This symposium will focus on the urgent need to transform African food systems to cope with the challenges posed by climate change. Join us as we explore innovative policies, practices, and technologies that promote climate-resilient agriculture, enhance adaptation and mitigation strategies, and ensure food security in the face of changing climatic conditions. Engage with experts, policymakers, and researchers as they share their experiences and insights on harnessing climate data, indigenous knowledge, and technological innovations to build resilient agricultural systems. Together, we will identify policy pathways and investments needed to transform African food systems, promote sustainable livelihoods, and safeguard the well-being of vulnerable communities in the region.

 

AS INVITED

Moderator

Ms. Morgan Gillespy, Global Director of the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU)

Keynote

Prof. Andrew Campbell, interim Executive Managing Director, CGIAR

Fireside Chat:

Dr. Enock Chikava, Director of Agricultural Development, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)

Ms. Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven, Managing Director, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

Dr Daniel Elger, CEO, CABI

 

Panel Discussion 1

Hon. Ismael Sombie, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, People's Republic of Burkina Faso

Dr. Bram Govaerts is Director General (Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer) of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

Dr. George Bigirwa, Head of Seed Systems Development, AGRA

Dr. Edward Mabaya, Research Professor and Director of Humphrey Fellowship Program, Department of Global Development, Cornell University (CONFIRMED).

Hon. Dr. Girma Amente, Minister of Agriculture, Republic of Ethiopia

Ms. Vivian Onano, Founder/Director at Leading Light Initiative

Mr. Stefan Schmitz, Executive Director, Global Crop Diversity Trust

Dr. Jian Liu, Director of the Science Division, United Nation Environment Program (UNEP)

 

Panel Discussion 2

Hon. Dr. Said Hussein Lid, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Federal Republic of Somalia

Dr. Canisius Kanangire, Executive Director, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF)

Ms. Dina Esposito, Assistant to the Administrator - Resilience and Food Security (RFS) at USAID, Feed the Future Deputy Coordinator for Development, & Global Food Crisis Coordinator

Dr. Joe DeVries, President Seed Systems Group, AGRA

Dr. Evan Girvetz- Principal Scientist and Global Program Leader, Finance and Investments for Climate Action CIAT

Ms. Josephine Okot, CEO, Victoria Seeds

Dr. Baboucar Manneh, Director General, Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice)

Mr. Gonzalo Muñoz, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion from the COP25 Presidency, Chile

Dr Segenet Kelemu, Director General International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology.

Closing Remarks: Hon. Aly Gouille Ndiaye, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Equipment, Republic of Senegal