AGRA

With urgency growing to deliver on zero hunger, the summit will focus on innovative ways, bold actions and commitments towards the continental food security agenda.

Kigali, Rwanda, March 3, 2022— The AGRF, Africa’s premier forum for food and agriculture, has launched its 12th annual summit under the theme ‘Grow, Nourish and Reward – Bold Actions for Resilient Food Systems’ to be held in Kigali Rwanda from September 5 to 9, 2022.

This year’s summit will call for accelerated action by leaders, innovators, businesses, private institutions, civil society, and development agencies to put forward bold actions and unite efforts towards the continental food security agenda.

Recognizing the urgency to deliver on the Malabo commitments and the sustainable development goals (SDGs), the AGRF 2022 summit will spotlight the ongoing efforts and country-led actions that can be scaled up towards food systems that deliver for the people, planet, and prosperity.

Speaking during the launch event, the Right Honourable Dr. Edouard Ngirente, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda reiterated Rwanda’s confidence in the AGRF 2022 to come up with a sustainable solution to the food system issue on the African continent.

“Rwanda is confident that the AGRF 2022 Summit will come up with concrete actions that can build sustainable and resilient food systems to feed nearly 256 million reportedly suffering from severe food insecurity on the African continent. Commodities such as beef, grain wheat, sugar, rice and soybeans that Africa has been importing, can be better produced on the continent if we implement the right policies.”

The Prime Minister of Rwanda welcomed delegates from across the continent and beyond to participate and contribute to the AGRF 2022 Summit.

The Summit will mobilize private and public investments, innovations, and country-based solutions and celebrate initiatives that are actionable and scalable in delivering food systems transformation.

H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn, the former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and the AGRF Chair said that while African leaders have shown commitment to support food systems transformation, collective action will be needed to accelerate progress and real change.

“No country is healthy unless food and livelihoods are healthy. Delivering for the planet, people, and prosperity will require collective efforts from all sectors. However, African governments should lead these efforts by prioritising and integrating policies that address multiple objectives including those that call for healthy and nutritious diets, decent income for the farmers and policies that address climate and other environmental fragilities.”

He added that as Africa builds back from the effects of the pandemic, leaders should ensure the pace lost in agriculture and food systems transformation is picked up to ensure the wholesome growth of people across the continent.

The AGRF 2022 Summit will be hosted by the Government of Rwanda and the AGRF Partner’s Group, the Summit comes at a pivotal time, a crossroads in Africa’s recovery and progress towards the deadline for zero hunger by 2030.

Some of the key highlights at this year’s AGRF 2022 Summit will include the Agribusiness Deal Room, a platform for connecting innovators with critically needed capital, the Presidential Summit, Farmers Forum, and a Youth Townhall.

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For Media inquiries, contact:

Eugene Kwibuka, ekwibuka@minagri.gov.rw / +250 788490241
AGRF Hudson Sandler, agrf@hudsonsandler.com/ Tel +254 703 516 173/ +250 788384065

About the AGRF

The AGRF is the world’s premier forum for African agriculture, bringing together stakeholders in the agricultural landscape to take practical actions and share lessons that will move African agriculture forward. Under AGRF’s current strategy, the Forum is particularly focused on driving progress of the Malabo Declaration by 2025 as the priority set of commitments African Heads of State and Governments have made to strengthen agricultural development at the center of the continent’s overall development and progress. The AGRF is organised by the AGRF Partners Group, a coalition of institutions that care about Africa’s agriculture transformation. https://agrf.org/

About the AGRF Partner’s Group

The AGRF Partners Group is made up of 26 leading actors in African agriculture all focused on putting farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economies. Members include: African Development Bank (AfDB), African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP), African Union Commission (AUC), Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Bayer AG, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), CGIAR System Organization, Corteva Agriscience, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Government of Rwanda, Grow Africa (AUDA-NEPAD), Heifer International, IKEA Foundation, International Development Research Center (IDRC), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Mastercard Foundation, OCP Group, Rockefeller Foundation, Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU), Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), Syngenta Foundation, The Tony Blair
Institute, UPL Limited, US Agency for International Development (USAID), Yara International ASA.

• Bank of America is investing $5 million (USD) in the Agri-Business Capital Fund (ABC Fund), becoming the first corporate global financial institution to invest in the Fund. Bank of America is also the first investor at the intermediate tranche level.
• This investment comes as the Fund reaches a milestone deployment of more than 20 investments in nine countries improving the lives of thousands of farmers.
• The Fund invests in smallholder farmers and small-to-medium sized agribusinesses in developing countries to support the development of sustainable value chains, job creation and better rural lives, in particular for youth and women. Its primary focus is on sub-Saharan Africa.

Luxembourg, 23 February 2022 – The Agri-Business Capital Fund (‘ABC Fund’) today announces that it has received its first investment from a corporate global financial institution, as Bank of America deploys $5 million (USD).

This landmark investment makes it a truly blended fund where public sector investments help attract commercial investors. This comes as the ABC Fund is getting strong momentum with a track record of improving rural livelihoods, creating jobs and strengthening farmers’ organisations and rural small-to medium sized enterprises.

So far, more than 20 investments have been made in nine countries – Benin, Bolivia Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, and Uganda. With more impact-yielding investments in the pipeline, it is expected that other private sector actors will follow suit. 

The ABC Fund is a blended-finance impact fund investing in smallholder farmers and small-to-medium sized rural agribusinesses in developing countries to support sustainable and inclusive agricultural value chains. Through its activities, the ABC Fund aims to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers with a particular focus on women and young people.

The blended finance structure supports an investment from Bank of America at the intermediate tranche (B-shares). All previous investors invested in the first loss tranche (C-shares) which acts as a buffer to stimulate commercial investments. The capital structure of the fund is made of three tranches of different sizes, risk-return profiles and maturity going from A to C-shares.

The Fund was initiated by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in partnership with, and is currently funded by investments from, the European Union, the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), the Luxembourg Government and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and IFAD. The IFAD investment was made possible thanks to financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

Thouraya Triki, Chair of the Board of the ABC Fund said: “By bringing investments to promising and entrepreneurial agribusinesses and farmer’s cooperatives, the ABC Fund is not only building the sustainable value chains of today and tomorrow, but also making a real difference to the lives of thousands of rural families, women and young people. Bank of America’s backing shows how public and private sector capital can come together to deliver additional impact. This is a first-of-a-kind investment in the ABC Fund and we hope it to be the first of many.”

Dan Letendre, Managing Director, Environmental, Social and Governance, at Bank of America said: “The ABC Fund is unlocking capital to build a more sustainable agricultural sector and meet the needs of rural farmers. The Fund will help to address the impacts of climate change on rural farming as well as drive more innovation in the sector to help meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Through this investment, Bank of America is supporting higher rural employment and access to inclusive business opportunities, and a more sustainable agribusiness today and for the future.”

Jean-Philippe de Schrevel, Founder and Managing Partner of Bamboo Capital Partners, commented: “We are delighted that Bank of America has come on board at this juncture. This reflects the successful execution of the ABC Fund’s investment strategy – especially against the backdrop of the pandemic. We are delighted with this first investment from an institutional investor – which further demonstrates the crucial role of private sector engagement, the blended finance approach and that strong impact and offering commercial investments opportunities, with an adequate risk-reward profile can go hand in hand.”

Jerry Parkes, CEO of Injaro Investments, commented: “This investment from Bank of America is a resounding endorsement of the ABC Fund’s blended finance model that seeks to crowd in private commercial capital to supplement the first-loss tranche provided by mission-driven impact investors. Most importantly, this additional capital enables the ABC Fund to support more rural agricultural SMEs and farmer cooperatives. We are thrilled with this development and look forward to welcoming more private commercial investors to join us on this journey.”

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Media Contacts: 

Impact & Influence bamboo@impactandinfluence.global

Notes to Editors: 

About the ABC Fund:
The ABC Fund is a blended-finance impact fund which provides catalytic financing to underserved yet profitable segments of agribusiness value chains in developing countries. The ABC Fund deploys loans and equity investments in farmer organisations, rural SMEs and financial institutions. They have potential for high growth and job creation and can also drive social development for their own communities and countries, but they often lack the capital they need to grow their businesses. The ABC Fund is managed by Bamboo Capital Partners in partnership with Injaro as investment advisors and with technical assistance led by Agriterra.

About Bank of America
At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. www.bankofamerica.com/environment

About Bamboo Capital Partners:
Bamboo Capital Partners (“Bamboo”) is an impact investing platform which provides innovative financing solutions to catalyse lasting impact. Bamboo bridges the gap between seed and growth stage funding through a full suite of finance options – from debt to equity – which it activates unilaterally or through strategic partnerships. Founded in 2007 by Jean-Philippe de Schrevel, Bamboo aims to improve the lives of the world’s most marginalized communities while delivering strong financial returns. Since its inception, Bamboo has raised $450m and invested in over 30 developing countries. Its investees have positively impacted over 193 million lives and supported over 48,000 jobs, including 17,900 jobs for women. The firm has a team of 30 professionals active across Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia. Bamboo also acts as the Asset Management arm of global impact firm Palladium, which operates in over 90 countries, following a strategic partnership in 2020. For more information, please visit www.bamboocp.com or follow @bamboocp.

About Injaro Investments:

Established in 2009 by Dadié Tayoraud and Jerry Parkes, Injaro Investments is a private capital investment firm with a long track record in impact investments in Africa. Injaro makes investments in debt, quasi-equity, and equity in African SMEs, deploying capital and solutions to create value for partners and investors. Injaro’s experience includes managing Injaro Agricultural Capital Holdings (“IACHL”), a US$49m impact investment fund focused on SME investments across the agricultural value chain in West Africa. Injaro’s investment portfolio has generated $107m of revenues and benefitted more than 3.7 million persons, mainly comprising smallholder farmers, low-income persons and their families. For more information, please visit www.injaroinvestments.com or follow @injaro on Twitter and Injaro Investments Limited on LinkedIn.

ABC Fund sponsors and partners:

The views in this press release are the sole responsibility of Bamboo Capital Partners and Injaro Investments. It does not reflect the views of the European Union, IFAD, SDC, the Government of Luxembourg, AGRA, the OACPS nor Bank of America. This document is for information and illustrative purposes only. This document is not intended as an offer or a recommendation or an invitation to purchase or sell financial instruments.

• Competition runs until March 31, 2022, and is open to groups that have been operating in the agriculture sector for the last three years and whose members are aged between 18 and 35 years old.
• The winning plan will be awarded the John Deere tractor (50 horsepower, 5050D TWD) to start the business.

Nairobi, Kenya 1 March 2022 – The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), John Deere Africa Middle East, and Mascor have launched a business plan writing competition for youth SME groups in Kenya for a chance to win a tractor.

The competition runs until March 31, 2022 and is open to groups that have been operating in the agriculture sector for the last three years, and whose members are aged between 18 and 35 years old. 

Each participating group will be required to write a business plan for running and managing a mechanisation service provision business. The winning plan will be awarded the John Deere tractor (50 horsepower, 5050D TWD) to start the business.

John Macharia, AGRA’s Kenya Country Manager said the competition will offer youth in the country an opportunity to start a business with a catalysing tool for agricultural development.

“We are supporting youth groups in Kenya to build a business from mechanising farming operations. Whereas it is vital for development of agriculture in Africa, we have the least mechanised solutions compared to the rest of the world. This has been driven by lack of tractors and implements where and when needed,” added Macharia said.

Despite early gains, the uptake of tractors in the region has not kept pace with demand. In 1960, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania had more tractors in use than India but by 2005 India had 100 times more tractors in use.

“Access to finance is probably the biggest obstacle to African smallholder farmers interested in adopting mechanised farming solutions to boost productivity. The profits they typically earn are insufficient to purchase tractors directly or even access a financing facility,” added Mr Macharia.

Mascor, the John Deere dealer in Kenya, will support the competition winner with Aftermarket services, parts and more.

The joint competition follows a recent partnership between AGRA and John Deere to support successful mechanisation service providers based on the John Deere S.M.A.R.T Model. 

AGRA supports small and medium-sized enterprises in business skills and financial management for growth, whilst John Deere, through its dealer network offers support with training operators, technician development, after-sales services, and financing equipment through John Deere Financial.

How to enter

Business plans can be submitted here: https://agra.org/win-a-john-deere-tractor  

The full eligibility criteria, business plan format and terms and conditions can be found here: https://agra.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/John-Deere-Criteria-and-TsCs.pdf 

About:

John Deere

With a rich history of more than 140 years in South Africa, John Deere is a trusted, world-renowned leader in producing turf, agricultural, construction, and forestry machinery solutions with state-of-the-art precision technology. With its continued focus to strengthen its presence throughout the Africa Middle East region (“AME”), John Deere AME serves its customers through more than 218 dealer touchpoints across Africa Middle East and support its Dealer Network with a Regional Parts Distribution center in South Africa as well as sales and marketing offices in South Africa and Kenya.

Committed to delivering a distinctive customer experience coupled with solutions-driven advice from its authorised dealer network and John Deere Financial Solutions, John Deere AME promotes food security while actively driving a successful and inclusive agricultural community whilst supporting the growth of Africa via its construction and forestry solutions.

With core values of integrity, quality, commitment and innovation, John Deere AME remains dedicated to the success of its customers, to those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the world’s dramatically increasing need for food, clothes, shelter and infrastructure.

More information: https://www.deere.africa/en/ 

AGRA

Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the centre of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Together with our partners, we catalyse and sustain an inclusive agricultural transformation to increase incomes and improve food security for 30 million farming households in 11 African countries by 2021.

More information: https://agra.org/ | Rebecca Weaver, rweaver@agra.org |

MASCOR

Mascor is one of Africa’s leading suppliers of Agricultural Equipment.

Mascor has an established dealer network in Kenya and Uganda with unrevoked technical capacity and parts stock to provide a distinctive customer experience.

We are committed to offering our clients, the most professional service, workmanship, high standards and quality products.
We believe in the importance of people and value creativity, innovation and enthusiasm.
We are proud to be an independent company committed to growth.
It is our goal to be recognised as the best in our field and more than that, to offer challenges and opportunities to all those dedicated to growing with us.

AT MASCOR, AFTER SALES SERVICE IS NOT A DEPARTMENT, IT IS A CULTURE IN EVERY DEPARTMENT.

We employ more than 495 staff members and believe in the power of positive people. The company is a proud member of the Plennegy Group of agricultural companies. 

With our feet planted firmly on the ground, Mascor continually strives to add value to the business of our customers and live true to our slogan of Operational Excellence.More information: https://www.mascorafrica.com/Kenya | www.facebook.com/Mascor.Kenya

Mbeya, Tanzania: February 16, 2022 – Boosting production of strategic crops, such as soybean, for local and international markets, as well as industrial raw materials, is the way forward for Tanzania’s agriculture, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania H.E. Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, has said.

H.E Kikwete, who is a member of the Board of AGRA (the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa), spoke in Mbeya Town, during his ongoing field tour of projects supported by the organization. He challenged stakeholders to beef up improved soybean farming in Mbeya, Njombe, Ruvuma, Iringa and other parts of the Southern Highland region to meet and expand the current annual market of 300,000 tonnes to China.

“A hectare of soybeans yields up to one tonne, which means about 300,000 hectares can produce enough for the Chinese market. We need to work together to introduce more farmers into soybean farming,” he said, lamenting cases of agro-processing industries operating below capacity due to inadequate raw material. 

Between 2017 and 2021, AGRA worked with diverse partners to link farmers to input and output markets, increasing maize, beans and soybean production in Iringa, Njombe and Ruvuma Regions.

H.E. Kikwete is accompanied by Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Agriculture Hon. Anthony Mavunde, AGRA’s Vice President for Program Innovation & Delivery, Agnes Asiimwe Konde and Tanzania Country Manager Vianey Rweyendela as well as private and public sector stakeholders. 

The Chief Executive Officer of the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT), Geoffrey Kirenga, called on agricultural stakeholders to continue promoting adoption of improved technologies to remain competitive, improve efficiency and quality of produce.

H.E. Kikwete’s delegation also visited Raphael Group Limited, a rice miller in Mbeya Town, which also deals in beans, sorghum, groundnuts, sunflower and maize. Raphael Group Limited is a key market, buying produce from over 42,000 small-scale farmers, some of whom have been supported by AGRA, through the SAGCOT initiative dubbed the Integrated Knowledge and Information for Agriculture (SIKIA), which has been critical in empowering rice farmers to increase yields and incomes.

“I value smallholder farmers. I am part of them. I work with them. I started from very low, with a small store where I could only keep eight bags of maize,” Raphael Simon Ndelwa, the CEO of Raphael Group, told the delegation.  The company provides warehousing facilities to smallholder farmers, who need storage for at least 10 bags of produce.

At Meru Agro-seed Multiplication Farm in Mbozi Songwe, H.E. Kikwete hailed the homegrown company for enabling smallholder farmers access quality seeds. The firm previously received support from AGRA to increase its maize seed multiplication capacity to over 3000 tonnes per season.  

“There is need to increase efforts in enabling more local production of improved seeds that are affordable for smallholder farmers,” he noted. 

The former President’s delegation also visited Mpui Saccos/Amcos, a farmers’ organization with over 1000 members that has benefited from AGRA’s initiative to increase production. Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Anthony Mavude, pledged to send experts from the ministry to work with the farmers on accessing sunflower seeds.

Earlier, the former President heard from agro-dealers, farmers organizations, aggregators and processors in the Iringa Region on how AGRA’s Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA) initiatives in Tanzania have increased uptake of their respective activities and production along the agriculture value chain.

Expressing satisfaction with AGRA’s impact in boosting the agricultural sector, H.E. Kikwete hailed self-made entrepreneurs including input suppliers and processors along the agriculture value chain, who started small and steadily grew into bigger and formidable enterprises serving thousands of farmers, with support from AGRA. 

About AGRA

Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Together with our partners, we catalyze and sustain an inclusive agricultural transformation to increase incomes and improve food security in 11 countries.

More information: https://agra.org/| Anthony Muchoki, amuchoki@gmail.com| +255 784 873 793|

 Rebecca Weaver, rweaver@agra.org| 

NAIROBI, Kenya: December 2, 2021 – The “Agri-Food Industry Organizations (AFIOs) as Change Agents” report has been launched today during a webinar organized by AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and NewForesight.

AFIOs are member-based entities that integrate different value chain actors, represent the collective business interests of their members, and work to address market failures. The AFIOs comprise federations, unions, apex organizations, producer organizations, cooperatives, societies, chambers of commerce, boards, and other business-interest groups from various agri-food subsectors.

The report, which is the result of a study in Nigeria, Tanzania and Ethiopia, will bridge the need for evidence on the contributions of AFIOs to support Africa’s agri- economic transformation. Furthermore, this report provides a new lens to understand this organizations through a systemic approach, helping donors, partners and other organizations to have a more comprehensive understanding of these organizations. 

Amongst the study’s important contributions is the development of a framework to better define and understand AFIOs by spotlighting these institutions and stressing how important it is to truly understand them from a strategic perspective.

“While AFIOs enhance the business environment and the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, they don’t often get the attention they deserve. This report sheds light on their role in representing the interests of their members, they are a much needed addition to improving the competitiveness of the agri-food space,” said Dr. Agnes Kalibata, AGRA President and Special Envoy to the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit.

“The report presents the key findings and opportunities for AFIOs to act as agents of change towards  IAT. The AFIOs, the study shows, can be strategic allies for different entities to increase their reach to smallholder farmers and SMEs globally, while serving to consolidate the activities of the public, private and development organizations for the quick attainment of IAT. There are interesting insights from the research, but perhaps the most important is that there is potential for AFIOs to do more.”

The report is available for download here.

About AGRA

AGRA is a farmer-centered, African-led, partnerships-driven institution that is working to transforming smallholder farming from a solitary struggle to survive to a business that thrives. In collaboration with its partners—including African governments, researchers, development partners, the private sector and civil society— AGRA’s work primarily focuses on smallholder farmers – people who typically cultivate staple crops on two hectares or less. AGRA is now recognized across the continent as a strong voice for African rural development, a prosperous agricultural economy, and for supporting thousands of small African businesses and millions of African families to improve agriculture as a way to ensure food security and improve their livelihoods.

More information: https://agra.org ; Rebecca Weaver, rweaver@agra.org;

About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates.

More information: https://gatesfoundation.org ;  media@gatesfoundation.org

About NewForesight

NewForesight is a strategy consultancy firm specialized in and dedicated to solving current and tough sustainability challenges. The company works with its clients to design structural, effective and long-term sustainability solutions that make business sense. NewForesight partners with leading companies, civil society organizations, governments and multi-stakeholder platforms to drive transitions in over 15 sectors and 20 countries.

More information: https://newforesight.com ; Silvana Paniagua, silvana.paniagua@newforesight.com;

Download the press release: https://agra.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/AFIOS-Press-Release-12-2-21.pdf

The President of AGRA, Dr. Agnes Kalibata, met with USAID Administrator Samantha Power to review the outcomes of the UN Food Systems Summit (UN FSS), held in New York, USA, last week.

In the Wednesday September 29, 2021 meeting, Dr. Kalibata and Administrator Power discussed strategies for supporting countries in fast-tracking the transformation of their food systems, and implementing other commitments made at the UN FSS.

The conversation addressed the urgent need for action on nutrition and healthy diets, adaptation to climate change, and the development of more inclusive food systems, with an emphasis on engaging women and young people. 

Administrator Power and Dr. Kalibata also discussed how AGRA can collaborate with the United States’  Feed the Future Initiative’s in-country efforts to reach farmers with climate-adapted crop varieties and large-scale food fortification in response to current crises, while building more nutritious, sustainable, and equitable food systems.

Started in 2009, Feed the Future is the U.S. Government’s initiative to address global hunger and food security, with the primary goal of reducing poverty and undernutrition by simultaneously promoting inclusive agriculture sector growth and improved nutritional status for women and children. At the UN FSS, the United States pledged a multi-year, USD 5 billion investment in Feed the Future.

Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Together with our partners, we catalyze and sustain an inclusive agricultural transformation to increase incomes and improve food security for 30 million farming households in 11 African countries by 2021.

-ENDS-

NAIROBI, Kenya – September 22, 2021:   Government leaders, scientists, agri-preneurs, and leaders of development organizations met in a high-level conversation to consolidate their priorities for food system transformation ahead of the UN Food Systems Summit (UN FSS) in New York from September 23 – 24, 2021. Participants called for a recommitment to strengthening Africa’s food systems with a particular focus on supporting smallholder farmers and women. The UN FSS side event discussed the continent’s strategies for reaching the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the CAADP Malabo Declaration, and Agenda 2067, critical targets to achieve food security and eradicate poverty from the continent. 

Leading the conversation was H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn, former Ethiopia Prime Minister and Board Chair of AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa), who reiterated the urgency for Africa to build resilient food systems with a particular focus on the critical role of smallholder farmers in agri-food value chains.

“[Supporting] Smallholder farmers is not an option for governments leaders, it is a necessity for the transformation of our food systems. And to be very clear, we must re-double our efforts to transform the productivity of our smallholder farmers in an eco-friendly and sustainable manner. There is an urgent need to help smallholder farmers cope with existing challenges and adopt to future climatic conditions,” he said.

Rodger Voorhies, President of the Global Growth and Opportunity Division at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation expressed optimism that the UN FSS will help African smallholder farmers to secure support for climate adaptation objectives.

“Small-scale producers are the foundation of Africa’s food system; so, it makes sense that an inclusive agricultural transformation, led by smallholder should be the central element of the broader food system transformation,” he said.

Evangelista Chekera, the CEO of Passion Poultry, a poultry equipment and manufacturing company in Zimbabwe, represents the growing number of agricultural focused entrepreneurs on the continent. Speaking during the session she appealed for financial and technical support to as a way of quickening the journey to food system transformation.

“We (young agri-preneurs) need more grants for us to do proper research and development in terms of the products and services we are coming up with…there is also a need for governments to create local hubs where young innovators can develop their products and solutions,” she said.

Closing the conversation, Dr. Godfrey Bahiigwa, the African Union Commission’s Director of Agriculture and Rural Development noted that:” The continent desires to meet its future food needs by doubling production on a sustainable basis, through adopting technologies that lead to high yields for crops and animals and through supporting agricultural research to develop climate-smart technologies while embracing the benefits of biotechnology”.

“Africa also desires to rely less on food importation and produce food on this continent to feed itself while at the same time save resources and create jobs in the continent, but we want to increase food production while protecting the environment for current and future generations,” he said in a speech on behalf of H.E. Josefa Sacko, the Commissioner for Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment at the African Union Commission.

The Africa common position at the UN FSS will be presented by H.E. Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Chair of the African Union.

 -ENDS

About AGRA

Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Together with our partners, we catalyze and sustain an inclusive agricultural transformation to increase incomes and improve food security for 30 million farming households in 11 African countries by 2021.

More information: https://agra.org ; Rebecca Weaver, rweaver@agra.org;

NAIROBI, Kenya: 09 September, 2021 – A new center has been launched to champion development of quality seed of improved varieties in Africa with the goal of boosting agricultural productivity.

The Center of Excellence for Seed Systems in Africa (CESSA) was unveiled today at the AGRF 2021 Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. It will be hosted at AGRA (the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa), whose role will be convening seed actors to help fill gaps, and build capacities and varieties that respond to needs of farmers in Sub Saharan Africa.

The center will begin operations in 2022, supporting governments, private sector and development partners to deliver modern, effective and resilient seed systems that serve African farmers better. It will strengthen the seed value chain, particularly variety development and release, production and distribution of both early generation and certified seed, farmer awareness creation and participation, quality assurance, national planning, policy and regulatory frameworks.  

“Initiatives for improving Africa’s seed systems by different public and private actors remain uncoordinated today. With partners, CESSA will bridge this gap, supporting informed, evidence-based decision making, investments and provision of technical advice and support for implementation of improved seed systems,” said Dr. George Bigirwa, AGRA’s Deputy Vice President for Program Innovations and Delivery.

CESSA, working with partners, will conduct national seed system analyses, provide advisory services and external technical assistance, as well as training and capacity building for the seed sector. This is in addition to fostering partnerships and networks leading to grants and other investments in the sector.

Dr Bigirwa noted: “We invite partners, countries and other agriculture sector stakeholders to partner with AGRA in this initiative to enhance sustainable productivity in African farms”.

AGRA has been contributing to the development of Africa’s seed system since 2006, when it was founded. In under 15 years, the organization has funded development and release of 659 improved varieties for 18 crops. This is in addition to supporting 119 homegrown seed companies in 18 African countries, which have, until now, produced 847,655 metric tonnes of quality seed, benefiting 25.1 million farmers.

Over the last year, AGRA has piloted a diagnostic process for seed systems, known as Seed System Assessment Tool (SeedSAT), in Ethiopia and Nigeria. Lessons from the SeedSAT, which will be one of the center’s components, will be used to deepen country-specific requirements.

CESSA is funded by PIATA partners.-

ENDS

About PIATA

PIATA is a strategic partnership that brings together funding and thought leadership from organizations active in African agriculture – AGRA, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the Rockefeller Foundation, Department for International Development (DFID), BMZ Germany and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

About AGRA

Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Together with our partners, we catalyze and sustain an inclusive agricultural transformation to increase incomes and improve food security for 30 million farming households in 11 African countries by 2021.

More information: https://agra.org ; Rebecca Weaver, rweaver@agra.org;

About AGRF

The AGRF is the premier forum for African agriculture, bringing together stakeholders in the agricultural landscape to take practical actions and share lessons that will move African agriculture forward. The Forum is designed to energize political will and advance the policies, programs and investments required to achieve an inclusive and sustainable agricultural transformation across the continent.

More information: https://agrf.org; Catherine Ndung’u cndungu@agra.org

Recognized for helping 25 million farmers in 13 countries to improve income and food production

Nairobi, Kenya, September 8, 2021 – The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has been awarded the 2021 Africa Food Prize, for work that has improved food security across 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. 

ICRISAT, a CGIAR Research Center, is a non-profit, non-political public international research organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world. 

Between 2007 and 2019, ICRISAT led a collaboration of partners to deliver the Tropical Legumes Project. The project, undertaken together with the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), developed 266 improved legume varieties and almost half a million tons of seed for a range of legume crops, including cowpeas, pigeon peas, chickpea, common bean, groundnut, and soybean. These new varieties have helped over 25 million smallholder farmers become more resilient to climate change, as well as pest and disease outbreaks.

In addition to these new varieties, the project trained 52 scientists, who are already working in national research institutes across the continent. Training these next generation scientists in the countries where the projects were implemented, has helped strengthen the research capacity of national agricultural research systems in Africa and contributed to sustaining the gains the projects have made. 

Congratulating the winner, H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, the Chair of the Africa Food Prize Committee and former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, said: “ICRISAT’s leadership in developing seeds that not only end malnutrition but also survive in semi-arid areas is inspiring other agricultural organisations to rethink seed development and farming practices that suit and solve Africa’s agricultural challenges.”

“Their work is also important as it provides an inclusive approach that supports the whole agricultural value chain, from farm to fork, providing farmers with farming tools and a market for their produce,’’ he said.

Accepting the award, Dr. Jacqueline d’Arros Hughes, ICRISAT Director General, said the Institute’s work spanned the entire value chain, from high-end genomics to markets and agri-business in dryland cropping systems. 

“We also empower women and attract youth back to agriculture using the latest tools and technologies available to make farming profitable. 

“The Africa Food Prize is a major accolade and recognition of ICRISAT’s work in Africa and reinforces our belief that agriculture can be profitable for smallholder farmers. It is also testament to the work of our close collaborators, the national agriculture research and extension systems, without whose support this would not have been possible. 

“We dedicate this award to the smallholder farmers in the drylands of Africa, as they are the ones who inspire us with their patience and perseverance in the face of adversity,” said Dr. Hughes.

Dryland ecosystems cover 45 per cent of Africa’s landmass and feed and support almost half a billion people. However, these systems are fragile and prone to the effects of climate change and environmental degradation. 

Programs like the Tropical Legumes projects help the millions of smallholder farmers relying on drylands ecosystems to grow more food and become more resilient in the face of climate change. The project has been implemented in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

The Africa Food Prize recognizes outstanding African individuals and institutions leading efforts in the following areas: transformation of Africa’s foods systems; promotion of sustainable agricultural practices; support for smallholder farmers to raise incomes; resilience in the wake of climate change impacts; and access to high quality agricultural inputs, knowledge, and equipment. The award, that includes a $100,000 prize, celebrates those changing the reality of farming in Africa from a struggle practice to a business that lifts communities out of poverty. 

Key impacts of the Tropical Legume Project

• Groundnut crop interventions demonstrated 32.35% increase in income, 6.72% households lifted out of poverty and 14% out of food insecurity.
• Ten groundnut varieties, including six high-yielding, drought-tolerant ones and four ELS, released in Mali.
• Seven groundnut varieties, with traits such as aflatoxin tolerance, early maturing, drought tolerance etc. released.
• In India, chickpea national program on developing improved varieties resulted in area enhancement up to 68%.
• Chickpea program in Ethiopia won a national award in 2013 for science and innovation.
• Seven-fold increase in number of improved common bean variety releases from 2011 to 2018.

Africa Food Prize – Previous winners

2020

Last year Dr. André Bationo and Dr. Catherine Nakalembe won the Africa Food Prize for their exceptional contribution towards the promotion of food security across the continent. 

2019

In 2019, Dr. Emma Naluyima, a smallholder farmer and private veterinarian from Uganda, and Baba Dioum, a policy champion and agricultural entrepreneur from Senegal were recognized for their remarkable achievements in demonstrating and promoting innovative and sustainable growth in Africa’s agriculture through improved resource use and market links. 

2018

The 2018 AFP award went to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) for its leadership in generating agricultural research and technologies that have improved food security, nutrition, and incomes for millions of people across Africa. 

2017

The 2017 winners were Kenyan professor Ruth Oniang’o and Malian Mme Maïmouna Sidibe Coulibaly, who were jointly recognized for their exemplary efforts in driving Africa’s agriculture transformation. 

2016

While in 2016 the AFP was awarded to Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze, a Nigerian and the former President of the Rome-based International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Dr. Nwanze was recognized for his outstanding leadership in putting Africa´s smallholder farmers at the center of the global agricultural agenda. 

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About the Africa Food Prize

The Africa Food Prize recognizes extraordinary women, men, and institutions whose outstanding contributions to African agriculture are forging a new era of sustainable food security and economic opportunity that elevates all Africans. The US $100,000 prize celebrates Africans who are taking control of Africa’s agriculture agenda. It puts a spotlight on bold initiatives and technical innovations that can be replicated across the continent to create a new era of food security and economic opportunity for all Africans.

Building on the values and principles established by the Yara Prize, the Africa Food Prize puts a bright spotlight on achievements and innovations with transformative power that can be scaled and replicated across the continent to eliminate hunger and poverty and provide a vital new source of employment and income.

The Africa Food prize is enabled by the sponsorship of Yara International and Corteva. The prize recognises exceptional individuals and institutions improving food security and catalyzing innovation and transformative change in Africa’s agricultural sector from amongst nominees. It is awarded every year during the annual AGRF Summit. 

For media inquiries contact:Agrf.media@hudsonsandler.com

NAIROBI, Kenya – September 7, 2021: The 2021 Africa Agriculture Status Report (AASR21) was launched today at the AGRF Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. The report addresses the challenges and opportunities in the creation of sustainable and resilient agri-food systems in Africa. It explores what Building Resilient and Sustainable Food Africa Systems entails, and calls for the necessary actions by governments, pan-African organizations, bilateral and multilateral development partners, and the private sector. 

“This year’s AASR21 details the practical steps all stakeholders from governments and regional organizations to the private sector need to take to rebuild and enhance Africa’s food systems,” said Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that despite the progress we’ve made over the last decade, Africa’s food systems remain fragile to external shocks. We must take the opportunity we have to rebuild from the pandemic, to make our food systems more resilient without putting further pressure on the environment,” Dr Kalibata added.

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has registered the most rapid rate of agricultural production growth since 2000 of any region of the world. However, three quarters of this growth is driven by the expansion of crop land, over yield increases.

With Africa’s population expected to double to nearly 2,5 billion by 2050, now is the time for stakeholders to put the steps in place to increase production without compromising the continent’s natural resources.

“Raising yields and productivity on existing farmland is among the most important ways to make African food systems more resilient and sustainable. Raising productivity on existing farmland will reduce pressures for continued expansion of cropland, and preserve valued forest and grassland ecosystems and the biodiversity that they provide,” said Andrew Cox, AGRA’s Chief of Staff and Strategy.

The report outlines the priorities and next steps that must be taken by all stakeholders to achieve the transformation that will lead to sustainable and resilient agri-food systems. “The AASR21 should serve as a wake-up call of the need to act urgently to support the creation of resilient food systems and reverse or mitigate the impact we’ve seen on the environment,” said Dr. Thom Jayne of Michigan State University, and lead author of the report.

“One of the first steps is meaningfully increase public investments in agricultural research, development and extension. While agricultural R&D spending has risen over the years, in SSA public investments amount to less than 1 percent of the agricultural GDP in most countries,” Dr. Jayne added.

The report further builds on the call to action to African governments from the UN Food Systems Summit, recognizing the need for urgency in this last decade of the global effort to realize the sustainable development goals (SDGs). 

The AASR21 was launched at the 11th edition of the AGRF Summit, an annual gathering that brings together heads of state and government, agriculture ministers, members of the civil society, private sector leaders, scientists and farmers in discussions that define the future of Africa’s food systems.

Under the theme Pathways to Recovery and Resilient Food Systems, this year’s AGRF Summit will explore the pathways and actions needed to steer the continent towards food systems that deliver sufficient and nutritious food, protect the environment and create sustainable jobs.

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You can view the report here.

About the AASR

The Africa Agriculture Status Report (AASR) is an annual publication that is published by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) since 2013. The AASR has become a reference point for emerging topics on agriculture in Sub Saharan Africa, such as Staple Crops (2013), Climate Change (2014), Youth in Agriculture (2015), Agricultural Transformation (2016), Smallholder Agriculture (2017), Government Capacity (2018), The Hidden Middle (2019) and Feeding Africa’s Cities (2020). The report has grown to be an important handbook for Africa’s leaders in their plans to transform the continent’s agricultural prospects. Among the trends observed in past reports include increased public private partnership, adoption of technology, use of improved agricultural inputs, a greater focus on capacity development and an expanded focus on extension services.

About AGRA

AGRA is a farmer-centered, African-led, partnerships-driven institution that is working to transform smallholder farming from a solitary struggle to survive to a business that thrives. In collaboration with its partners—including African governments, researchers, development partners, the private sector and civil society— AGRA’s work primarily focuses on smallholder farmers – men and women who typically cultivate staple crops on two hectares or less. AGRA has learned a lot from efforts during its first decade and is now recognized across the continent as a strong voice for African rural development, a prosperous agricultural economy, and for supporting thousands of small African businesses and millions of African families to improve agriculture as a way to ensure food security and improve their livelihoods.

About the AGRF

The AGRF was first held in 2006 as the African Green Revolution Conference (AGRC), hosted by Yara International ASA in Norway. The conference moved to Africa in 2010 with the championing of former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, who oversaw its transition to an African identity. The Forum now consists of an annual event combined with thematic platforms and activities throughout the year to ensure continuous progress over time. Kenya is the third country, after Rwanda and Ghana, to host the event twice, having successfully hosted the 2016 edition. Afterwards, Rwanda will host the event in alternate years, having been named the home of the AGRF seat. Other AGRF member countries will host the Forum in the years between. In its current format, the AGRF is organized by the AGRF Partners Group, a coalition of institutions that care about Africa’s agriculture transformation. 

For Media Inquiries Contact:

Hudson Sandler

Evelyne Wangui: +254 726 087451

Eugene Ng’ang’a: +254 703 516173

Agrf.media@hudsonsandler.com

For more information on the AGRF agenda and partners, visit www.agrf.org.