Webinar on nutrition sensitive food value chains in Africa

5 December 2024. Nutrition-sensitive food value chain in the Africa region – investing in MSMEs for delivering healthy diets by IFAD

The virtual event aimed at advocating and raising awareness of the issues towards creation of sustainable and inclusive food value chains to meet food and nutritional demand for consumers. The specific objectives of the event were:
bring innovations and different technologies, exchange of share good practices and case studies in promoting sustainable food products development by SMEs that are environmentally friendly, ecologically sustainable, safe and nutritious.
discuss the issues and challenges for ensuring sustainable consumption, including reducing food loss and waste
identify policy and investment options for promoting sustainable food products development by SMEs and promotion of sustainable consumption.
Speakers:
Welcome Remarks – delivered by Ms Sara Mbago, Regional Director, IFAD East and Southern Africa Regional Office ESA
Why invest in value chains? - Sustainable value chains introducing eco-friendly, safe and nutritious food products that support local and traditional safe and nutritious foods cultivated by small-holder farmers (e.g. adding value to traditional foods; processing of safe, better quality and nutritious food products; packing using environmentally friendly degradable packaging system, food labeling) – Ms Betty Kibaara, Director, The Rockefeller Foundation, Africa Region Office
What technologies and innovations can be offered?
Working with MSMEs to deliver nutritious diets: food fortification as means to combat micronutrient deficiencies in Africa: – Mr. Penjani Mkambula, Deputy Director, Programme Services, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
Investing in nutrition-sensitive value chain in Africa - Dr. Kennedy Bomfeh, Senior Director, The Ajinomoto Foundation
facilitated by Ms Nomindelger Bayasgalanbat, Senior Technical Specialist (Social Inclusion – Nutrition), IFAD, ECG
Panel with representatives of MSMEs
Moderated by Ms Putso Nyathi, Senior Value Chain Specialist, IFAD, PMI
Creating safe and nutritious local food products at affordable price, – Ms. Marie Claire Nyirankundizanye, Farm Fresh Foods Ltd (Rwanda)
Precooked beans biofortified - Increasing utilization of local foods for healthy diets: – Ms. Rachel Gikonyo, Eden Harvest Limited, Vegetables value chain, Kenya
Diversifying products to support nutritious diets: Insects as Future Food- Dr. Geoffrey Ssepuuya, INSFOODS Limited, Uganda
Creating safe and nutritious local food products at affordable price - Mr. David Kamau, Fortified Whole Grain Alliance, Eastern Africa focus on Burundi
Closing Remarks – delivered by Sara Kaoukou, ESA Regional Lead Portfolio Advisor, IFAD