The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (Fara), which is hosting the eighth annual Africa Agriculture and Science Week (AASW8), begins today with an engaging programme.
The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (Fara), which is hosting the eighth annual Africa Agriculture and Science Week (AASW8), begins today with an engaging programme.
From Monday, June 5 to Thursday, June 8, 2023, the Durban International Conference Centre is expected to host over 600 innovators, researchers, technology developers, private sector representatives, investors, and policy-makers from over 50 African nations.
This year’s AASW8 is being held under the theme “Linking science, innovation, and agri-business for resilient food systems,” with the goal of giving agricultural businesses the necessary platform to benefit from current technology and innovation.
Dr Aldnwumi Adesina, Josefa Sacko, and Thoko Didiza are among the African leaders attending the conference to discuss agriculture, rural development, blue economy, and sustainable environment.
Top-level panel discussions
A high-level panel discussion, an opening plenary session, a match-making session, parallel sessions, workshops, an agri tech expo, and the Fara leadership prize for advancing science and innovation in agriculture are all included in the schedule.
On the first day, an action plan will be introduced that aims to increase agricultural productivity, enhance livelihoods, and increase resilience to shocks such as climate change. The Dakar 2 food and agriculture delivery compact’s outcomes will be the main focus of the Durban Roundtable, which will concentrate on leveraging science and agribusiness to do so.
Parallel sessions will focus on:
Improving climate resilience, and natural resources management;
Making African food systems nutrition-sensitive and gender-responsive;
Strengthening Science: business linkages to boost intra-African trade;
The transition of farming systems;
Knowledge management, digitalisation, and youth entrepreneurship; and
Policies, institutions, and capacities.
Interactive match-making workshops for small-scale farmers, investors, agribusinesses and researchers will be presented to help you level up.
Developing small-scale farmer opportunities through innovation
25 small-scale farmers from eThekwini will receive guidance in this session on how to turn their farming operations into successful businesses. In addition to field trips to the eThekwini’s Agri hub in Ottawa, close to King Shaka International Airport, speakers Lucy Mimano and Sithembile Ngobese will be featured.
Developing reliable and viable farming operations
Small-scale farmers will acquire the skills necessary to work efficiently in constrained spaces. Zandile Khumalo, CEO of Urban Roots, will discuss how she grew produce on the rooftop of Morningside Mall to produce fresh herbs and vegetables with no carbon emissions.
Biogas as a green solution to Africa’s energy deficit
In order to fill Africa’s energy gap, BER Energy is concentrating on producing green energy through the use of biogas technology. They are seeking researchers with expertise in turning plant waste into value-added bio-fertilizers and other bio byproducts. They have an R&D budget of more than $5 million USD for collaboration with these researchers. CEO of RCB (USA) Otto Hager is the speaker.
Forestry bio by-products add value to the forestry value chain
Forest land itself has many vital and varied uses in addition to providing wood and foraging foods. The general manager of Sappi Southern Africa’s Forestry KZN, Mark Barnardo, will share his perspectives.
Protecting the biodiversity of sensitive areas
Giovanni Sale, general manager of research, planning, and nurseries at Sappi Southern Africa, will discuss their innovative project initiatives for putting farming and agro-processing practises that preserve biodiversity into practise.
Agri-investment opportunities in the KZN province and the Dube Trade Port region are being promoted by Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN). A presentation will highlight areas where researchers and investors in investment have collaboration opportunities.