MEDIA ADVISORY
The 2nd All Africa Postharvest Congress and Exhibition
“Postharvest Loss Reduction and Agro-processing: Drivers of Agricultural Transformation in Africa”
Journalists are invited to cover the Press Conference at 2:00-2:30 p.m. and the opening ceremony of the PHL Congress at 2:30 p.m. on September 17, 2019.
What: The 2nd All Africa Postharvest Congress and Exhibition
Date: September 17-20, 2019
Venue: African Union Commission HQ, Addis Ababa
Who: The Congress will be the attended by:
• AUC Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, H.E Amb. Josefa Sacko;
• Representative of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia;
• Ms Jocelyn Brown-Hall,Deputy Regional Representative for Africa. FAO Regional Office for Africa (RAF)
• Dr. A. Adesina, President AfDB;
• Dr. A. Kalibata, President ,AGRA
Also in attendance will be high level African leadership, Regional Economic Communities, farmers, traders, researchers, academia, innovators, policy makers, development partners, government departments, private sector/investors, civil society among others.
Focus and objective: Africa has remained the most food insecure continent in the world, with approximately 1 in 4 people undernourished. Over the years, most African governments have focused on increasing production to meet the food and nutrition needs of the ever rising population which is estimated to reach 2.5 billion by the year 2050.
Historical over-emphasis on increased agricultural production without complementary interventions to ensure proper utilization of the food produced has contributed to the reported increase in postharvest food loss and waste over the years. Global food losses and waste is estimated at1.3 billion metric tonnes (MT),equivalent to over 30% of the total food produced for human consumption, and it is estimated that global food wastage could feed up to1.6 billion people annually. In Africa alone, the total quantitative food loss has been estimated to be over 100 million MT/year.
These losses exacerbate food insecurity and have negative impacts on the environment through wasting land, water, farm inputs and energy used in producing food that is not consumed. In addition, postharvest losses reduce income to farmers and contribute to higher food prices. Consequently, the African Union Heads of State and Government included in the 2014 Malabo Declaration, a call to reduce postharvest losses in Africa by 50 percent by year 2025.
Therefore, the All Africa Postharvest Congress and Exhibition brings together diverse stakeholders including policy makers, private sector actors, development agencies, civil society, researchers, academics, farmers, processors to learn, share information, build networks and partnerships aimed at addressing the pertinent issue of postharvest loss reduction in the African context.
Specific objectives of the Congress:
1. Raise awareness on food losses and waste through data and information sharing;
2. Showcase effective strategies, technologies, practices, initiatives for postharvest loss reduction;
3. Monitor and review progress on postharvest loss reduction initiatives against set targets;
4. Build and strengthen linkages and partnerships (including private sector engagement) for resource mobilization and other activities geared towards postharvest loss reduction;
The Congress is organized by the African Union Commission in collaboration with the University of Nairobi, Stellenbosch University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
For more information and requests for interviews contact:
African Union Commission
Mr. Komla Bissi
CAADP Advisor
Bissik@africa-union.org
Ms Carol Jilombo
CAADP Communications Officer
Email: Jilomboc@africa-union.org
