Explore Official Dialogue Feedback

The meeting with the Japan Food Industry Center Environment Committee was held to exchange opinions related to SDGs and sustainable food systems. The main remarks of the participants are as follows: - Regarding food loss and waste, besides working on the reduction at food manufacturing and processing site, we need to pay attention to the actual situation about how much raw materials are discarded at agricultural production site. It is necessary to visualize reality of food loss and waste across the entire value chain and what action is needed by each stakeholder. - For the Food Systems Summit,... Read more considering the Recommendations of the TCED(Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures), discussion should be proceeded after outlining the future image of food systems from various world views including 4 degree temperature rise and less than 2 degree temperature rise scenarios. - As an effort to reduce food loss and waste, it is halfway through to review business customaries across food supply chain, including the extension of delivery deadline by food retailers, and more efforts are needed. Read less

● Post-Harvest losses: Surveys show that over 40% of harvested food produce is left to rot due to inadequate storage facilities, poor logistics, and lack of infrastructure. Proposed solutions to mobilise the private sector to invest in transportation of food across the country using specialized storage vehicles. ● Insecurity: the inadequate capacity of security agencies to provide security and the poor state of Nigeria’s transport infrastructure discourages investment into the logistics sector of the food value chain. In the last few years, the farming community in Northern Nigeria has s... Read moreuffered displacement ● Poor quality Input: The unavailability and unaffordability of quality agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and seeds militate against the production of quality foods. ● The duplicity of standards enforcement: Nigeria has consistently failed to meet global food safety standards. This is a testament to poor adherence to food safety rules and best practices in food production in the country. Also, the duplication of food standard enforcement and regulatory mandates in government (SON & NAFDAC) constitute a hindrance to the effective management of food safety ● Market distortion activities such as bans on food e.g., Rice. There should be a plan to Improve local domestic infrastructure from planned food bans before implementation ● Several data sources on the status of food systems in Nigeria need to be harmonized ● Ambiguity in the certification and accreditation regimes. Integrate the regimes for the competitiveness of the stakeholders and operators of the value chains. ● Operation of logistics: Low-cost modular energy sources and technology for farmers and agri-businesses by the private sector. Read less

Track 4: Advanced Equitable Livelihoods What actions in next 3 years will have greatest impact on the Discussion topic? ● Availability and adequacy of capital and data at all levels to stimulate broad-based incentive growth. ● Leveraging government, donors, and private sector resources for coordinated investments in infrastructure, and service delivery in the value chains. ● Mechanism and framework development in transparency and accountability among institutions, systems, and stakeholders. ● System automation to identify and track primary producers, buyers, and regulators in the value... Read more chains. ● Intermittent stakeholders’ meetings and agricultural programs to advance an impartial livelihood and emerge the food system in Nigeria. ● The education and coordination of farmers in addressing issues of standards, quality, quantity, marketing, and involving them in incentive-based training through extension agents. ● Synthesis of service centers (registration and documentation of operators in the value chain, mechanization, irrigation, and agro-allied) with the local government and communities. Ways the actions will be measure ● Development of a Policy framework that sensitizes Nigerian especially those in the manufacturing sector to increase the quality of their bags who in turn sensitizes customers to reuse them. ● Post-harvest loss- Develop a policy to synergise the private sector and government to preserve agricultural products in Nigeria. ● Organised private sector should collaborate with small holder farmers to come up with a framework for engaging the government to improve the transport infrastructure for ease of transportation of agricultural products. ● The private sector should present a position paper on some of the issues plaguing farmers to the government to exert pressure on them to ensure a good ecosystem for agricultural practices in Nigeria. ● Private sector and government should educate farmers and sensitize them on Policies currently in place that they can take advantage of for agricultural benefit. Read less

Track 5: Build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks, and stress ● The implementation and renewal of the National agriculture resilience framework (NARF) should be made a priority. ● Establishment of sustainable food system policy for national development and the review of existing frameworks for better implementation and productivity. ● Within CGRI, take on climate risk profiles to map out opportunities to build resilience and quantify investments at the national and sub-national level ● Farmers should have access to climate information – information about impending climate problems... Read more should be communicated ● Get insurance companies involved in protecting informal farmers ● Engage state and local government actors in policy agenda ● Help farmers increase their yields – e.g. support for higher-yielding seeds, invest in seed systems, speed up the release process. Who should take the actions? ● Flour Milling Association of Nigeria is funding a survey with NBS on local wheat production. ● Water Life Systems Africa is looking to roll out national programs on wastewater treatment using PPP and grants in Nigeria. Ways the actions will be measured ● Build a measuring mechanism around policy and set key performance indicators ● Measuring mechanism which gathers feedback and information from private sector stakeholder – such as Nigerian export council working with NBS. ● There is a need to create a one-stop forum to monitor and collate the status of information in the agricultural sector: baselines for production, available seed variety, irrigation and extension services. Read less

The major focus of the Inception dialogue was a comprehensive exploration of the Food Systems in the Nigerian context. The discussions were held along the five action tracks of the UN Food Systems Summit. The facilitators led the participants to conduct a diagnosis of the food systems, identifying critical actions that need to be taken in the next three years, analyse how the selected actions will be measured, and agree on who the implementers/drivers of these actions will be. The dialogue uncovered the role of policy to improve the performance of the food systems on several fronts (1) access ... Read moreto high-quality seeds and input (2) Regulations on the standards of nutritious food (3) Guidelines that foster financial inclusion for the women, youth and vulnerable groups. The Nigerian agricultural system is threatened by climate change resulting in drought, flooding, erosion, low yields, and high infestation of pests and diseases. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a clear need to minimize the vulnerability of our food systems to shocks and stress. In the next few years, some of the actions that will give the highest impact include climate-smart agriculture (solar, irrigation, rainfed farming, recycling farm waste as manure). The adoption of processing technology, storage/warehousing facilities storage facility technology, will contribute to the reduction in the post-harvest loss while improving road infrastructure around food production centers. Despite several investments in the agricultural sector, the Nigerian food systems are still vulnerable to shocks, stress, and the effects of climate. Read less

● Standards and Regulations: There is an opportunity to create long-term wins in the Nigerian Food systems if we can implement standards for the quality of food produced in Nigeria across the value chain from high-quality input, good agronomy to management of post-harvest activities, storage, packaging, and distribution. ● Research and Development: The Private and Public sectors can establish a partnership to enhance domestic R&D capacity and ensure the dissemination & adoption of viable R&D output amongst Nigerian farmers. R&D is urgently needed for seed production, GAP, f... Read moreood preservation, etc. ● Awareness: There is a general lack of awareness about the composition of healthy diets. This could be done through the advertisement of healthy foods and products and the nutrients they contain and will stimulate demand for healthy foods. Public awareness should be widespread, including for producers, in schools, rural communities, etc. This will stimulate the demand for healthier options and persuade the sector to deliver on this demand. ● Logistics, Storage and Processing facilities: The private Sector should leverage the demand for logistics, storage, and processing facilities that support the production of healthy foods, including cold storage transportation. This is a key solution to post-harvest losses in several parts of the country. ● Technology and Climate Smart Practices for Resilience: Farmers should be connected to climate information – rainfall, drought, flooding etc. to enhance their preparedness for shocks and stress. To promote further resilience, agricultural technology companies should promote small-scale, low-cost modular energy sources, and technology for farmers and agri-businesses. Read less

Track 1: Zero Hunger & Improved Nutrition (Access to safe & Nutritious Food for All) Actions with the greatest impact for the next three years ● Collaborate with the government to define/develop a policy direction on the quality of food produced in Nigeria. This policy should include access to high-quality seeds, other input, and storage facilities. ● Deregulate the seed sector to allow for the use of technology to enhance the quality and productivity of seeds. ● Create incentives to make good quality fertilizer availability and affordability in the Nigerian market to enable farm... Read moreers’ access. ● Strengthen the capacity and availability of extension services to smallholder farmers. ● Enhance domestic R&D capacity and ensure adoption of viable R&D output on seed development by Nigerian farmers. ● Adopt the model of the ISD Tech-Match programme to up-scale domestic productivity and avoid post-harvest losses. Also, create interlinkages between global innovators in the value chain, local adopters, and implementing partners like the government. ● Upgrade the structure of Nigerian markets to include cooling rooms for fresh foods and vegetables to mitigate post-harvest losses. ● Reduce Post-Harvest Waste by improving logistics infrastructure. ● Roll out a policy on improving the capacity of Nigeria’s security capital and infrastructure to facilitate the inflow of investments into the logistics ecosystem. ● Adopt social behavioral change communication tactics to encourage the consumption of nutritious foods, incorporate nutrition education and proper cooking methods into primary and secondary health care advisory to address child malnutrition. ● The government should sustain the creation of awareness on proper nutrition especially in primary schools, secondary schools, and rural communities. ● Encourage private sector players to invest in the production of dried fruits and the adoption of packaging that appeals to children as this will improve their nutritional intake. ● Revise the advocacy or communication strategy for the implementation of proper nutrition to ensure that the benefits of adopting appropriate food & nutrition practices are emphasized alongside the cost of doing the alternative. ● There is a need to emphasize the empowerment of the female gender both educationally and economically as they are pertinent to enforcing appropriate nutrition. ● Consider cash transfers to mothers in the rural areas to enable them to afford nutritious food for themselves and their children. ● The government needs to improve its capacity to enforce and monitor standards and regulations in food production. ● The government should ensure that it creates a level playing field for local manufacturers to compete in the food market. This entails the imposition of tax breaks and low-interest credit for local innovators. Who should take the actions? ● The NESG should collaborate with the government to make a business case for the organized participation of the private sector in the logistics sub-sector of the food value chain, educating the private sector on the prospects of investing in the sub-sector. Ways the actions will be measured ● We will track changes in the number of malnourished children in Nigeria As improve nutrition will lead to a reduction. ● The Availability and affordability of food irrespective of its season will be a major indicator that we have made progress with food storage and processing ● We will measure the average yield of crop per season as an indicator of improved access to high-quality input and good agronomic practices. Read less

Track 2: Shift to Sustainable Consumption Patterns (Increase consumption of healthy foods, reduce consumption of unhealthy foods, and reduce food loss and waste at household and food service levels. Actions with the greatest impact for the next three years . ● There should be National Nutrition Criteria to guide producers to develop healthy products and consumers to select healthy products. The private sector needs to create business solutions around providing healthy alternatives to consumers, especially through leveraging local and traditional food products. ● Increased public awareness ... Read moreabout what healthy diets are – This could be done through the advertisement of healthy foods and products and the nutrients they contain and will stimulate demand for healthy foods. Public awareness should be widespread, including for producers, in schools, rural communities, etc. ● The private sector should fund research towards the development of healthy food products, including improved food preservation, as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. ● The private sector should invest in logistics, storage, and processing facilities that support the production of healthy foods, including cold storage transportation. ● Promotion of legislation that discourages producers from the production of unhealthy foods e.g., sugar taxes, but incentivizes them to invest in the nutrition value chain e.g., tax incentives for affordable, healthy foods ● Implementation of easy-to-understand nutrient labeling on food products and adequate regulation to prevent labeling fraud. ● Nutrition should be approached from a business perspective and not a humanitarian intervention perspective – This will encourage private sector participation. Who should take the actions? ● NAFDAC and SON: The agencies need to review their standards to include nutrient content guidelines and ensure that ingredients mentioned on labels are present and carrying out factory inspection to ensure that standards are followed before foods are released to the public ● Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning: The Ministry should convene organisations concerned and nutritionists to work together to produce uniform stance and messages on what constitutes a healthy diet. ● FIRS: The Federal Government should provide tax incentives to Private Sector organizations that actively promote the production and consumption of healthy foods ● National Assembly: Strict regulations should be passed at the National Assembly to deter advertisements of unhealthy foods, food fraud, and promote nutrition labeling. ● Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, other research institutes, and Universities: Research on infrastructure and technology that will improve the storage, preservation, and production of healthy and safe foods. ● Civil Society Organizations: Provide technical assistance to government agencies and conduct advocacy to the National Assembly. ● Private Sector Organizations, including Transport Unions: Adopt processes and products that facilitate access to and affordability of healthy foods. Ways the actions will be measured ● A major boost in the investment of cold chain infrastructure and other food system innovations. ● Engagement of youth entrepreneurs in the value of horticultural crop chain. ● Increase in the estimated number of policies and publicity in nutritional information that will encourage the consumption of a nutritional diet resulting in the reduction of malnutrition and non-communicable diseases. ● Higher demand for healthier food products by consumers will result in the reduction of micronutrient deficiencies ● Further conversation and formal dialogues around food systems in Nigeria. ● A major accretion in the demand for healthier food products by consumers will increase the nutritional food content produced ● Implementation of family life extension programs into the Nigerian agricultural extension scheme to address socio-cultural issues within rural farming households towards consumption of diversified diets rich in protein, fruits, and vegetables. Read less

Track 3: Boost Nature-Positive Production ● Development of land restoration, and irrigation system to reduce erosion and tree planting to serve as wind-breaker. ● Introduction of solar systems for irrigation to reduce the total reliance on energy. ● Establishment of a rainwater collection system and the release of the right quantity of water required to save the cost and reduce water waste. ● Proper education of smallholder farmers on innovative ways of improving farming, food, and seed systems, and reducing logistics issues. ● Reduction in post-harvest losses by improving warehouse ... Read morestructures ● Expansion of farm market roads in between warehouses, regulated by the government to move food products easier ● increase in the quality of bags (e.g., low-quality nylons etc.) to encourage reuse by Nigerians. ● Collaboration of NESG with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the coordination of key players to address linkages that can impact the farmers to improve the value chain. ● Leveraging technology between producers and consumers to return used products to the companies. ● Development of policies to encourage private sectors in the production of paper-based bags to reduce degradation of the ecosystem. ● Establishment of free trade zones in rural areas to improve the socio-economic development of the rural areas. ● Conversion of agricultural waste to value-added products and the development of policies to track carbon footprint through the value chain. Who should take the actions? ● Cold hubs- Will build cold rooms powered with solar panels in strategic places in markets and make it sustainable for people to bring their products and pay for their services. ● Saro Africa- will provide an integrated Agric value chain input by: a. Providing improved farm seeds to address the low yield of smallholder farmers. b. Training farmers on good agricultural practice. c. Offering extension service input to farmers. d. Aggregation and link farmers to off-takers ● Policymakers will create a legislative framework that covers the protection of the environment by industries and punishment for defaulting industries that venture into the manufacturing sector. ● Ecological funds from the government constitute 1% of the Federation Account and it is known as the Derivation and Ecology Fund. ● The private sector can contribute to this fund to aid the development of the ecosystem. ● Manufacturing industries can embark on afforestation to replace the trees logged for industrial purposes to encourage a sustainable green environment. Ways the actions will be measured • Build monitoring and evaluation frameworks and tracking systems like dashboards for real-time data across the 36 States on improved agro-ecological and climate-smart agriculture. • Provide technical assistance and capacity building programs to farmers to bridge knowledge gap through improved agricultural extension systems and this can be tracked by the ratio of farmers to number of agricultural extension officers as well as improved policies around agricultural extension system in Nigeria Read less

The Dialogue focused on a comprehensive discussion of food system through the discussion and the understanding of the entire food system and all the activities, actors and economic active agents that are involved including their interrelationship and how they affect each other. It considered what must be done along the value chain of production, storage, processing and marketing to ensure that we actually meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of safe and nutritious food for all as contained in the SDGs target. It also considered all the 5 Action Tracks of ensuring access to safe and nu... Read moretritious food for all, shift to sustainable consumption pattern; boosting of nature positive production; advance equitable livelihood and building resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stress. The Dialogue focused also on the examination of links among the Action Tracks and levers of change. The other areas of focus are the roles that can be played by all the stakeholders most especially the roles to be played by Government in terms of policy generation, development, formulation and implementation, the roles of the producers, processors and marketers and how these can be improved and enhanced to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Dialogue finally considered and focused on the effects of Climate Change on food production, processing, marketing and storage. Most participants also focused on how to reduce post-harvest losses. Read less

i) Producers expressed the cogent need for sustainable off-taker of their produce; ii) Processors to improve and deepen their value-addition technologies in their processing activities; iii) Aggressive adoption of improved good agronomic practices; iv) Establishment of conflict Resolution Committees in all Communities; v) Increased adoption of mechanization in all aspects of the various value chains mainly to attract the youths in the food systems activities, enhance efficiencies and improve productivities vi) Increased Extension service delivery at all levels of the food system – primary, p... Read moreroduction, processing & marketing; vii) Increased access to land especially for the vulnerable groups (women & youths) through land development; viii) Increased adoption of affordable informal irrigation schemes in rural communities to enhance sustainable availability of water for the various food system activities; ix) Increased adoption of organic farming strategies for the production of safe and healthy foods and for the sustainability of the farming environments; x) Rural Infrastructures (Access roads, potable water, electricity, storage facilities) xi) Massive and increased provision of primary health-care delivery facilities in the rural areas; xii) Improved access to credits with less encumbrances (conditions); xiii) Sustained increase in the adoption of E- Agriculture; E- Commerce and improved communication for wider outreach, etc. In the light of these satisfactory dispositions, the participants unanimously agreed and resolved to register and issue the following as the major take-homes (Communique) from the dialogue: 1) That the people of Achalla feel highly honoured and privileged for the opportunity to contribute directly to the very important national and international discourse. 2) That from the presentations, the concept of "Food System" goes beyond the traditional practices of crop and animal production as well as the mere food production and processing to include such other intimately related aspects of livelihoods as healthy living, environmental consciousness, peaceful co-existence and harmonious relationships among people. 3) That "Food System" is all encompassing with respect to livelihoods of everyone in every society both urban and rural. 4) That most rural dwellers involved in primary production activities like farming are getting old and weary while the younger generations are avoiding such productive activities because of the physical exertion of energy and drudgery involved and this informed the unanimous resolution for full mechanization of all farming and processing activities in the rural areas. 5) That the comprehensive food system may not have the expected far-reaching impacts on livelihoods of people if such basic infrastructures as primary health care delivery, schools, all-season access roads, potable water and electricity are not provided in the rural areas to stimulate the rural economies. 6) That Governments should not be left alone to provide for all the identified favourable conditions to enhance healthy living and sustainable food system and so private investors, Organizations, Institutions and Agencies should be encouraged to invest in those areas for the benefit of mankind. 7) That Irrigation and storage facilities should be installed and developed in areas with comparative advantages for primary production (farming) and processing to be able to withstand such shocks as experienced during the recent pandemic. 8) That all forms of open grazing and uncontrolled rearing of livestock should be stopped all over the country having led to loss of lives and caused a lot of problems among farming communities and their activities in the country. 9) Given that most urban dwellers depend on the rural areas for food production and such other primary socio-economic activities coupled with the harsh living conditions in those areas, Governments are urged to consider such incentives as tax holidays/exemptions, scholarships, free medical services, etc for the rural populace. 10) That regular and consistent trainings/capacity building programmes should be conducted for all stakeholders in the rural economies to keep them abreast of developments in their various activities, improve their productivities and increase in incomes and livelihoods. 11) That discussions on Food system of this nature should be conducted from time to time as a veritable means of re-enacting in people the essence of living healthily, productively and cooperatively for the common good. 12) That the participants are full of expectations given the impression that the dialogue is not like the usual Government-sponsored talk-shops and that the practical suggestions agreed upon and presented will be fully implemented and in the shortest possible time. Read less

Action Track No 1: Question; How to end hunger and all forms of malnutrition Responses: 1) Adoption of Organic Agricultural Practices Mechanization of Agriculture to attract youths (iii) making grants available to youths as input support (iv) regular training of farmers on record keeping and other modern technologies in farming practices 2) Give special training of young farmers in Agriculture with scholarship (ii) Employ Agricultural officers in ministries of Agricultures 3) Ensure security of our farmers 4) Government policies on Agriculture should be consistence 5) Training women on nutriti... Read moreon 6) Construction of access road to enhance food evacuation from farm. Question: How do we accelerate hunger reduction in Nigeria? Responses: 1) Employment of young graduates into the Agricultural sector and civil service and job creation for youths 2) Increased investment in Agriculture by Private sector and Government 3) Declaration of state of emergency in Agriculture (Government should focus more in Agriculture) 4) Proper implementation of Government policies on Agriculture in the state and Local Government Areas. 5) Immediate stop of the activities of killer herdsmen against farmers; (ii) Ranching of animals should be started all over the country 6) Deploy more mechanized farming implements 7) Making available subsidized farm inputs to farmers as incentives 8) Land development and construction of access farm roads Question: How do we make nutritious food more available and affordable in Nigeria? 1) Planting with quality planting materials, use organic manure, ensure value addition during processing, avoid adulteration of food. 2) Encouraging mixed cropping especially in cassava farms 3) Subsidizing the cost of fish feed to reduce the cost of production, breeding of high quality species of fingerlings Question: How do we make food safer from farm to table? 1) Ensure hygienic environment during processing, appropriate drying of fish before packaging 2) Use of rice polisher, de-stoners and sorters during rice-processing 3) Adoption of 3Rs strategies in the use of Agro-chemicals: Right time; Right Dosage/Application of right chemical at the right time to avoid food poison and Right processing of produce 4) Encourage natural fishing with nets and canoe in the abundant water bodies and to desist from the use of chemicals to fish. 5) Ensure quality and natural processing of foods devoid of use of additives and chemicals 6) Involvement of the Sanitary Inspectors at the Local Government Area. Question: What is the potential action that can be taken? 1) Capacity building/Trainings of Farmers, Processors, SME-operators; (ii) farmers to farmer visits/Learning routes to farms and processing centres of excellence for experience-sharing on various activities of Food systems. Question: Who are the main actors to ensure implementation? Farmers, Processors, Aggregators, Service Providers, Marketers, Agro dealers, Rural women in their groups, Youths, Transporters, and other value-chain Actors. Read less

Action Track No 2: Question: How do we create enabling food environment for healthy and sustainable dietary practices? 1) Avoid all forms of adulteration in rice during processing 2) Regulation and standardization of foods; (ii) Build the capacities of processors. Question: How do we improve the experience of healthier and more sustainable food? 1) Intensification of Nutrition Education 2) Avoid too much spices in food preparations Question: How do we halve food wastes at food service, retail and household levels? 1) Intensification of Home training by parents in the areas of food processing p... Read moreanel and presentation by Mothers particularly 2) Identification of consumer/market before producing (ii) Networking of marketers 3) Quality Value addition to improve taste, shelf-life, packaging and quality of food. Read less

Action Track No 3: Question: How do we protect natural ecosystems against new conversion for food and feed production? 1) Planting of cover crops, crop rotation 2) Reduce bush burning and encourage compost making; 3) Use of Organic manures and Tree-planting Question: How do we sustainably manage existing food production systems to the benefit of both nature and people? 1) Integrated fish/vegetable farming e.g. channeling fish pond water to vegetable farms 2) Conversion of waste to wealth, proper effluents discharge from cassava processing centres; Cassava-peels for ruminants and other animal f... Read moreeeds; rice-husks into briquettes for cooking and parboiling of rice. Question: How do we restore and rehabilitate degraded ecosystem and soil function for sustainable food production? 1) Adoption of Climate Smart Agricultural practices; (ii) Liming/local ash, organic manure; (iii) Efficient and effective use of fragile and marginal topographies for Agricultural purposes Read less

Action Track No 4: Question: What do we need to consider to address food insecurity and enhance food system resiliency in Nigeria? 1) Embark on non-capital-intensive agricultural Enterprises like (rabbit, mush room, snail) farming, Apiculture 2) Encourage dry season farming using informal irrigation practices 3) Ensure Security of lives and properties of farmers as food security derives from both local and National security 4) Regular capacity building of farmers and processors on modern technologies in production and processing. Question: What are the cross-cutting solutions between economic,... Read more social and environmental resilience in Nigeria? 1) Bad roads, insecurity, high interest rate of defaults in agricultural loans, impacts of climate change on the environments generally Question: What solution can we propose to address food insecurity and prevent future sources of conflicts, manage tension? 1) Consistent use of quality inputs: Improved seeds/Planting Materials, Good Agronomic Practices, value addition, conflict resolution committees 2) Every programme should have conflict resolution committee and should be funded by the programme. (ii) Use of modern ranching methods in cattle rearing and land demarcation for different agricultural purposes. Read less

Action Track No 5: Question: What are the potential actions that could be taken to advance equitable livelihoods in the context of food systems in Nigeria? 1) Unrestricted commitment by all in their various activities in the society to enhance sustainability. 2) Establishment and build-up of food reserves at the various levels of the society strategy. 3) Domestic garden/home garden, (ii) rearing of local birds. (iii) Networking amongst stakeholders. (iv) setting up of designated accounts/budgets for food emergency/crisis by Governments; Question: Who are the main actors that would put this act... Read moreion into place in Nigeria? Processors, Producers, Marketers, Middlemen, Government, NGOs, transporters, Agro dealers Read less

a) Over dependence on Governments for the various Agricultural Development activities and programmes and thus the cogent need for private sector involvement at all levels of the food system; b) Poor accessibility to credits by Rural dwellers as they craved for easier and less bureaucratic access to finances for their respective activities.

1. The need for a national natural water standard is under debate. 2. Subsidized and incentivize the producers for environmental and ecological acts is questionable. 3. Ecological corridors area – some fear that ecological corridors will limit and impair agriculture demands and production. 4. Multi functionality of agriculture lands – does all the component in the equation are equal or agriculture demands has priority to environment, culture, social, landscape demands?

In the second meeting of the “Local implications of global challenges” Dialogue it comprised five round tables, which dealt with the following topics: Biodiversity; Open Landscapes; Invasive species; Water resources & supply and Marine resources. The major focus was to determine our vision and goals for the Israeli food systems in the year 2030. There was a wide consensus that in our vision we will have a clear, detailed governmental “Food safety policy”, and according to this policy, the targets, working plans, monitoring-systems, risk-assessments and feedbacks concerning food and... Read more water supply, environmental and biodiversity needs will be determined. In the “Biodiversity” vision we should adopt a holistic point of view regarding nature and environment as crucial-integrated partner in agriculture and food-systems demands. “Marine Resources” vision is to increase the local consumption by concentrating in the local fishery and aquaculture as well as shifting to consumption of species of low trophic levels. In our vision we will develop high-technology methods to enhance prevention, early and quick identification of invasive species. We will to improve agriculture in many aspects and create new synergism like the use of agrovoltaic systems. Read less

The main findings and goals discussed in our Dialogue are listed below according to their round-table topic. Water resources & supply: • Increasing the percentage of treated-wastewater reuse for agricultural needs – today the ratio between freshwater use and treated-water use is around 1:2 and we should strive for 100% treated-water agricultural use. • Improving the wastewater quality and minimizing the amount of lost surplus water. • Minimize the rate of rivers and sea pollution due to sewerage and wastewater faults. • Creating a national standard for treated wastewater. • Inc... Read morereasing the availability of agricultural water around the country, and as a result increasing the agricultural lands in Israel, mainly in the south. • Adding Magnesium to reach levels of 20-30mg/L • Cooperation with neighboring countries regards the treatment and regularization of wastewater. Open Landscapes: • Regulating a new “Sustainable agriculture law” • Generating multipurpose roles for agricultural lands (for energy, environment, culture and social needs). • Generating “ecological corridors “. • Increasing the percentage of agricultural lands cultivated by agro-ecological methods. • Decreasing the production and consumption of animal originated food. • Develop new agricultural technologies. Marine Resources: • Increasing consumption of marine-originated food from local fishery and aquaculture to 10% (compare to 1% today). • Develop breeding programs to enable intensive marine farms for young fish, whereas the adults fish will be grown oversea. • Creating a quota for each taxa according to ongoing monitoring and fishing data. • Develop more terrestrial intensive aquaculture farms. • Reducing financial expenses for aquaculture. • Creating new technologies to minimize the marine environmental damages due to fishery and aquaculture. Biodiversity: • Planning the different agriculture sections according to their impact on biodiversity. • Mapping and identifying agricultural lands which have high importance for biodiversity. • Preserving and reuse of local vegetation for agriculture and food systems. • Researching the importance of the soil and its unique ecology. • Preserving in 3 levels – ex-situ, in-situ, on-farm, according to the taxa (Gene bank, heirloom seeds) • Educating about the interactions between agriculture /food systems and environment, including the economics involved. Invasive species: • Preventing the invasion of new or pathogenic species at the ports, before entering to the country. • Develop mobile and rapid techniques to identify new species invasion which can be easily used in the field. • Creating uniform validated standards of operations to deal with invasive species after their invasion to the country. • Encourage and support research regarding resistant crops • Creating a computerized monitoring and mapping data system, transparent to all users. Read less