At the recently concluded Food for Future Summit held at Expo 2020 Dubai, more than 26 African ministers and departmental heads took part in the pivotal engagement, to discuss localised solutions to food, nutrition and farming challenges, as well as exploring how humanity can continue to sustainably feed with a growing population while living in harmony with the planet.
It is at this summit that The Alliance for a Green Revolution (AGRA) joined the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) as a Knowledge Partner. Launched at COP26, AIM for Climate is a UAE-US joint initiative, which works to accelerate investments and support for climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation.
An initiative that will feed into the already existing African governments commitment, allocating at least 10% of national budgets to agriculture and rural development, and to achieve agricultural growth rates of at least 6% per annum.
This is in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 fifth (5) goal, which focuses on Modern Agriculture for increased productivity and production for a sustainable Africa. Bolstered by the continental framework - Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) - developed to address the development of key sectors such as Agriculture.
In particular, CAADP’s fourth priority area speaks to Improving agriculture research, technology dissemination and adoption.
At this first Ministerial Meeting in Dubai - during Expo 2020 - AIM for Climate agreed a target of $8 billion from public and private sector partners for climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation by November 2022 at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27).
As a Knowledge Partner of AIM for Climate, AGRA supports the objectives of the global initiative and intends to create opportunities to enhance African countries’ agricultural sector readiness for investments and support smallholder farmers adapt to the effects of climate change.
This engagement flowed from a meeting with Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, who shared more about the AIM for Climate initiative, and its goal to catalyse solutions at the intersection of agriculture and climate. The UAE Minister met with AGRA President Dr. Agnes Kalibata and a delegation of Ministers and senior government leaders from Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda during the Agriculture, Food and Livelihoods Week hosted at the Expo 2020 Dubai.
Dr. Kalibata said commitments and action will be needed if smallholders are to adapt to the changing climate.
“If no action is taken, climate impacts will lead to overall yield reductions of up to 30% by 2050, while extreme weather events will result in higher losses of post-harvest quality and quantity. AGRA is proud to join the AIM for Climate as a Knowledge Partner and to engage with other participants to seek to accelerate adoption of solutions through its Innovation Sprints,” Dr Kalibata said.
During the Expo, the AGRA President also discussed important opportunities with the World Bank, the Committee on World Food Security; EAT Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Nourishing Africa to support African countries in financing their transitions to more sustainable food systems in the follow-up from the Food Systems Summit.
“Our aim at AGRA is to work closely with African governments to help them access platforms for mobilising resources to push their commitment to transform their food systems forward and translate them into concrete strategies and action. This involves setting targets and reforms to be effected,” she added.
“Together with our partners, AGRA is proud to launch the AGRF to be held in Kigali, Rwanda, in September 2022 to support building these implementation plans and bringing Africa’s voice together on food security and climate to COP27 in Egypt later this year”.
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.
The public, media and all other interested parties can keep up-to-date with the latest out of Dubai as well as get all the necessary information surrounding the AU activities or events by visiting the official AU at Expo 2020 website: https://africaexpo2020dubai.au.int/en
For further information please contact:
Rebecca Weaver | The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa | Tel: +254 3675 000 | E-mail: rweaver@agra.org | Nairobi, Kenya
Mr. Lunga Kupiso, Public Relations & Media Officer - AU at Expo 2020 | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission Tel: +251 115 517 700 | E-mail: auexpomedia@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Ms. Faith Adhiambo, Media & Communications Coordinator - AU at Expo 2020 | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission Tel: +251 115 517 700 | E-mail: ochiengj@african-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org Web: au.int | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
