Explore Official Dialogue Feedback

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 ... Read moretheir 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 Read less

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... Read moreastic 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. Read less

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,... Read more 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. Read less

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 ... Read moreControl 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. Read less

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... Read moresue 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. Read less

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... Read moreter 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. Read less

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... Read more. 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 Read less

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... Read moretious 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); Read less

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... Read moreonstituent 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. Read less

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 ... Read moreon 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. Read less

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... Read moreic 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. Read less

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... Read moreood 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. Read less

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 ... Read morea 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). Read less

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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 ... Read moreland, 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. Read less

The Dialogue provided solutions to some current problems and challenges of the food supply chain and, in particular, in the agri-food sector. Currently, the agri-food sector is responsible for 28% of total GHG emissions and 80% of deforestation is a result of agricultural production. Moreover, climate change is putting a strain on natural resources: a higher volatility of crops and yields goes hand in hand with the loss of 10 million hectares of arable land every year, limiting the availability of natural resources. On the other hand, the world population is expected to grow by 25% by 2050, ma... Read moreking increasingly harder to feed a larger population with few natural resources. At present 800 million people suffer from hunger and malnutrition and yet 1/3 of the food production (40%, 2.5 tons) is wasted along the supply chain every year, with an enormous effect not only on food safety and the environment, but also on the economy: wasting food means wasting money and the resources - land, labour, fertilisers, electricity, water and fuel - used to produce it. Food safety, rising food price and the need for a more sustainable lifestyle are the top concerns and priorities for consumers all around the world. Luckily, some solutions to such challenges are already at hand. Generally speaking, there is not a unique solution or only one step in the food supply chain to take, rather a systemic, holistic approach must and can be adopted all along the food supply chain, in order to involve all stakeholders in the decision-making process and in the realisation of such process. For example, companies' sustainable strategies are proven to be rewarding and profitable for the companies themselves, especially when they go hand in hand with high quality products. A value proposition based on these two pillars can be achieved by adopting a long-term vision based on solid scientific-based solutions and innovation, by "walking the talk", by rewarding farmers who adopt best practices and by creating value for the consumers. At the same time, agricultural practices pursuing a double benefit of healing the environment and people's health are on the rise. An example is regenerative organic agriculture, which has found that increasing soil health means also increasing human health, thanks to higher nutritional qualities of food. Other advantages are: healthier waterways, +40% carbon sequestration, - 40% GHG emissions, -45% energy use, from 3-6 times more profitable than compared to conventional agriculture, higher levels of animal welfare and lower healthcare costs thanks to a reduced exposure to toxic chemicals. All along the food supply chain, adopting a science-based approach is key: companies cannot follow a sustainable path and take the right decisions without the support of data and metrics. These help companies to set science-based targets, to identify hotspots, measure progress, measure their impact on the supply chain. Once all data are collected, the company's path towards sustainability can be communicated, in order to create a strong engagement from the public through storytelling. Engagement is key also in other steps of the supply chain, such as food waste, which has been identified the no.1 solution against climate change. By creating a marketplace for food surplus, where oversupply and demand meet, companies and consumers are inspired and empowered to combat food waste, with impressive results. In the five years since the creation of such a marketplace, more than 90 million meals have been saved. This shows once again that cooperation among all players in the food supply chain, from fork to farm back to fork, is the only effective solution. Read less

In general, participants to the dialogue concurred on the challenges and solutions to promoting nutrition and gender equality. However divergences of views emerged between countries and contexts given these issues are very context-specific and dependent on local/national policies and traditional/cultural practices. For instance, maternity and breastfeeding policies differ from one country to another and therefore require a different response. The same applies to local regulations and cultural practices affecting women and girls’ nutrition (e.g. child marriage, education accessible to boys on... Read morely or banned for pregnant girls, access to land policies, etc.) Read less

Recommendations: 1 Women and the 1,000 days window Educating women and youth on micro-enterprise opportunities in the food systems, technology and access to microfinance with educative resources Establishing climate-smart agro hubs that assist women smallholder farmers and women/youth food system entrepreneurs to produce high-quality foods for their local community ; and increase their own incomes and agency Enhancing nutrition education for women, including on the 1,000 days window, regardless of their level of education, as a way to sustain nutrition gains and supporting them to address the ... Read morechallenges they may face during this crucial time Promoting and providing breastfeeding support Strengthening collaboration between health systems and social protection interventions; and aligning nutrition health and social protection policies with food systems transformation to promote adequate nutrition Maintaining a balance between information from public health and commercial channels by involving women in the development of public health interventions at the community level Foreign aid and donors should always ensure that their interventions have the best possible understanding of the needs and cultural contexts of communities they work with Engaging men and boys in conversations addressing social and cultural norms preventing women to achieve a good nutrition status, and in the co-design of programs Learn from successful behaviour change campaigns to effectively address perceptions, and invest in formative research 2 Human right and accountability Government’s food system policies should make nutritious food more affordable and available to everyone instead of focusing only on ending hunger Governments should ensure that nutrition education is implemented at a national level Adolescent girls’ access to key nutrition information and services should be considered in the UNFSS The rights of land owners should be addressed as part of the Summit’s game changing solutions Commitments at the UNFSS should come with an accountability mechanism allowing civil societies to track progress made by governments, especially on human rights The private sector should respect the right to adequate food, by providing more transparent information on the content of their products More precise international legal instruments should be established to ensure that countries understand hunger and malnutrition, and what policy and interventions are needed to tackle them Existing accountability mechanisms, such as the Universal Periodic Review, should be adapted to country level and should ensure that countries are held accountable to report progress against fundamental rights in food systems 3 Women as economic actors Create a safe and meaningful space for women and girls to engage in policy discussions and demand their rights through platforms at national and decentralised levels, including in governments and parliaments Protect children from entering the workforce. Most child labor happens in the agriculture sector so it is vital that children, particulalry girls, are protected from exploitative labor practices and incentivised to go to school Create viable career opportunities for young people, especially girls, including in the agriculture sector, to ensure sustainable food systems offer fair living incomes Raise awareness among men and boys for them to challenge social norms and champion gender justice Back gender-transformative awareness raising activities with accurate scientific research and data Promote traditional agricultural practices, with women at the heart of decision making, in the face of undue influence from large agricultural companies selling seeds and GMOs at competitive prices to the detriment of traditional agro-ecological practices Put the policy and legal systems in place to enable women farmers to access land, to safely sell their products, to access capital for investment in agriculture, and to challenge cultural norms. This would in turn encourage sustainable investments benefiting the economy at large. Provide a meaningful space for civil society to represent the voices of the most vulnerable groups Read less

Overall, speakers and participants agreed to the need for elevating the role of nutrition and gender equality as key levers in the food systems transformation equation across the UNFSS agenda. Good nutrition requires a healthy and diverse diet that derives from healthy soils and biodiverse terrestrial and ocean ecosystems. Gender equality requires transformation in the power imbalances affecting women and girls, equitable service provision (food, health, education, etc.), and an end to harmful traditional and cultural practices, coupled with an enabling policy and legal environment where women... Read more and girls have agency of their choices and a space to exercise their rights. Orienting our food systems towards delivering good nutrition, and changing our mindsets in favour of women and girls, is thus healthier, more equitable and more sustainable for both people and the planet: a clear win-win across all agendas and a must-do to put all countries back on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. More specifically, breakout group discussions unearthed specific challenges and recommendations as summarised below: ​​1- Women and the 1,000 days window: The first breakout room discussed the importance of the 1,000 days window for women’s nutrition. They agreed on the health benefits of breastfeeding for women and children, and on the need to empower women, by making accessible all the information and scientific knowledge they need to make the best-informed decisions for themselves and their families, according to their own circumstances. The group also discussed social norms and behaviour change, and the common challenges, including the lack of accessibility of information at the community level, lack of translation, misinformation spread across social media and marketing that contradicts the value of breastfeeding in the 1,000-day window. The group specifically recommends governments to promote enabling environments for allowing women to make the best-informed decisions for their own health and for their families. 2- Human right and accountability: The second breakout group discussed the need for an effective accountability mechanism to track countries’ progress in the realisation of human rights, as part of their commitments to enhance food systems. It has been agreed that many countries have unfortunately not sufficiently promoted, fulfilled and realised the right to adequate food, and that nutrition interventions are often confused with tackling hunger. Malnutrition and hunger affect countries in many different ways: the groups discussed how overnutrition, undernutrition and anaemia affect populations differently. The group agreed that the existing accountability mechanisms, such as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), are not sufficiently used to track progress on the right to adequate food, and are not adapted for being used at a country level. The lack of integration of human rights in the agenda of the UN Food System Summit was often mentioned. The group agreed that the affordability and availability of nutritious food, as well as the social and economic underlying causes of malnutrition and hunger, are the main issues to be solved, to achieve the realisation of the right to adequate food. The violation of farmers’ land rights and the issues of commercialisation and profits of nutritious food, which are not being shared appropriately with farmers and producers, have been raised as fundamental concerns that governments and the UN Food System Summit should address. 3 - Women as economic actors: The third breakout group discussed the barriers and solutions to women’s agency over their economic choices and perspectives, and the impact on nutrition. Participants covered issues faced by women when it comes to providing nutritious foods for their community and family, exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19. Women compose the majority of smallholder farmers and remain the most malnourished, which in turn affects their economic activity. In some contexts, women are not empowered or given the right to access income-generating activities or to manage household budgets. Cultural practices were also largely discussed as preventing women and girls playing a key role in decisions and productive assets. The other common challenge mentioned is the unequal access to education, disproportionately affecting girls who are still largely responsible for household chores and victims of harmful traditional practices such as child marriage. Lastly the lack of spaces for women to participate in decision-making processes at any level was also seen as a major barrier. The group agreed on common solutions and recommendations, to be tailored according to context. These can be found in section C. Read less