Commemoration of the “12th Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security” (ADFNS) was marked by a virtual colloquium from 28 to 29 October under the auspices of the African Union Commission (AUC).

The Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government, sitting in their 15th Ordinary Session in Kampala, Uganda in 2010, declared every 30th October as a day to highlight the essence and need for Member States to focus on improving the persistent challenges of food and nutrition insecurity that confront the continent.

This year’s celebration was under the theme “Rediscovering Our Local African Diets for Sustainable Food Systems and Nutrition”. It was organised by the African Union Commission’s Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (DARBE), in conjunction with the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) and other stakeholders. 

Commemoration of the event was, among others, characterized by two days of lectures, discussions, sharing of innovations and new knowledge in the related areas.

Day One, 28^th October 2021, discussed four different sub- themes, namely:

Sub-theme 1: “Strategic Directions for Promoting Increased Production and Processing of Nutrient-Rich African Food Crops”, Participants  at the end of the deliberations,  among others,  recommended  increased public education, and investments  in indigenous foods  and   mainstreaming of  indigenous foods in national, regional and continental  polices and action plans.

Sub-theme 2: “Scaling up Innovative Technologies for Intensive Processing and Diversification of African Diets”;  It was established at end of discussions that more than 200 varieties of bio fortified crops were being tested including African traditional staples such as cassava, millet and beans. However, participants called for, among others, product development of indigenous foods, using innovation in order to improve demand and market development

Sub-theme 3: “Enhanced Market Availability and Reach of Nutrient-Dense African Foods”   Discussants called for  the commitment  of Member States  to the Malabo Declaration and the Africa Regional Nutrition Strategy , as well as,   investment in research of indigenous foods.

Sub-theme 4: “Creating enabling policy environment for leveraging private sector investment in local diets for transformed African food systems”. Discussants called for a multispectral approach in policy development and implementation, among others 

The second day 29^th October 20221 was a general plenary which was addressed by major leaders and key stakeholders in the continent:

Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer of the AUDA- NEPAD bemoaned the ceding of  food production in the continent to foreign companies, even though Africa has the potential and capacity  to take that lead, and called for a  renewed concerted effort in the continent to help address the situation;

H.E. Ambassador Josefa L. Sako, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, - AUC, in speech read for her,  called for a new approach in agriculture investment that would be based on science and research, with focus on the production of indigenous African foods to help address the problem of malnutrition in the continent. 

Mr. Stanlake Samkange, Chair of the CAADP Development Partners Coordination Group (DPCG) in a keynote address opined that achieving food sufficiency and improved nutritional values in African diets through indigenous African foods would require that Member States and major stakeholders continued  to get committed to the Malabo Declaration adopted by African Union Heads of State and Government in June 2014 to end hunger by 2025, thus,  by adhering to the  principles of  the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)   which is aimed at  improving   agriculture production in the continent by 2025.

He observed that the emergence of COVID-19 and the recommendation for healthy diet as one of the best ways to survive the pandemic makes the quest for improved healthy indigenous diets more relevant in the continent.

For Detailed information and video, go to the following links; (Copy and paste link on url)

1. Deliberations on sub -themes; 28^th October, 2021

https://zoom.us/rec/share/Hb3IVIbw2SKcmjIesO3u5dSdOb5RVgGKdBXWnEe9rBOJ9XzGS103W0AAFG7vqmAB.qXZyWv5LoHUfSFW2

Passcode: $q&pcu5T

2. Deliberations at Plenary; 29^th October, 2021.

https://zoom.us/rec/share/W0hrOAsrr7st9x5zEYX1CW67RIVGkqIF4qAUUza7_xxKEM3oJWVXGumzmCqx3Mw9.MidnH5cfulyf9Z4Q

Passcode: @Y9AyzzY 

For further information please contact:

Dr Simplice Nouala; Head of Division, Agriculture and Food Safety (AUC) - NoualaS@africa-union.org

For media inquiry:  

Mr. Molalet Tsedeke, Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission
Tel: ++251911630631 | E-mail: Molalett@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org  
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