This event is organized by PIM.CGIAR.ORG

At first glance, African smallholder farmers might seem unproductive, as their crops yield much less than potential and are often of variable quality. A new PIM-supported book “African Farmers, Value Chains, and Agricultural Development” argues that in fact they are largely producing following rational economic decisions, and that this situation is a consequence of the economic and institutional environment in which they produce. The authors Alan de Brauw and Erwin Bulte discuss ways that different types of transaction costs limit their market opportunities in general, including transport costs but also costs related to different sources of risks, trust, market power, liquidity, and even storage. The presence of high transaction costs limits the ability of farmers to market their surplus, hence reducing their incentives to produce. The authors discuss several types of costs in detail, including problems related to input and output markets, certification of quality products, and issues with storage. They then critique several “solutions” that are often discussed to help lower transaction costs, before offering some of their own recommendations, noting that the application of any recommendations must take local context into account.

Join our webinar to hear the authors present key highlights from the book and discuss!

Presenters:

Erwin Bulte – Professor of development economics at Wageningen University; co-leader of PIM Flagship 3: Inclusive and Efficient Value Chains.

Alan de Brauw – Senior Research Fellow, Markets, Trade, and Institutions Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); leader of PIM Flagship 3 cluster on “Value Chains Research: Outreach and Scaling” and co-leader of “Interventions to Strengthen Value Chains” cluster.

Discussant:

Hope Michelson, Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Moderator:

Frank Place - Director, CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets.

* Upon registration, you will receive an email from 'IFPRI Events' explaining how to join the webinar and will be able to save it in your e-calendar. The recording of the webinar will be available on this page shortly after the live event and a follow-up email will be sent to all registrants.

Co-organized by the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM) and Food Security Portal.

REGISTER*

Market and weather-related risks pose significant challenges to smallholder producers. These risks can make production and incomes volatile from year to year, reduce food security, threaten assets and financial security, and make farmers hesitant to invest in new technologies or practices to increase long-term productivity and welfare.

Agricultural insurance has the potential to help farmers manage these risks. However, insurance markets in many developing countries are either weak or inaccessible to most smallholders. Innovative forms of agricultural insurance, such as index-based insurance (IBI), have gained attention in recent years as a way of overcoming many of the limitations of traditional forms of agricultural insurance, but questions remain regarding these tools’ effectiveness and scalability.

Since 2012, the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM) has helped fund a program of action-oriented research on tools for improving smallholder farmers’ resilience to climate risks, including agricultural insurance. The work has resulted in more flexible forms of IBI, as well as an innovative Picture-Based Insurance (PBI) scheme.

This webinar will present an evaluation of how these tools have spawned further interest by academic, development, government, and private sector actors, as well as recommendations for future research on risk management.

Opening remarks and moderator: Nicholas Minot, Deputy Division Director, Markets, Trade and Institutions Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Speakers:

Peter Hazell, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI

Anne G.Timu, Economist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Berber Kramer, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

Closing remarks: Frank Place, Director, CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM)

Recording of this webinar will be available shortly after the live event on the PIM website.

*Upon registration, you will receive an email from 'IFPRI Events' explaining how to join the webinar and will be able to save it in your e-calendar. The recording of the webinar will be available on this page shortly after the live event and a follow-up email will be sent to all registrants.

Organized by IFPRI and WASCAL, this collaborative seminar will address issues, constraints, and challenges to developing resilience to climate change and achieving food security in West Africa.

Panelists will discuss specific action plans that will be needed for following up on recommendations from the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit. Specific topics of presentations will include: Developing a resilience policy framework to address climate change; What do we know from the climate change research in food systems to guide national resilience policy; and Measuring and tracking for resilience programming: Translating resilience strategies at the landscape and farm levels.

Discussion with the panelists will follow their initial presentations through a moderated questions and answers session.

Opening Remarks

• Teunis van Rheenen, Director of Business Development and External Relations, CGIAR-IFPRI
• Moumini Savadogo, Executive Secretary, West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL)

Panel Presentations

• Ifeoma Quinette Anugwa, lecturer/researcher in the Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
• Kehinde Ogunjobi, Director of Research, WASCAL

A Measurement Approach for a Resilience Index: Possible Applications to Climate Shocks

• John Ulimwengu, Senior Research Fellow, CGIAR-IFPRI

Closing Remarks

• Suresh Babu, Senior Research Fellow / Head of Capacity Strengthening, CGIAR-IFPRI
• Daouda Kone, Director of Capacity Strengthening, West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL)

Moderator

• Katarlah Taylor, Events Manager, CGIAR-IFPRI

As countries develop national plans for food systems transformation, serious efforts are needed to mobilize the financial resources for design, implementation, and M&E. Ethiopia’s national plan, developed through Ethiopia’s UNFSS process, offers a valuable example of the evidence-based plans, investments, and activities that will require funding. This case will inform discussion of CGIAR work, developed for the UNFSS, on potential sources of funding for food system transformation activities. Specific examples to be discussed include mobilizing impact investors for climate change financing using CGIAR technologies; increasing access to finance for women in food systems; and using IMF issues Special Drawing Rights to guarantee zero hunger and pandemic recovery bonds.

Speakers will reflect on how to ensure that potential sources of funding can best meet the identified needs at the national level.

Speakers

• Eugenio Diaz Bonilla, Head of Latin American and Caribbean Program, CGIAR-IFPRI
• Sisay Sinamo Boltena, Senior Program Manager, Seqota Declaration Federal Program Delivery Unit
• Richard Newman, Senior Sustainable Finance Specialist, IWMI
• Flor Paz, Research Analyst, CGIAR-IFPRI

Moderator

• Namukolo Covic, Senior Research Coordinator, CGIAR-IFPRI

With less than nine years left to reach SDG goal 12, target 12.3 – by 2030 halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels, and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post- harvest losses – the second observance will highlight the urgent need to accelerate collective action to reduce food loss and waste.

A clear call to action will be made for the public (national or local authorities) and the private (businesses, including producers) sectors, as well as individuals, to prioritize actions and move ahead with innovation to reduce food loss and waste and contribute to restoring and building-back-better agri-food systems.

You are kindly invited to join the global virtual event in observance of the second International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste.

Heads of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will share their perspectives on the issues and actions required to stem the problem. A high-level panel will provide their perspectives, and a keynote presentation will seek to provoke further thought on the issues.

Representatives from the European Commission and from Italy will also share their views and perspectives on the issues and on progress achieved in addressing food loss and food waste.

A roundtable panel will discuss scalable innovations that contribute to accelerating the pace of food loss and waste reduction globally, toward delivering on better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.

Please register at the following link:

https://fao.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gHCImF-QS52w1lYrAVWjQA

Interpretation will be provided in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

In addition, kindly find attached the file titled ‘Guidelines for participants to Zoom Webinars’, available only in English.

For further information, including agenda of the event and other relevant material, please visit our website or kindly contact Food-Loss-Waste-Day@fao.org

Tentative Agenda

Moderator – Kimberly Sullivan, Communication Coordinator, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

15:55    Curtain-raiser

16:00    Messages

• His Holiness Pope Francis
• António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations

16:05    Welcome

• Máximo Torero Cullen, Chief Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

16:10    Opening remarks

• QU Dongyu, Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Inger Andersen, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme
• Gilbert F. Houngbo, President, International Fund for Agriculture Development
• David Beasley, Executive Director, World Food Programme

      Remarks

• H.E. Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner, Health and Food Safety, European Commission
• H.E. Jože Podgoršek, Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Slovenia
• H.E. Stefano Patuanelli, Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, Italy

16:55    Keynote: Food loss and waste and their nutritional impacts: an agri-food systems perspective

• Nancy Aburto, Deputy Director, Food and Nutrition Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

     Special Presentation: The Food Systems Summit Food Loss and Waste Coalition

• Liz Goodwin, OBE, Senior Fellow and Director, Food Loss and Waste, World Resources Institute

    Video Presentation- Food is Never Waste

17:10    Country Focus: Rwanda

• Food Loss and Waste reduction in Rwanda – An Agricultural Perspective
  H.E. Gerardine Mukeshimana, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources (speaker tbc)
• Food Loss and Waste reduction in Rwanda – An Environmental Perspective
  H.E. Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, Minister of Environment, Rwanda (speaker tbc)

17:20    Moderated panel: Accelerating the pace of food loss and waste reduction toward improving agri-food systems outcomes

• Innovations in aflatoxin management for food loss and waste reduction toward improving food safety, nutrition and healthy diets
  Vivian Hoffmann, Senior Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute

• Packaging innovation: a scalable option to reduce food loss and food waste
  Claire Sand, Global Packaging Expert
• Community food-sharing platforms and their impacts on food security
  Ankit Kawatra, Founder and Director, Zomato Feeding India
• Social impact platforms – Too Good To Go
  Christophe Diercxsens, Global Public Affairs Manager, Too Good To Go
• Food loss and waste legislation (speaker tbc)
  Nie Fengying, Deputy Director General, Agricultural Information Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

17:50    Video message

• Massimo Bottura, UNEP Goodwill Ambassador, Chef and Food System Activist

17:55    Closing remarks

• Kazuki Kitaoka, Manager, World Food Forum 2021, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

IFPRI is participating in the African Green Revolution Forum 2021 (AGRF).

The AGRF 2021 Summit is a defining moment in highlighting and unlocking the political, policy, and financial commitments and innovations the continent has made and that it continues to work towards achieving. It is about advancing the commitments made at the Malabo Heads of State Summit and working hard to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

This year’s AGRF Summit will explore the pathways and actions needed to accelerate this process and steer the continent towards food systems that deliver sufficient and nutritious food; do not impact the environment negatively; and create sustainable, dignified jobs, and shared prosperity for Africa.

Parallel Workshop (Gender): Equitable Livelihoods for Women through Innovative Financing and Climate Adaptation: Sequence 2: Build up to COP26 – Strengthening women’s climate resilience and adaptation (September 7 - 4:00 AM to 5:45 AM EDT) 

• Jemimah Njuki, Director for Africa, CGIAR-IFPRI & Gender Lever Custodian, UNFSS

Insights: Can African agriculture contribute to Net Zero? (September 7 - 11:50 AM to 12:00 PM EDT)

• Ruben Echeverria, Senior Research Fellow, CGIAR -IFPRI

Participatory Events: Launch of 2021 Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor (AATM)  (September 10 – 6:00 AM to 6:45 AM EDT)

Co-organized by AKADEMIYA2063 and IFPRI

• Panelist: Johan Swinnen, Director General, CGIAR-IFPRI

Agriculture is Africa's primary gateway out of hunger and poverty; the sector employs 65 - 70 percent of Africa's labor force while supporting the livelihoods of 90 percent of the population. However, for the sector to lead the path to the desired food security and superior incomes for Africa, it is imperative that conversations and investments are made towards transforming the continent's agricultural work into a profitable and sustainable enterprise.

The urgency of this transformation has been made clear during the COVID-19 pandemic, where the continent has been forced to re-think its food production and distribution systems. The closure of borders, lockdowns and limitations of movement indicated the need for Africa to develop homegrown solutions for its staple food needs and market development.

It is against this backdrop that this webinar is held as a session to define the investments needed for a vibrant and functional agricultural sector that can deliver sufficient food and nutrition supplies for all as well as exciting farmer incomes. The conversation will address the roles of individual stakeholders, partnerships and leadership in building an inclusive agricultural transformation across the continent.

The webinar will also define the role of public sector commitment in transforming the agriculture sector, with notable examples from successes in Rwanda. Similarly, the critical position of private sector participation shall be highlighted as supported by the transformative role of this group in uplifting Ghana's food systems.

Opening remarks

• Dr. Agnes Kalibata, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to the 2021 Food Systems Summit.

Moderator

• Carol Jenkins, Office Director for the Center for Agriculture-Led Growth in USAID’s Bureau for Resilience and Food Security (RFS)

Speakers

• Jean Claude U. Munyangabo, Chief Executive Officer, BK TecHouse
• Dr. Rose Omari, Senior Research Scientist, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
• Kwame A. Boateng, Founder and CEO, Sahel Grains
• Francois Nsengiyumva, Senior Value Chain Specialist, BEED Ltd
• Patrice Hakizimana, Program Manager, USAID/Rwanda

Acute food insecurity continued to rise in 2020, driven by the pandemic shock, ongoing conflicts, and extreme weather. The number of people needing urgent food and livelihood assistance hit a five-year high. The 2021 Global Report on Food Crises (published by the Food Security Information Network for the Global Network Against Food Crises) finds that at least 155 million people experienced acute food insecurity at crisis level or worse — up about 20 million from 2019. Africa is disproportionally affected, with close to 98 million people facing acute food insecurity last year. Other parts of the world are suffering too, with Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria, and Haiti experiencing major conflict-related food crises.  

 Most food crises are protracted, severely eroding the resilience of agrifood systems and further fueling conflict and civil strife. Reversing the current alarming trends will require much greater effort to build resilient agrifood systems that are socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable.

This policy seminar focuses on experiences and strategies that can both build food system resilience and help prevent conflict.

Introductory Remarks

• Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI

Overview of 2021 Global Report on Food Crises

• Lavinia Antonaci, Technical Coordinator, Technical Support Unit of the Global Network Against Food Crises
• Domenica Sabella, Food Security Information Network Communications Officer, World Food Programme 

Keynote Addresses

• Jim Barnhart, Assistant to the Administrator, Bureau of Resilience and Food Security, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
• Giampiero Muci, Senior Policy Officer, Sustainable Agri-food Systems and Fisheries, Directorate-General for International Partnerships, European Commission

Panel Discussion

• Tanya Boudreau, Deputy Chief Of Party, Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET)
• Clemens Breisinger, Senior Research Fellow and Middle East and North Africa team leader, IFPRI 
• Dominique Burgeon, Director, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Geneva 
• Arif Husain, Chief Economist, World Food Programme   
• Martien van Nieuwkoop, Global Director, Agriculture and Food Global Practice, The World Bank

Closing Remarks

• Jocelyn Brown Hall, Director, FAO 's Liaison Office for North America (as of June 14)

Moderator

• Rob Vos, Director of Markets, Trade and Institutions Division, IFPRI

In recent years, value chain development (VCD) in the agrifood system has been hailed as a practical way to expand market access for smallholder producers, reduce poverty, enhance environmental sustainability, and improve food security and gender equity. Despite significant investments in VCD from governments, donors, and NGOs, however, evidence regarding the effectiveness of VCD interventions in addressing these important development goals remains lacking. Many existing studies have focused on the design and outputs of VCD interventions themselves rather than on their outcomes and impacts. As a result, the true reach of these programs remains unknown, particularly for poor populations.

A recent book [link], published by Practical Action Publishing and supported by the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions and Markets (PIM) and the CGIAR Research Program on Maize Agrifood Systems (MAIZE), looks to fill this important knowledge gap. Value Chain Development and The Poor: Promise, delivery, and opportunities for impact at scale provides a collection of case studies and lessons learned from VCD interventions in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. The book includes chapters written from both researchers and development practitioners, providing an in-depth examination of VCD in both theory and in practice. Join us for an upcoming webinar in which editors Jason Donovan, Dietmar Stoian, and Jon Hellin will present findings from the book and explore how VCD can be more effectively designed, implemented, and scaled up to include and benefit poor populations.

Opening remarks and moderator: Erwin Bulte, Professor of Development Economics, Wageningen University

Speakers:

Jason Donovan, Senior Economist, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

Dietmar Stoian, Lead Scientist, World Agroforestry (ICRAF)

Jon Hellin, Head of the Sustainable Impact Platform, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

Closing remarks: Frank Place, Director, PIM

This webinar will look at the past and present experiences from Mozambique, where the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been implementing voucher interventions over the past 20 years. The event will provide an opportunity to discuss issues as diverse as food security, market development, dissemination of new seed varieties and FAO technological innovation, and will also allow our speakers to reflect on the way forward.

Join us to find out more about what FAO has been learning in Mozambique throughout the years.

Speakers:

• Alberto di Grazia, Agricultural Officer (Cash and Vouchers), FAO Mozambique
• Simone Alzari, Management Information System (MIS) Unit Coordinator, Office of Emergencies and Resilience, FAO
• Shawn McGuire, Agricultural Officer (Seed Security), FAO

Moderator:

• David Calef, Cash Transfer Programming Expert,  Office of Emergencies and Resilience, FAO