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Objectives and Structure

About

AKADEMIYA2063, in partnership with the African Union Commission Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (AUC-DARBE), is convening the 2025 ReSAKSS Conference to launch the 17th Edition of the ATOR. This year’s event will take place online on January 20-22 under the theme “Moving the Technology Frontiers in African Agrifood Systems”. The 2025 ReSAKSS Conference will bring together state and non-state actors to deliberate on the key findings and policy recommendations of the ReSAKSS 2025 ATOR. A major contribution to evidence for the rollout of strategic actions to promote technologies toward agrifood system transformation, the primary focus of the 2025 ATOR is the facilitation of access to technologies, including emerging ones, to catalyze African food systems transformation. With the landmark Kampala CAADP Declaration coming into effect in January 2026, it is imperative that the next decade of CAADP implementation address the main challenges that have thus far limited the much-needed innovations and investment to transform agrifood systems.

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Objectives

The objectives of the conference are to allow participants to:

  1. Document and share evidence and trends on technology deployment options in African agrifood systems;
  2. Discuss technology deployment opportunities for African economies, also exploring the role of regional cooperation and integration in enhancing technology potential, ecological impacts, and economic benefits for the continent;
  3. Analyze investment and financing of technology promotion in Africa as a pathway to accelerate progress toward building resilient agrifood systems across the continent;
  4. Review, document, and share best practices and lessons learned from technology promotion initiatives and projects in Africa and other regions, and identify opportunities to integrate them into ongoing strategies to foster inclusive and equitable growth, job creation, and rural development in Africa;
  5. Assess the status of CAADP implementation and progress toward achieving key goals and targets.
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Structure

The three-day event will gather a diverse group of researchers, policymakers, development partners, non-state actors, and thought leaders in the agrifood system transformation space from Africa and beyond, in a format that facilitates stakeholder dialogue and networking.

  1. Day 1: The official opening of the conference will feature an overview presentation of the 2025 ATOR by an editorial team representative, a keynote presentation on the theme, and a moderated panel discussion with high-level stakeholders.
  2. Day 2: Presentations, followed by panel and plenary discussions on selected chapters of the 2025 ATOR.
  3. Day 3: Presentations, panel, and plenary discussions on selected chapters of the 2025 ATOR, followed by the official closing.
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Download the 2025 ReSAKSS Conference Concept Note

Download the Concept Note

Conference Agenda

Part I

Setting the Stage – Moving the Technology Frontiers in African Agrifood Systems

Opening and Housekeeping

Moderator: Dr. Layih Butake, Director, Communications and Outreach, AKADEMIYA2063

Welcome and Opening Remarks

• Dr. Ousmane Badiane, Executive Chairperson, AKADEMIYA2063

• Ms. Estherine Lisinge-Fotabong, Director, Agriculture, Food Security and Environmental Sustainability, African Union Development Agency–New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA–NEPAD)

• Mr. Odd Eirik Arnesen, Minister Counsellor, Regional Food Security Envoy, Norwegian Embassy in Dar es Salaam; Chair of CAADP DPCG

• Mr. Watipaso Mkandawire, Regional Food Markets Adviser, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)

• H.E. Moses Vilakati, Commissioner, African Union Commission, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (AUCDARBE)

 

Framing Remarks: Technology and Innovation for Africa’s Agrifood System Transformation

• Ms. Martha Haile, Food Systems and Agricultural Technology Leader; CoFounder of ABZE and Hello Tractor

• Amb. Prof. Muhammadou M.O. Kah, Permanent Representative of the Gambia to the United Nations Office in Geneva; Member, Malabo Montpellier Panel

Overview of the 2025 Annual Trends and Outlook Report (ATOR)

Prof. Christian Henning, Chief Scientist, AKADEMIYA2063; Co-Editor, 2025 ATO

High-Level Panel: Shaping Africa’s Technology Future

Moderator: Dr. Canisius Kanangire, Executive Director, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF)

• Ms. Alice Ruhweza, President, AGRA

• Dr. Enock Chikava, Director, Agricultural Delivery Systems, Gates Foundation

• Dr. Simeon Ehui, Director General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

• Prof. Shenggen Fan, Chair Professor and Dean, Academy of Global Food Economics and Policy, College of Economics and Management, China Agricultural University

• Dr. Éliane Ubalijoro, CEO, Center for International Forestry Research–World Agroforestry (CIFOR–ICRAF)

 

Interactive Poll and Audience Q&A: Live poll on priority technologies for Africa

BREAK

Part II

Roundtable 1

Emerging Technology Pathways and Regional Lesson

Moderator: Dr. Getaw Tadesse, Director of Policy Intelligence, AKADEMIYA2063

 

8-minute Presentations on Chapters 2, 15, 16, 17

• Moving the Technology Frontiers in African Agrifood Systems: An Analytical Framework – Dr. John Ulimwengu, Senior Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

• Technology Development and Adoption in Chinese Agrifood Systems: Implications for Africa – Dr. Ting Meng, Associate Professor, Academy of Global Food Economics and Policy, College of Economics and Management, China Agricultural University

• From Innovation to Impact: Exploring the Economic Potential of Digital Twins in European and African Agriculture – Dr. Frits K. van Evert, Agrosystems Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands

• Moving the Technology Frontiers in African Agrifood Systems: Lessons from Latin America – Dr. Valeria Piñeiro, Regional Representative of the Latin America and Caribbean region and Senior Research Coordinator, Markets, Trade and Institutions Unit, IFPRI

 

Invited Reactions

• Discussant 1: Ms. Juliana Rotich, CoFounder of Ushahidi
• Discussant 2: Dr. Evelyn Gitau, Chief Scientific Officer, Science for Africa Foundation (SFA)
• Discussant 3: Dr. Abdou Tenkouano, Executive Director, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)

Open Discussion and Synthesis

Key takeaways from participants

Day 1 Wrap-Up and Closing

Dr. Augustin Wambo Yamdjeu, Former Director, Knowledge Systems, AKADEMIYA2063

Part I

Technological Pathways to Productivity and Resilience

Day 1 Recap and Day 2 Overview

Dr. Seraphin Niyonsenga, Head of AGRODEP Unit, AKADEMIYA2063

Cluster 1:Digitalization, AI, and Biotechnology

Moderator: Dr. Benjamin Kwasi Addom, Adviser, Agriculture & Fisheries Trade Policy, Commonwealth Secretariat

• The Untapped Potential of Artificial Intelligence and Geospatial Technology in African Agrifood Systems – Dr. Jean Paul L. Faye, Head of AI Innovation and Modeling Unit, Department of Data Intelligence and Governance, AKADEMIYA2063 & Physics Department, Faculty of Science and Technology, Cheikh Anta Diop University

 

• Optimizing Biotechnology Paradigms and their Application for Agrifood Systems Transformation in Africa – Dr. Emmanuel Okogbenin, Director, Program Development & Commercialization, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF)

 

• Digitalization in African agrifood systems: from e-learning to e-markets – Mr. Benjamin Graeub, Co-Founder, farmbetter, Germany

Invited Reactions
• Discussant 1: Ms. Priscilla Wakarera, Rhea Soil Health, Co-Founder and CEO

• Discussant 2: Dr. Julius Ecuru, Principal Scientist and Manager, Research Innovation Coordination Units, icipe

• Discussant 3: Mr. Ken Lohento, Digital Innovation Strategy Specialist, FAO, Regional Office for Africa

Q&A

BREAK

Part II

Cluster 2: Mechanization, Irrigation, Processing, and Value Addition

Moderator: Dr. Antony Chapoto, Executive Director, Africa Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ANAPRI)

8–minute Presentations on Chapters 6, 7, and 8

• Advancing Mechanization in African Agrifood Systems: Unlocking Productivity and Resilience – Dr. Oliver Kirui, Research Fellow & Nigeria Country Program Leader, IFPRI

• Processing and Value Addition Technologies in African Agrifood Systems – Dr. Ramadhani Omari Majubwa, Senior Lecturer, Sokoine University of Agriculture

• Integrating Emerging Irrigation Technologies to Advance Agricultural Production and Resilience in Africa – Dr. Greenwell Matchaya, Senior Researcher, Economics, ReSAKSS Coordinator, and Deputy Country Representative, South Africa, International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

 

Invited Reactions
• Discussant 1: Mr. Mark Fynn, Regional Policy Officer, FAO, Regional Office for Africa
• Discussant 2: Ms. Yemisi Iranloye, Psaltry Farms, Nigeria
• Discussant 3: Ms. Charity Gathambiri, Post-Harvest and Food Science Expert, KALRO, Kenya

Cluster 3: Emerging Production Technologies

Moderator: Dr. Aisha Musaazi Nakitto, Head, Policy Innovation Unit, AKADEMIYA2063

8–minute Presentations on Chapters 9, 10, and 11

• Emerging Technologies for Resilient and Competitive Livestock Systems – Dr. Abdrahmane Wane, Principal Scientist, Regional Director, West and Central Africa, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

• Insect farming innovation: A Pathway to self-reliance in agrifood systems in Africa – Dr. Zewdu Ayalew Abro, Impact Assessment Economist, icipe

• Aquaponic systems for small-scale farming in Africa: Potentials and Challenges – Dr. Bernd Ueberschär, Senior Scientist, BioServe GbR and Association for Marine Aquaculture (GMA Büsum)

 

Invited reactions
• Discussant 1: Dr. Adebayo Abass, TAAT Cassava Value Chain Leader
• Discussant 3: Mrs. Francesca Brenda Opoku, Founder, Beauty Secrets, Ghana
• Discussant 2: Mr. Nche Nwadike, CEO, Victory Farms Kenya

Reflections and synthesis: Key takeaways

Day 2 Wrap-Up

Dr. Racine Ly, Director, Data Intelligence and Governance, AKADEMIYA2063; 2025 ATOR Co-Editor

End of Day 2 

Part I

Investing in Innovation: Policy and Financing for Technology Deployment

Reflections on Days 2 and 3

Dr. Paul Guthiga, Head of ReSAKSS Unit, AKADEMIYA2063

Cluster 4: R&D, Seed Systems, Institutional Enablers, and Policy Dialogue

Moderator: Dr. Menale Kassie, Principal Scientist and Head, Social Sciences and Impact Assessment Unit, icipe; 2025 ATOR Co-Editor

8–minute Presentations on Chapters 12, 13, and 14

• Nurturing Africa’s Agricultural Transformation: The Role of Investment in Research and Development (R&D) – Dr. Gert-Jan Stads, Alliance Bioversity-CIAT

• Policy and Regulatory Frameworks for Development of Seed Systems in sub-Saharan Africa – Dr. Moti Jaleta, Principal Scientist, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

• The Role of Digitally Enabled Smallholder Producer Organizations (SPOs) in Promoting Emerging Agricultural Technologies in Africa Smallholder Producer Organizations– Dr. Fidele Eric Sessou, Scientist, AKADEMIYA2063

Invited reactions
• Discussant 1: Prof. Ed Mabaya, Senior Research Associate, Cornell University, and The African Seed Access Index (TASAI)
• Discussant 2: Dr. Joe DeVries, President, Seed Systems Group
• Discussant 3: Ms. Sylvia Kyeyune, CEO, Sterling Seeds Ltd

BREAK

Part II

Feature Session: Innovative Financing for Agrifood Technologies: Reflections on Financing Pathway

Moderator: Dr. Katrin Glatzel, Director, Global Strategy and Programs, AKADEMIYA2063

• Spurring Innovation and Science Policy in Africa – Dr. Tom Kariuki, CEO, Science for Africa Foundation

 

Invited Reactions
• Ms. Cecilia D’Alessandro, Policy Analyst, ECDPM
• Mr. Akim Daouda, Manager, Sovereign Wealth Fund of Gabon
• Mr. Daniel Njiwa, Director, Inclusive Markets, Trade and Finance, AGRA
• Mr. James Irungu Mwangi, CoFounder and CEO, Africa Climate Ventures

Insights and Implications for the Implementation of CAADP 2026–2035 under Kampala

Moderator: Dr. Augustin Wambo Yamdjeu, Former Director, Knowledge Systems, AKADEMIYA2063

10-minute Presentation on Chapter 18

• Tracking Key CAADP Indicators and Implementation Processes – Mr. Wondwosen Tefera, Senior Associate Scientist, AKADEMIYA2063

• Discussant 1: Ms. Jalwau Ahmadu Bello, Special Assistant on Food Security and Climate Change to the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Nigeria
• Discussant 2: Dr. Hamady Diop, CAADP Post-Malabo Process Coordinator
• Discussant 3: Ms. Hannah Scheuermann, Advisor, Global Project Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Policies (AgSys), German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ)

Closing High-Level Panel: From Innovation to Impact

Moderator: Dr. Debisi Araba, Managing Director, AKADEMIYA2063

• Mr. Ayo Sotinrin, Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture, Nigeria

• Dr. Paul Garaycochea, Director for Sustainable Supply Chains, Agriculture and Food Systems, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation (BMZ)

• Dr. Martin Fregene, Director of Agriculture and Agro-Industry, African Development Bank (AfDB)

• Dr. Segenet Kelemu, Executive Director, PanAfrican Programs, Mastercard Foundation

Conference Closing Remarks

Dr. Debisi Araba, Managing Director, AKADEMIYA2063

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