.
A youth dome was dedicated for the youth and in all panels the meeting ensured they tried to have the voice of a young persons, expressing their need and that of the entire continent. In terms of transitioning, many ministries took part, ranging from trade, nutrition, health and gender, reflecting that the summit is transitioning from the logo of AGRF to food systems.
“Next year you may not be seeing AGRF…we want to go beyond agriculture, it’s bigger than agriculture,” he said.
On the other hand, 41 sessions were featured within the five days and more than 500 speakers and 800 speakers around other roles and 140 journalists, this is a huge success.
