Independent Dialogue
Geographical focus:
No borders
Discussion topic outcome
In the food systems within which you university is embedded, what are the key opportunities for transformed, sustainable food systems? - Infrastructure / markets o Leverage on ICT infrastructure that is already in place to develop solutions to community problems o During Covid-19 many lessons were learnt. Food tunnels at universities were used to feed students and teach them that sustainable food systems start at home. Food gardens are an important component. o Displaced people during Covid started food gardens successfully o Look at foods that are lacking in the diets such as fresh fruits and
... Read more vegetables. More fruits and vegetables are needed to increase nutrients of concern in the diets of the continent. Production, processing, distribution and education integration to achieve solutions in the future o Innovation and digitalisation to increase resilience and productivity of small-scale farmers o The Covid19 crisis indeed could be an opportunity to think of more locally rooted food systems (what foods I can get from my environment?) - Stakeholder engagement /collaboration / partnerships o Opportunities for change through forums such as this dialogue o High percentage of young people in the region. They are creative and yet have not been given the opportunity to explore in sustainable food systems o A critical mass of people interested in business o Identify where the main leakages occur along the food system, which will create opportunities for research, collaborations as you fill the leakages. o There is immense opportunity for collaboration locally, regionally and internationally to advance understanding, strategize, build capacity and harness opportunities o Invest in diversification of agricultural production and consumption to curb the double burden of malnutrition o Emerging structure to break silo's between institutions but also within an institution. Often the focus is on a particular commodity - rather than on a food system including all multidisciplinary aspects and all stakeholders - Resource mobilization o There are opportunities for funding - Research opportunities / Capacity Building o Transdisciplinary research teams from different departments within Universities Public health problem is a problem that needs to be solved in real life and not only by research and academics, focus on production to consumption, include all the different departments to work on food system o Universities can share and learn from each other in regards to developed online courses and resources o Global nutrition summit is important as research is needed from higher education systems o Opportunities for business, research and collaborations o Availability of skilled and unskilled labour for farm activities; abundant fertile land, tropical ecology and grass lands and huge local markets due to adequate population, which translates into potential demand for all foods from agriculture o Emerging attempts at new forms of cross-disciplinary training focused on food supply chains & production systems together, so that agricultural extension and marketing, processing and digital innovation can be brought together. o Some attempts to link universities with agricultural colleges and ATVETs so that innovations will flow through the whole system and have impact Read less
Action Track(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Keywords: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Finance, Governance, Innovation, Policy, Trade-offs, Women & Youth Empowerment