On July 6, the World Trade Organization Secretariat in collaboration with the United Nations Food Systems Summit organised a Global Summit Dialogue on Trade. During this event, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala highlighted the vital role trade plays in food security.

In light of this, on July 26th at the United Nations Pre-Summit, the Government of Brazil and The International Agri-Food Network organised an Affiliated Session with the support of private sector members such as the International Chamber of Commerce and the International Grain Trade Coalition.

From September 6 – 10, actors in the agricultural sector will gather to dialogue on how to change the status quo for Africa at the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) 2021 Summit. All around the world, global leaders, researchers, heads of state, and several other stakeholders have noted with great concern the importance of food systems. This year also marks a period of recovery for the world after extensive lockdowns, high numbers in COVID-related deaths, and economic regression. In reflection of these key pathways, the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) has selected the theme “Pathways to recovery and resilient food systems”. Just like previous years, sessions and dialogues will be based on ten thematic areas including agri-investment & SME finance, youth employment in agriculture, and ag-tech & digitalization.

In October 2019, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced formally the holding of a Food Systems Summit (FSS) and a Pre-Summit by the United Nations. It was prescient as hunger continues to rise and global food stocks have been suffering from uneven supplies. Heading toward the Summit and beyond, there is much reason to be concerned that food prices will continue to rise and poverty is becoming more entrenched. These will exacerbate global inequities and insecurities. All countries are feeling the effects in some way, and the most vulnerable that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out to protect are more at risk. 

The development community needs to step up efforts to feed and nourish the more than 690 million people who are hungry today – and the additional 2 billion people the world will have by 2050.  The UN Food Systems Summit 2021 and the High Level Political Platform on Sustainable Development provide an opportunity to emphasize the role that resilient agri-food systems play in contributing to sustainable solutions to food crises. This calls for strong innovative, transdisciplinary partnerships that can deliver game changing solutions to feed and nourish the world.

International Women's Day, which is slated for March 8, is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. In the world of agriculture, women often play an important role in the production of food crops, especially in developing countries. But that's not all. When you look at the whole food value chain in developing countries, you will often find that for primary processing, and also distribution, women are key players. Around the world, women are on the front line of the food service and preparation sectors. This goes to show that more attention needs to be given to women in agriculture for a successful and thriving industry globally.

As we have begun this New Year, we have the opportunity to shape a food system that’s even better than before. 

During the past year, we have heard some great leaders – young and old – in Africa talk about their common themes on the vision of a new African food system. I think these are themes which could strengthen any food system.

I founded Emerging Ag Inc in 2010 with the dream to start a new business focused on issues I was passionate about: agriculture, food security, sustainable farming and nutrition.

10 years ago I had a dream to start a new business focused on issues I am passionate about. That dream has been shared by the incredible coterie of colleagues we have built at Emerging ag – truly my dream team! Over the past decade, we have had the opportunity to work on exciting projects with interesting clients from around the world. Although this year we didn’t get to visit those clients and projects in-person, we were so lucky to have had a busy, constructive, exciting year – our biggest yet despite all the challenges. Here are a few highlights:

I have been closely observing the impact of the pandemic on food systems and the response of agri-food actors around the world. The projections of food insecurity are devastating. However, I have found reassurance in seeing how the global food system showed tremendous resilience in such adversity. We saw many actors rising to the occasion to become food heroes. These were ordinary people such as farmers, transporters, grocery store owners, restaurant managers who worked around the clock, adjusted nimbly to difficult challenges, and demonstrated that every part of the food value chain is essential to a sustainable and resilient food system.

The plant-protein market is growing. A recent study by JP Morgan estimated that the market will be worth $100 billion by 2030. Although this represents a seemingly small portion of the entire global protein market, it presents an opportunity for growth in the plant-protein sector. What this invariably means is more people are moving to plant-based diets and looking for plant-based sources of proteins. As a result, stakeholders in the food supply chain such as processors, retailers, and restaurants are also finding innovative ways to introduce and incorporate these options so as to meet changing consumer demands.