Managing Director of the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) Amath Pathe Sene says there is an urgent need to empower Africa’s women and youth to help transform food systems on the continent.

Speaking at a media briefing ahead of the 13th annual AFSF which is being held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from today till the 8th of September, he called for urgent steps to tackle Africa’s food system challenges using sustainable, local resources.

"It is imperative that we make our voices heard, develop solutions that are rooted in our local context, and give paramount importance to the empowerment of women and youth in the process of transforming our food systems," he said.

Organised by AGRA, the Africa Food Systems Forum is the world's premier forum on African agriculture and food systems, bringing together stakeholders to take practical action and share lessons that will move African food systems forward. It was previously known as the Africa Green Revolution Forum (AGRF).

Under the leadership of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, this year’s summit will provide a platform to over 4,000 delegates, leaders, and innovators from across the globe to discuss policy, breakthroughs, and innovations in agriculture and food systems transformation.

A delegation from Ghana including Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw, Deputy Ranking member on Parliament’s Food and Agricultural Committee and MP for Wa East; Kingsley Kwako Amoako, Deputy Director of Crop Services, Ministry of Food and Agriculture; and Forster Boateng, Deputy CEO of the Tree Crop Authority and former Regional Head for West Africa at AGRA, will be participating in the forum.

Also, Prof. Eric Danquah, Africa Food Prize 2022 Winner and founding director of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement at the University of Ghana; Nana-Aisha Mohammed, Ghana country manager, African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP); and AGRA Ghana country manager Juliette Lampoh, among others, will be participating and/or speaking at the forum.

The 2023 forum is on the theme; “Recover, Regenerate, Act: Africa’s Solutions to Food Systems Transformation.” It will specifically address the optimization of youth employment within Africa's food systems while showcasing the innovative agribusiness ventures driven by young entrepreneurs

Tanzania's Minister of Agriculture, Hussein Mohamed Bashe, told the media briefing that the forum represents a significant milestone in the journey towards establishing inclusive and sustainable food systems transformation throughout the continent.

"This year's summit places a strong emphasis on empowering women and youth, recognizing their pivotal roles in reshaping Africa's food landscape," he stated.