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Facilitator 1: Angela McKee Brown, Executive Director at The Edible Schoolyard Project, USA Facilitator 2: Dragana Djuric, Director at National Association of Parents and Teachers of Serbia Topic - Education, curriculum design, sovereignty How might edible gardens become instruments of applied knowledge and skills where students, parents, and educators can develop their food and agricultural literacy? • It's an opportunity for people to learn about other skills than just food and growing related ones, i.e., soft skills such as communication, collaboration, teamwork. They can also learn about... قراءة المزيد life lessons. • When children are young, it is a great way to teach the children about vegetables and how to cook them, and then they bring it back home and also influence their parents. So “getting to parents through children”. • A lot of people have lost the habits of home cooking. • After school activities is also a nice way to bring parents to the school garden or a cooking class. This also increases their relationship to nature. What are the learning elements of these spaces? • In some space we have people that are employed specifically to teach children for gardening and to take care of the gardening. • Urban environment, natural spaces? Is it really possible, do we have the space. Idea of nature can be very foreign for some really low income areas. It is also really complicated to hire their own teachers, so getting a new teacher would be complicated as well. • Sometimes you can also have other teachers that can be taught how to cultivate and keep a garden. • Having the parents teach the teachers how to garden. Creating a sense of community and a breaking the barriers between parents and teachers. It would be important for the children to work in an environment where there is collaboration between these two most important role models! • Lack of access --> Design thinking? This is where there could be the steepest learning curve! • How do we have the Government to fund our edible school gardens? • We could have farmers welcoming and teaching children how to be around nature etc. Organise trips there. • Important for the Job Market for young adults to be interested in farming. What important skills are kids able to learn through edible school gardens? • Kids will be able to understand and develop strong relationships with nature where they can see that nature takes time and will be able to engage them in climate solutions. • It’s a different type of engagement, learning to use their body, and testing themselves physically, fine motor skills that are unique to engaging with nature. • Breaks children out of the traditional school design (industrial model of sitting in rows, strict discipline, sitting in desks). • 21st century skills in the garden (creativity, innovation, curiosity, collaboration). • Able to adjust to different learning styles. • No pressure to fail/pass --> a space where you can allow for neurodivergence. • Learning to care for their space. How to we engage all other members of the educational ecosystem? • We need to make steps slowly, quality over quantity. • Engaging a wide range of teachers. • Why is it important to grow your own food. • Science and art teachers. • If you bring the food from the garden into the cafeteria, it shows that the food in the cafeteria is not food. • What if school lunch workers were able to have more hours working in the garden and caring for students. • What will happen during summer breaks? Engaging college students? • Engaging parents to come teach teachers. قراءة القليل

Facilitator: Bjorn Low, Executive Director at Edible Garden City, Singapore Topic 1 - Tourism, Global Knowledge Transfer, Community Building, Cultural Heritage How do we open source knowledge for other cities to replicate the success? • This can be applied to all different types of tourism (cultural heritage). It starts with education. In food tourism, an easy way to make change is to implement menu messaging in restaurants. Countries with shorter histories, or lots of expats? Or perhaps the indigenous knowledge has been lost? Co-collaboration with indigenous groups to bring to light indigen... قراءة المزيدous knowledge. The dialogue might be hard given a complex history, but it's vital. Lack of trust and lack of understanding requires having everyone's voices heard and a part of the conversation regarding tourism. • Do you have to overcome these indigenous issues first? Oftentimes they are ignored: traditionally, destination management focused on tourists first, and assumed that locals would then recognize the benefits of local attractions and culture. But to be sustainable, local residents have to have a seat at the table from the beginning. • Easy replication actions! We also need to encourage locals to eat their own foods. However, there is not one main solution. There are some cross-cultural solutions as well. As long as you can offer something for different targeted groups, you can get very creative! There are a plethora of cultures within countries, and they all can be recognized. • Knowledge transfer is often across generations. Pride factors into this, and locals need to feel proud of their local culture, food, and heritage. Michelin star chefs are really helping in this regarding, by introducing more heritage ingredients. How do we spark this curiosity, pride, and motivation? Then the knowledge transfer will happen more naturally. Topic 2 - Future Visioning, Access, Equality, (Mental) Health, Mindfulness What would a school meal look like in 2030, if every schoolyard had a garden? • It would be purposeful. A sustainable reason, a cultural reason, a nutritional reason, FUN, etc. Self-grown food would help instil a sense of pride for children, but also knowledge. Fun also ties in with cultural nuance, so this can change depending on the place. It makes everything more meaningful. Sustainability can be fun and exciting, it’s not always-- if we don't eat this, we are going to die. • The importance of having gardens that are good for people, but also environment and animals as well. • If you orient your educational experience around a certain topic, tourists can share their own practices at home. So it’s not just a one-way exchange, but rather dual. • If the goal is to attract tourists, how many "labels" or layers do we need to give our food? Indigenous, home-grown, sustainable, eco, etc... to some extent, the health label is a double edged sword. You want to have a small imprint on the planet, and eat well, but the gatekeeping needs to be kept to a minimum. There are many different motivators for people to travel, and types of tourists. However, for sustainable tourism, it’s a given that there is a market for people seeking out "healthy" food tourism, especially regarding these community gardens. قراءة القليل

City-adjusted farms are more successful than non-city-adjusted ones. More work is needed to identify the most impactful ways forward and the European Capitals of Culture have a valuable opportunity to contribute to developing smarter and more liveable cities; to start a new era of sustainable tourism and share best practises with other European markets and future European Capitals of Culture. Community-oriented urban gardening is an important part of many cultures and the creation of community and engagement spaces within city limits. Sustainable design, construction, and urban planning are al... قراءة المزيدso huge priorities for many regions, with an emphasis on using natural resources responsibly, efficiently, and renewably. The conversation around urban food systems is sophisticated and shows a deep awareness of the value of urban agriculture for both social wellness and food system sustainability. Some of the main findings were: • Food has become an uninteresting topic in the educational sector due to the public procurements of food. • It requires coheres act from the government level to implement edible gardens in every school with a concise framework. • Inequities need to be fixed before thinking of the concept of edible school gardens on how it can have a rich and robust community experience around food. • Centering joy in conversations about the design and policy making process • Run social enterprise within the school itself. A model that can be implemented is a social semi-commercial socially driven urban farm to produce food to the community and for the school community. • Build gardens with a purpose. Meaning going beyond the food production to give the garden an extension and a wider objective. • Students and teachers generally do not know the possibility that it is possible to grow food at school. They need to be informed and motivated. • Inspiring entrepreneurs, organisations, individuals, visitors and municipalities through call-to-action initiatives that help create more Urban Agrarian communities. • If we want specific people to be engaged, then they need to be part of the co-creating of the process. Engage the communities that will be using the resource in the design of the space in order for it to meet their needs. • To overcome the barrier of unwillingness to participate from the community, it’s fundamental to give them a voice and accessibility to the space. • It is necessary to use this potential of food cultivation to turn schools into cultural centres of local communities. • Should the gardens be at schools or just places of learning within communities? That allows for the resource to potentially be more accessible outside of school hours and maintained by entities outside of the schools. Learning can take place anywhere! • Engaging children and youth in life skills through edible gardens. • Introducing technology literacy, concepts of open source & data sensing by using sensors (light, humidity, sound) in the garden. • Include and rethink the role of the tourist in ways that it's no longer a visiting guest but someone that wants to be part of the community and participate actively. A participant and co-creator more than a traditional tourist. قراءة القليل

During the Talks, the speakers shared experiences and knowledge of contributions to the food systems and detailed challenges. A second group, participants in the breakout rooms, discussed and considered actions within defined pathways in line with the UN Action Tracks. There were four primary focus areas for this dialogue that was divided in themes: Theme #1 – Tourism, Global Knowledge Transfer, Community Building, Cultural Heritage We need to rethink and redesign sustainable food experiences and culture in our cities, in order to raise the engagement level of the whole society. In 2022, we ... قراءة المزيدhave three European Capitals of Culture cities (Esch2022, Kaunas2022 and NoviSad2022). How can these cities collaborate, and be the catalysts for upcoming Capitals of Cultures, through a participatory Edible School Garden project? Theme #2 - Education, Curriculum Design, Sovereignty While we can start food education at an early stage the food choices are generally made by the parents that might be counterproductive. What are the key components of community-centered and cross-generational edible school garden projects? Theme #3 - Inclusivity, Participation, Technology In order to make things happen, different stakeholders need to collaborate. Given the nature of edible school gardens, they are part of the infrastructure of educational institutions. How can we make sure that the entire ecosystem is inclusive and represents the same values? What are the key roles for successful community engagement? Theme #4 - Policymaking, (Food) Diplomacy, Measurements, Democracy Food diplomacy is the use of food as an instrument to create cross-cultural understanding in the hopes of improving interactions and cooperation. How do we raise the question of food education through educative edible gardens and make it a priority on a city's strategy/agenda? How can regulatory design be an enabler of edible school garden projects and achieve sustainable change. قراءة القليل

A) Trade policies (import and export) facilitate access to affordable, safe and nutritious food for consumers while contributing to EAC/COMESA/SADC countries economic and commercial objectives: 1. Limited integration of small producers/MSEs into the agri-food value chains. Management: Organise and build the technical and organizational capacities of small food producers/SMEs and link them to larger firms/agri-businesses to enhance their market access and benefits; 2. As SMEs make up most firms in the region, deal with key constraints such as access to appropriate financial products to enhance ... قراءة المزيدtheir growth and participation in the regional agri-food trade; 3. Inconsistency policy implementation by Member States: Strengthen monitoring mechanism to detect the issues and design & fast track mitigation measures; 4. Strengthen information collection and dissemination about regional agri-food markets and requirements for exporting including standards. B) Knowledge Transfer for future food systems in Africa 1. Knowledge transfer creates a demand for access to quality inputs. The best way to manage this is to ensure partnerships with input providers during the knowledge transfer process. 2. Knowledge transfer increases productivity and this may overwhelm the market if not property planned. However, proper production planning and good linkages of farmers to markets can help to address this. 3. Knowledge transfer needs sustainability. Specific projects tend to have a shelf life. However the sustainability of the interventions can be achieved by a multi-stakeholder approach to knowledge transfer that utilizes the key players in the agriculture sector; the private sector, Government extension, NGOs, key farmers/Community Based Trainers. C) Importance of organic bio capsule fertilizer for future food system 1. Lack of awareness of micro-organism – Educate people 2. Make farming trendy by create awareness. 3. Break the belief/myth – You need lots of funding, land, fertilizers, chemicals etc. to do farming قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic: Fair, safe and sustainable supply chains to ensure a responsible use of natural resources and reduction of food loss and plastic wastes making environment safe for future food systems for consumers. Background Globally, over 70% of plastic packaging is not recovered because it is either landfilled, mismanaged, or uncollected. That translates to approximately US$ 120 billion lost in the global economy after a short first use. By bringing together all sectors of society—individuals and organizations, public and private sector, the thinkers and doers—we can help solve the pl... قراءة المزيدastic waste challenge through collaboration. Recommendations: Governments are requested to: a) Introduce restrictions on use of single use and non-recyclable plastics. Needs to be linked to consumer education on use of plastic; b) Conduct comprehensive feasibility studies on plastic waste and construct new waste management facilities, to address the challenges as well as potential longer-term economic viabilities; c) Map the behavioral change of different stakeholders within the community to ensure that the waste management infrastructure being proposed will be sustainable for at least 20 years; d) Identify hotspots for pollution, conduct waste characterization studies to assess the sort of waste being generated by households, and understand how much is collected. e) Interest industry to the idea of a circular economy, to welcome plastic alternatives to replace some conventional building materials. Who should take these actions: a) Treat everyone as a stakeholder in food systems and final key stakeholder are CONSUMERS The call is for everyone to be involved; b) Value diversity and Engage inclusively An extension of treating everyone as a stakeholder is valuing diversity and engaging inclusively which are essential to achieve equity. c) Government responsible and accountability is critically National governments were most often identified as the primary actor to drive transformation. d) Engagement collaboratively in partnerships and CONSUMERS ARE KEY The Dialogues call for transformative partnerships, synergies, and alliances supported by multi-stakeholder platforms and networks and a need for all sectors and stakeholders to work together with governments toward food system transformation. Power imbalances will have to be acknowledged and managed. e) Empower excluded voices Women, Indigenous Peoples, smallholder farmers and other small-scale producers, and youth as needing and deserving special attention and engagement. قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic: Agricultural and Food Policies to promote regional integration and production of affordable nutritious sustainable food in the market Background: By 2050, the world’s population will reach 10 billion people and global food demand will increase by 60%. This challenge is intensified by agriculture’s extreme vulnerability to climate change. The African continent is facing an existential food security crisis in light of this climate emergency: population is growing fast, and agricultural production cannot keep up due to the fact that less than 10% of arable land is irrigated,... قراءة المزيد which means little insurance against erratic rains and climate shocks. Lack of irrigation puts at risk the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of smallholder farmers and their families across the continent, who remains hostage to climate variability. Therefore, food and agriculture policies are critical in influencing what foods are available and accessible to consumers. These policies influence trade across the borders and enhance regional integration. Agricultural policies need to support not only food security but also a diversity of products entering the market and affordable prices for nutrient-rich foods. The right policies can encourage research on improving productivity and quality of nutrient rich commodities, e.g. through biofortification, as well as policies that subsidize inputs and support extension services for production of nutritious foods. Policies focused on smalll holders farmers, especially women and youth, can support the supply of a greater diversity of nutritious foods in the households. Recommendations: It is recommended that Governments: a) Initiate and implement policies that support smallholder farmers, youth and women; b) Develop new policies in the four key domains, land and agricultural production, markets and trade systems, consumer purchasing power, and food transformation and consumer demand; c) Remove trade barriers to intra-regional trade in food and other agricultural commodities; d) Support and part finance regional institutions that support regional trade, quality and phyto-sanitary controls; e) Must set up ambitious targets for irrigation expansion and increased farm productivity; and f) Enhance participation of private sectors, academia, NGOs, civil societies in relevant decision-making bodies. g) Initiate, Support and strengthen policies for the production, processing and marketing of non- conventional/ indigenous foods like the edible insects. Who should take these actions: a) Treat everyone as a stakeholder in food systems and final key stakeholder are CONSUMERS The call is for everyone to be involved; b) Value diversity and Engage inclusively An extension of treating everyone as a stakeholder is valuing diversity and engaging inclusively which are essential to achieve equity. c) Government responsible and accountability is critically National governments were most often identified as the primary actor to drive transformation. d) Engagement collaboratively in partnerships and CONSUMERS ARE KEY The Dialogues call for transformative partnerships, synergies, and alliances supported by multi-stakeholder platforms and networks and a need for all sectors and stakeholders to work together with governments toward food system transformation. Power imbalances will have to be acknowledged and managed. e) Empower excluded voices Women, Indigenous Peoples, smallholder farmers and other small-scale producers, and youth as needing and deserving special attention and engagement. قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic: Food Safety and Food Wastes in Hotels and Restaurants in E. Africa Recommendations: 1) East African Community (EAC) (and the African RECs) must formulate programmes on integrated education, training, and behavioural change on Food Safety and Food Wastage in Hotels and Restaurants; 2) Countries should undertake evaluation of effectiveness of their Public Heath Laws, Policies and Regulations in the hospitality sector especially in Food Safety issues along the food chain/ processes in hotels and restaurants targeting to attain National and International Hazard Analysis Critical ... قراءة المزيدControl Point (HACCP) certification; 3) Countries should tap on into Public/Private Partnerships on raising awareness among consumers and hotel proprietors on the matters of food safety and food wastes in hotels and restaurants; 4) Hotel proprietors should undertake comprehensive environmental controls on food waste in Hotels: dispose of waste to decay in landfills; 5) Countries should, through their relevant institutions, undertake an evaluation of the consciousness of food handlers and operators in hotels and restaurants, to minimize the unintended consequences from food hazards and risks related to food; and 6) Countries should assess the implementation of ‘EAC Criteria for Classification of Hotels’ and commit to sustain its implementation; Who should take these actions: a) Treat everyone as a stakeholder in food systems and final key stakeholder are CONSUMERS The call is for everyone to be involved; b) Value diversity and Engage inclusively An extension of treating everyone as a stakeholder is valuing diversity and engaging inclusively which are essential to achieve equity. c) Government responsible and accountability is critically National governments were most often identified as the primary actor to drive transformation. d) Engagement collaboratively in partnerships and CONSUMERS ARE KEY The Dialogues call for transformative partnerships, synergies, and alliances supported by multi-stakeholder platforms and networks and a need for all sectors and stakeholders to work together with governments toward food system transformation. Power imbalances will have to be acknowledged and managed. e) Empower excluded voices Women, Indigenous Peoples, smallholder farmers and other small-scale producers, and youth as needing and deserving special attention and engagement. قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic: Innovative solutions building closer connections between markets, consumer and producers. Recommendations: 1) Deeper integration-Cross border non-tarriff barriers that affect food distribution need to be tackled at a regional level. African Countries need to trade more with each other. (Take advantage of the AfCFTA with a market of more than 30 million people. 2) Data and Connectivity – Sub Saharan Africa should enhance the mobile internet adoption from the current 29% penetration at least nearer the global average of 49%. High cost of data and equipment still remains an is... قراءة المزيدsue and adds to the cost of doing business and trade hence imposes costs to food access; 3) Local Procurement- Governments in Africa should be encouraged to first exhaust procurement of local food products from the farmers before they consider importing products outside their countries and regions. 4) Access to cheaper financing to encourage value addition by the producer. Who should take these actions: a) Treat everyone as a stakeholder in food systems and final key stakeholder are CONSUMERS The call is for everyone to be involved; b) Value diversity and Engage inclusively An extension of treating everyone as a stakeholder is valuing diversity and engaging inclusively which are essential to achieve equity. c) Government responsible and accountability is critically National governments were most often identified as the primary actor to drive transformation. d) Engagement collaboratively in partnerships and CONSUMERS ARE KEY The Dialogues call for transformative partnerships, synergies, and alliances supported by multi-stakeholder platforms and networks and a need for all sectors and stakeholders to work together with governments toward food system transformation. Power imbalances will have to be acknowledged and managed. e) Empower excluded voices Women, Indigenous Peoples, smallholder farmers and other small-scale producers, and youth as needing and deserving special attention and engagement. قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic: Dependence on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) for Safe and Nutritious Food Production Recommendations: The need to/for: 1) improve on the formulation and harmonization of policies, laws, strategies and regulations (including governance & institutional reforms) on IWRM through a participatory approach with stakeholders; 2) enhance funding to improve on infrastructure for water storage to cater for floods and drought irrigation – for all-year-round productivity 3) effective political goodwill/ support in this key area; 4) strict catchment and transboundary wa... قراءة المزيدter resources, wetland management and protection policies; 5) strict application of the user pays principle in water consumption and also waste management to avoid contamination of waterways Who should take these actions: a) Treat everyone as a stakeholder in food systems and final key stakeholder are CONSUMERS The call is for everyone to be involved; b) Value diversity and Engage inclusively An extension of treating everyone as a stakeholder is valuing diversity and engaging inclusively which are essential to achieve equity. c) Government responsible and accountability is critically National governments were most often identified as the primary actor to drive transformation. d) Engagement collaboratively in partnerships and CONSUMERS ARE KEY The Dialogues call for transformative partnerships, synergies, and alliances supported by multi-stakeholder platforms and networks and a need for all sectors and stakeholders to work together with governments toward food system transformation. Power imbalances will have to be acknowledged and managed. e) Empower excluded voices Women, Indigenous Peoples, smallholder farmers and other small-scale producers, and youth as needing and deserving special attention and engagement. قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic: The Future of Food Systems: A Consumer’s Perspective. Consumer Concerns and issues to address: a) Toxic Farm input From the WHO report (WHO, 2015), about 420,000 people die every year from food related ailments, 40% being children. Here in Africa, we have numerous challenges along the food value chain. For instance, some farm inputs at production level have proven to be harmful, posing health challenges that have contributed to the deaths. Other than health challenges, toxic farm inputs have for so long interfered with the ecosystem resulting to in reduction in farm produce... قراءة المزيد. Consumers are, therefore, worried about availability of healthy food in the near future if the trend continues. b) Legal Frameworks Consumers, being the main stakeholders and drivers of this conversation, are concerned with the legal frameworks around food safety/security. There is need for existing laws to be improved and enforcement be actualized. This applies to manufactured food where standards are not adhered to. c) Food Waste/Loss Food loss and wastage along the value chain has been a challenge, forcing consumers to pay more for what they get in the market. It is time that how food is handled from production to the time it is in the plate be looked into. In the event there is surplus, proper storage facilities to be provided/recommended. Note that the ‘ugly’ or ‘deformed’ vegetables or any other farm produce should not be thrown away either. d) Consumer Education A successful leader should be one who is able to feed citizens and provide information through laid down government structures. It is unfortunate that most consumers are not aware of laws and regulations protecting them due lack of accurate and adequate information. This is why there is a clarion call on all stakeholders including top leaders to take consumer education seriously if the future of food systems is to be achieved. This will help reduce the amount of time put on boardroom meetings trying to find solutions for issues that can be easily addressed by consumers if only they are educated. Discussion Topic: Importance of organic bio capsule fertiliser to Improve Soil and Nutrient Management for future food systems In the next three years 1. Usage of Organic bio-capsule fertilizers (micro-organism) will help in doubling farmers income by three years (crop production increase by at least 50% & less to no use of chemical and other expensive products) 2. Improving soil fertility by adding live microbes in the soil 3. Nutrients rich food (highly nutritional value for humans and animals) 4. 0% chemical residue and 100% organic food produce 5. Cost effective in terms with chemical fertilizers 6. Export quality produce for farmers The success of these actions can be measured by: 1) The sustainability of increased food productions 2) Healthy / organic /nutritious food 3) Growing food in back of your house and gardens 4) Increase in income 5) Smart and effortless farming 6) Increase in participation قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic: Consumer awareness, engagement, and empowerment can create sustainable innovations in food systems i) Consumer awareness: The need to: a) take consumers as a key component of sustainable food systems given that they are citizens, taxpayers, workers, children, parents - not just passive receivers - enable and drive food access change with their collective economic power; b) Ensure more transparency, higher ethical standards from food producers to enhance trust particularly in food safety. This needs to be matched by greater consumer awareness on issues of food safety and nutri... قراءة المزيدtious food. The private sector producers will respond to the market demand as well as to stricter enforcement of regulation of health and safety regulations. All food businesses should have to comply with basic standards of hygiene and good manufacturing practices; and c) Appreciate the increasingly globalized nature of the food supply chains and the possibilities to enhance and supplement national food access systems. ii) Consumer Rights: The need to respect/ensure the rights to: a) The satisfaction of basic needs of the populations - to have access to adequate safe and nutritious food, clothing, shelter, health care, education, public utilities, water and sanitation; b) To ensure safety for the populations against products, production processes and services that are hazardous to health or life; c) Choose and be able to select from a range of products and services, offered at competitive prices with an assurance of satisfactory quality; d) be heard and have consumer interests represented in the making and execution of government policy, and in the development of products and services; e) Redress to receive a fair settlement of just claims, including compensation for misrepresentation, low standard goods or unsatisfactory services. This requires that there is some mechanism for speedy redress either through a consumer association or other means. As we know legal redress through the courts is slow, cumbersome and expensive to the average individual consumer; f) Consumer be informed on the facts needed to make informed choices, and to be protected against dishonest or misleading advertising and labeling while being aware of basic consumer rights and responsibilities and how to act on them; g) A healthy environment to live and work specifically in places where consumers buy food that is non-threatening to the well being of present and future generations. iii) Technology The need to incorporate digitalization and new technology and their applications in all aspects of the food supply chain to achieve sustainability in the food supply and access chains. iv) Essential role consumers play in food systems In order for the consumers to be a part of, or contribute to, sustainable food systems, there is need to ensure/consider: a) affordability of sustainable and nutritious safe food on their tables. This should be a key concern for Governments. For example, Government can legislate on recommended retail prices and excessive profit making by processors/retailers. However, ultimately the actions needs to be at the level of the private sector; b) Education - Besides income, education level and access to information are likely to affect consumer concerns. Education or provision of information to help consumers make more informed choices is vital. This includes labeling and advertising which is accurate, verifiable and truthful, together with increased consumer awareness on what different information/certification mean; c) Gender - Women often are responsible for food in families and their engagement as stakeholders would be key to food access; and d) age - Young people may have more potential to change behaviour and are also more likely to think about sustainability of the food systems in the first place. Governments should engage the youth in designing food access systems. This could include in the school curriculum greater awareness of food safety and nutrition. (v) Enhancing the promotion of nutritious local diets that are accessible & affordable through campaigns and education (focus on existing policies); قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic: How do EAC Transport Chains and Logistics Systems Contribute/Impact on Access to Food Background: Given the consensus on the centrality of transport chains and efficient logistics in all the aspects of access to food, the recommendations focus on issues around coordination, sustainability, capacity, interconnectivity, efficiency and resilience. a) Support to the Regional Economic Communities The critical coordination roles played by the RECs under the African Union in the implementation of efficient transport and logistics systems across the continent should be underscored. C... قراءة المزيدonstituent Governments should capacitate the RECs and commit to the implementation of all the priority projects, policies, strategies, legal frameworks agreed upon at the RECs and continental levels to improve infrastructure interconnectivity and efficiency to underpin access to food on the continent. b) Support for the expansion of rural roads networks and industrial capacities A call to the Governments to: i) set aside enhanced and dedicated budgets for the improvement and expansion of the rural transport networks and target to double their capacities in the next five years to support agricultural production and investments at that level. This will support the production, distribution and access to sufficient food quantities. ii) support industries that manufactures and add value to agriculture in the rural areas and construction of communal solar cold chains, for example, to conserve excess produce. c) Market liberalization and removal of non-tariff barriers Governments through their RECS should fast track the liberalization of transport and logistics services markets and remove non-tariff barriers to bring down the associated costs to trade and hence access to food. The governments could consider allowing cabbotage for transporters to reduce lengthy empty legs for trucks that penalize transporters and consumers. Airfreight transport costs remain high on the continent as a result of protected markets. Governments in Africa should implement the Single Air Transport Market (SAATM) arrangements to bring down the cost of air transport on the continent. d) Interconnectivity of Transport Networks Whereas African Governments have committed to realizing the development of major transport Corridors linking the continent, there are huge deficits as a result of missing interconnectors within modes and between modes. This deficit results in idle or lost capacities hence inefficiencies. Governments coordinated by their RECs should: i. fast track the construction of the key missing links on roads and railways transport corridors and prioritise the development of transport corridors on the navigable inland waterways that are cheaper to operate and maintain; and ii. Enhance digitalization and ensure efficient border crossings to underpin seamless transport chains, open up markets and enable efficient intermodal and multimodal transport systems. Hence, contribute to enhanced access to food. e) Sustainable Investment Strategies in the Transport Systems Governments to address alternative financing strategies to stem the over-reliance on the public sector to deliver transport infrastructure. Governments should: i. address the inordinately high costs of infrastructure delivery develop effective platforms to attract private sector investments ii. de-risk investments in the sector iii. ensure availability of maintenance resources iv. Address corruption in the procurement processes. These actions should translate to lower user charges expanded trade and cheaper access to food. f) Peace and Security in Enabling Seamless Transport Chains and Logistics. Governments should urgently address peace and security issues within their jurisdictions as they affect transport and logistics operations directly. It is a fact that large sections of linking corridors in Africa are sometimes closed for long periods due to attacks on trucks many a times transporting food to areas in distress. One of the key peace and security dividends is seamless transportation and logistics that should underpin access to food. قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic: Knowledge Transfer for future food systems in Africa There is a quiet Green Revolution happening in Africa. It is not at the pace of that which occurred in America, Asia and Europe. However, the shoots are there. This revolution will succeed on the backbone of knowledge transfer. Against the backdrop of a rising population that is set to double every 25 years, this development is timely so as to strengthen the food systems so as to ultimately meet the food security and nutrition needs of Africa. A number of things will need to happen in the next few years: 1. A special focus ... قراءة المزيدon the smallholder farmer in knowledge transfer 2. Further harnessing the use of radio and digital media in knowledge transfer 3. A special focus on increasing youth participation in agriculture for employment, income and sustainability. 4. A special focus on women, especially in decision making in agriculture. 5. Utilising climate smart agricultural practices including harnessing water resources and employing moisture conservation practices. 6. Forming strong partners so as to support the smallholder farmers. An example from East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer 1. We (East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer: https://kt.eastwestseed.com) are already doing knowledge transfer work in the vegetable sector in Uganda, Tanzania and Nigeria (in addition to similar work in Asia). We also intend to do so in other African countries in future. Our Knowledge Transfer centers around building skills on profitable and sustainable agricultural technologies and practices. Leveraging a peer learning approach, local Technical Field Officers support key farmers to manage hands-on demonstrations showcasing improved production practices. These are used as ‘hubs of good practices’ to train neighboring farmers on key stages of crop production: ● Improved land preparation (including optimal layout and raised beds). ● Sustainable soil management (understanding soil as a living system) ● Improved seedling production (showcasing different systems of seedling production from improved open bed nurseries to the use of leaf pots and seedling trays). ● Effective pest and disease management (including safe and judicious use of pesticides). ● Effective nutrient management (correct type, placement and timing of fertilisers). 3 East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Background information ● Use of trellising ● Use of mulching (rice straw and plastic) ● Water management ● Business management (variety selection, crop planning and farm record keeping). 2. We train agro-input suppliers for better product knowledge and increased access to inputs by farmers. 3. We carry out weekly market surveys that capture price trends. 4. We use an advanced monitoring app that is used to capture field and market data and also calculate rate of return that can be shared with farmers and other stakeholders. 5. We provide learning materials in hard copies and online (https://growhow.eastwestseed.com/) 6. We utilise the radio. For example, our weekly broadcast in Kaduna, Nigeria, reaches over 12 million listeners in 19 states. 7. Our special attention to youth and women will remain at the forefront of our work. 8. We are backed by our commercial company (East-West Seed) that produces and sells quality vegetables seeds. 9. We leverage our resources with those of like-minded organisations in order to have bigger impact and we will continue to do so. 10. This work is replicable by other organisations and can include all production systems/crops. The success of these actions can be measured by: 1. The sustainability of increased food production and marketing 2. Food and nutrition security in communities/countries 3. Increase in household incomes. 4. Increase in youth participation in agriculture 5. Increase in women decision making in agriculture. 6. Digital media use becomes widespread in agriculture. 7. Climate smart practices become the norm. قراءة القليل

Trade policies (import and export) to facilitate access to affordable, safe and nutritious food for consumers while contributing to EAC/COMESA/SADC countries economic and commercial objectives Recommendations: The need for/to: a) regional trade policies harmonisation to deal with the issues on Tariff and Non-Tariff Barriers/Technical Barriers to regional market access and trade; b) boost productivity and provide incentives to nurturing innovation for the development of priority regional agri-food value chains; c) regional harmonisation of food standards and quality assurance; d) foster strateg... قراءة المزيدic cooperation between private and public actors and among domestic producers, exporters, and policymakers; and e) create enabling environment for potential value chain actors (in terms of infrastructures, regulation, access to finance, insurance). Who should take these actions: a) EAC/COMESA/SADC Ways in which progress could be assessed:• a) Volumes and values of intra-regional trade in nutritious agri-foods; b) Reduced food imports from outside the region; c) Level of private sector investments in agri-food systems in the region; d) Level of small producers/SMEs integration into the agri-food value chains. Who should take these actions: a) Treat everyone as a stakeholder in food systems and final key stakeholder are CONSUMERS The call is for everyone to be involved; b) Value diversity and Engage inclusively An extension of treating everyone as a stakeholder is valuing diversity and engaging inclusively which are essential to achieve equity. c) Government responsible and accountability is critically National governments were most often identified as the primary actor to drive transformation. d) Engagement collaboratively in partnerships and CONSUMERS ARE KEY The Dialogues call for transformative partnerships, synergies, and alliances supported by multi-stakeholder platforms and networks and a need for all sectors and stakeholders to work together with governments toward food system transformation. Power imbalances will have to be acknowledged and managed. e) Empower excluded voices Women, Indigenous Peoples, smallholder farmers and other small-scale producers, and youth as needing and deserving special attention and engagement. قراءة القليل

Main findings that emerged from our Dialogue a) Food access and nutrition as a universal right to all human beings and the need to protect vulnerable groups in the food chain; b) Need for sustainable and resilient policies/strategies on food production, distribution, storage, processing, quality control among others; c) Need for efficient transport and logistics systems to ensure affordable cost of food, stemming post-harvest losses and stabilize food market supplies; d) Need for preferential and targeted tax regimes and low-cost financing (or subsidies) for food production inputs to cushion f... قراءة المزيدood producers from cost spikes that lead to high cost of food; e) Need to deepen food production value chains to make the activity viable and attractive to investors; f) Need to address climatic and environment degradation, enhance water conservation, and increase investments in research to enable the development of resilient food crops and relook at the current policies on GMOs going forward; g) There is a need to educate producers on climate smart agriculture and to incentivize its uptake; h) Involvement of stakeholders in the development of effective food access policies, plans and strategies; i) Mapping of food consumption patterns to ensure alignment with the needs of consumers and policy effectiveness in food access; j) Addressing food quality standards and disposal of the food waste to ensure nutritional aspects and sanitary disposal of the food waste including strengthening the regulatory and inspection frameworks; k) Integrating developments in IT as they impact several aspects of access to food including logistics, marketing, pricing, demand and supply dynamics among others specifically adopting a value chain/systems approach to increase efficiencies from farm to fork; l) The space for Regional Economic Communities in the development of harmonized regional policies, strategies, plans, legal frameworks that streamline production, transportation, distribution, and access to food in wider markets within their respective member states; and the m) Need to address other challenges including border closures, peace and security issues, and non-tariff barriers among others that stifle food distribution and hence access. قراءة القليل

Major Focus: What Eastern and Southern Africans Consumers Need for future food systems The problems of agriculture and food production in Eastern and Southern Africa have been there for a longtime. These problems have been brought about partly by the ensuing food systems in these parts of Africa. In these regions, farmers and consumers are disconnected. The distance between food production to the consumers' table is getting longer. Consumers are not sure where the foods come from nor by whom their foods are grown. In order to solve these problems, the transition from the global food system to ... قراءة المزيدa local food system is imperative. In a local food system, farmers and consumers are connected and they can help each other through easier flow of information. The global challenges of current food systems are fairly well known, including intensification of farming systems, leading to significant erosion of ecosystems, soil quality and biodiversity. As a result, roughly 850 million people have been rendered food insecure. Food waste is high in the farms, storage, retail and consumers kitchens. Diets in many countries are moving towards high a proportion of livestock products due to reduced number of crops as a result of dwindling genetic diversity. Add to this climate change and water scarcity. It means the need for change towards more sustainable and equitable food systems, greater collaboration between different sectors and stakeholders will be key. Their collaboration will strengthen consumer protection, the right to adequate food, securing better nutrition, better production, better environment and better lives, leaving no-one behind. East African Community Think Tank Association (EACTTA) is a critical player in achieving SDG1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger) and 3 (Good Health and Well-being) which is independently of national authorities but with the opportunity to formally connect into the Summit process through an official feedback mechanism. EACTTA will offer opportunities for all East and Southern Africans citizens to engage directly in proposing pathways towards sustainable food systems, exploring new ways of working together and encouraging collaborative action. EACTTA invited a broad range of stakeholders, including: • Those who work in roles that enable people to access food by growing, harvesting, packing, processing, distributing, selling, storing, marketing, consuming or disposing of food. • Those who work in sectors that shape food systems, including infrastructure, transport, financial services, information and technology. • Those who work in areas that influence or are affected by food system policies, including specialists in natural resources, the environment, the economy, culture, indigenous knowledge, policies, politics, trade, regulations and beyond. EACTTA Independent Dialogue sought to: (i) Mobilize policy makers, technocrats, academicians, development partners (local & international), farmers, transporters, food processors, hotel owners, food retailers and all stakeholders who are involved in the whole food supply chain within Eastern and Southern Africa to generate perspectives and pathways recommendations to improve food safety systems from the farmers to the consumers. (ii) Contribute to the realization of the EAC Food and Nutrition Security Strategy 2018-2022 and implementation of the Action Plan 2018-2023. (iii) Contribute to the AU Agenda 2063 and CAADP & AfCTA. (iv) Contribute to the attainment of the SDG 2 (end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition by promoting sustainable agriculture). قراءة القليل

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Although progress has been made and many solutions are available and already adopted, there is still a lot that can be done to achieve a truly sustainable and inclusive food supply chain. First of all, climate change is changing natural balances and ecosystems so rapidly that mitigation is no longer the only solution; adaptation should become a top priority. In order to make the agri-food sector more resilient and healthier - both for planet and for people - regenerative agricultural practices should be more widespread, by means of higher investments, rewarding policies for farmers, access to ... قراءة المزيدland, technical assistance, research on the importance of soil health, and education of the general public to raise awareness about the complexity of agronomy and nutrition. Indeed consumers play an important role in creating a sustainable, fair and inclusive marketplace. This marketplace is based on 6 pillars: food affordability, food safety, healthy food, sustainability and regeneration by supporting local food systems, transparent labelling and protection of personal date for online purchases. To be the tipping point of this marketplace, they need to be empowered to do so by making sustainability easier to understand and to reach through trust. Trust in companies to focus on real and responsible value creation, to respect the environment and human rights, to ensure living incomes are available for all producers and actors in the value chain, to stop engaging in lobbying, litigation and tax activities which make the work of government and civil society more difficult. On the other hand, local, regional and national governments should provide incentives which facilitate companies and investors in taking steps which might not pay off in the quarterly term but will protect people and the planet in the long term. They should also set in place clear targets on reducing food waste and ensure there is public and private collaboration to scale available solutions. قراءة القليل