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QU Dongyu of China re-elected FAO Director-General.

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Photos from the World Cotton Day photo gallery may be reproduced provided attribution is given to the WTO and the WTO is informed. Photos: © WTO/ Roxana Paraschiv

Overwhelming support confirms second term as head of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

QU Dongyu was today re-elected to a second term as Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

In ballot by FAO member countries, Qu received a total of 168 out of 182 votes deposited.

Nominated by China, Qu was the only candidate to FAO’s top position in today’s election. His new term will run from 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2027.

The election took place on the second day of the FAO Conference (1-7 July).

Since being elected FAO Director-General for the first time in 2019, Qu has championed a wide range of reforms and initiatives to overhaul the Organization’s business model, improving efficiency and implementing best practices that support programme and administrative effectiveness.

FAO’s transparency, visibility and reputation has continued to increase over the last four years, amid major global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and other protracted conflicts, economic downturns, and the intensifying climate crisis.

Qu has strongly advocated for the transformation of agrifood systems to make them more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable, with the ultimate goal of helping Members achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promote the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

For that, FAO has focused on boosting science and innovation and launched some important strategic initiatives. The Hand-in-Hand Initiative, for example, supports the implementation of nationally led, ambitious programmes to accelerate agrifood systems transformations. It uses advanced geospatial modeling and analytics, as well as a robust partnership building to raise incomes, improve the nutritional status and well-being of poor and vulnerable populations, and strengthen resilience to climate change.

In the emergency and humanitarian response, FAO has been advocating for greater investment in medium and long-term resilience building, livelihood protection and disaster risk reduction support alongside humanitarian actions, especially in fragile contexts. In this sense, the Organization has stepped up its work in prevention and anticipation with the aim to address the root causes of food crises.

Another highlight of Qu’s leadership was the creation of the World Food Forum (WFF) in 2021. Over the past two years, the WFF has identified powerful ideas, scientific and evidence-based knowledge, innovations, policies and solutions, while forging new partnerships and investment opportunities to transform our agrifood systems.

The WFF will continue to expand its reach in 2023, and draw a clear connection to the theme of climate action, while the global events in October will again encompass three pillars: the Global Youth Forum, the FAO Hand-in-Hand Forum and the FAO Science and Innovation Forum.

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FDA cautions food vendors to commit to safety standards.

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The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has issued a stern warning to food vendors and sellers of medicinal products, emphasizing the need to strictly adhere to approved food safety standards.

Failure to comply may result in severe consequences imposed by the FDA.

To ensure compliance, the FDA has intensified its monitoring of advertisements on electronic and social media platforms.

This heightened surveillance has already led to several arrests. 

Speaking to Citi News, the Ashanti Regional Head of the Food and Drugs Authority, John Laryea Odai Tettey advised food vendors to ensure they register their businesses and emphasized the need for them to always take the receipts or purchase documents.

He further urged the vendors to ensure that the food they prepare are safe for human consumption.

“We have collaborated with the environmental health unit of the Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and inspected the vending points as well as the food preparation points of these street food vendors. The advice for the vendors is that you will have to ensure that whatever you put out there for sale is safe for human consumption.”

“If it’s the process of food, then you have to make sure that it has to be registered, and you must always take the receipts or purchase documents from wherever you get it from,” the Ashanti Regional Head of the Food and Drugs Authority entreated.

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Farmers, and drivers bewail deplorable Seikwa-Sampa road.

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A food crop community road, Seikwa-Sampa road spanning approximately 25 kilometers and located in the Jaman North District, has become a cause for concern among drivers and passengers.

The road’s current condition is in a state of disrepair, posing numerous dangers to those who rely on it for transportation.

Of particular concern is the impact on the transportation of agricultural goods such as yam, cassava, cashew, and other crops. The poor state of the road makes it increasingly difficult for drivers to navigate, especially during the rainy season when the situation worsens.

Smaller vehicles are particularly affected, exacerbating the challenges faced by both drivers and passengers.

Adding to the frustration is the fact that a contractor was assigned to address the road’s issues but seemingly abandoned the project for the past two years, leaving the road in a state of neglect without any clear explanation.

Commuters who spoke to Adom News expressed their disappointment in the government’s overall approach to road infrastructure in the Tain District.

They called on the government to take immediate action to rectify the situation and improve the road conditions for the safety and convenience of all road users.

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The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana to set up the West Africa-Turkish Trade Facilitations Desk to promote agriculture trade between Ghana and Turkey.

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Anthony Morrison, CEO, Chamber of Agribusiness

The growing momentum of Ghana’s agriculture needs more strategic and resourced nations that could boost the fast growing sector into a stable one to sustain her citizens

According to Farmer  Morrison, the CEO of the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana(CAG), the Chamber is to set up the West Africa-Turkish trade facilitations desk promote agriculture trade between Ghana and Turkey.

“We intend to set up a Ghana-Turkish Trade Facilitation Desk at the chamber after our our with the Turkish ambassador to deepen the future collaboration to promote agribusiness trade between the two countries. Interestingly, the ambassador is in discussion with the University of Ghana (UG) for a capacity building for some of the students”, Farmer Morrison said.

He added that as the Chamber looks forward to deepening the Turkish-Africa SMEs program, likely for Ghana it is a strong SME start up program and the Chamber is hoping to link the SMEs to the Turkish partners to increase bilateral trade as well as tap into areas of investment, financial support, skills development, technology and many others.

He cautioned the mindset of African entrepreneurs to change as they need to be re-engaged because the Turkish entrepreneurs are fast in doing business and do not waste time in business engagements as compare to Africans.

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Seeding the Future Global Food System Challenge

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Deadline: 1-Aug-23

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and the Seeding the Future Foundation are calling on all scientists, engineers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and multidisciplinary teams from non – governmental organizations (NGOs), non – profits, social enterprises, universities, research institutions as well as small and emerging for-profit enterprises to submit game changing innovations that will help transform the food system

Hosted by the Institute of Food Technologists and funded by the Seeding The Future Foundation, the Challenge is intended to support innovations that have the potential for significant impact at scale and over time, and benefit at least one or more of the following intersecting domains: nutritious food for a healthy diet; sustainably produced; and accessible, appealing, affordable, and trusted by consumers.

The goal of the Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge is to inspire and support innovative, diverse, and multidisciplinary teams to create game-changing innovations that will help transform the food system.

Mission: Seeding The Future’s mission is to seed and support impactful initiatives and organizations that create and accelerate the pace of innovations that help transform food systems to become more nutritious, regenerative, and equitable for everyone in alignment with the overall vision.

Vision: Seeding The Future’s vision is a global food system that always provides equitable access to safe, nutritious, trusted, affordable and appealing food for everyone and improves the health of people and the planet by being sustainable, resilient, and regenerative. The moonshot goal is to positively impact the lives of one billion people.

Innovation Focus Areas

  • Empower Conscious Consumer Choices
  • Safe Nutritious Food for a  Healthy Diet
  • Sustainable Regenerative Practices.
Award Levels
  • The Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge will provide monetary awards in the form of grants and prizes totaling up to one million US dollars annually. They invite applicants from national or international universities, research institutions, or nonprofit organizations, as well as small or early-stage North American or European for-profit businesses.
  • The Challenge will provide three levels of awards to incentivize transformative food system innovations at different stages of their development. Applications can only be submitted at one award level.
    • Seed Grants ($25,000 each) will be awarded to organizations that are planting and nurturing high-potential, innovative ideas and have developed a prototype and/or initial proof of concept demonstrating feasibility. Innovation must benefit at least one, ideally two domains of the Innovation Focus Area without negatively impacting the others.
    • Growth Grants ($100,000 each) will be awarded to organizations that have demonstrated that their innovation is doable and have projected both economic feasibility at scale and high-impact potential to transform the food system. The innovation must benefit at least two, ideally three domains with no negative impact on the others.
    • Seeding The Future Grand Prizes ($250,000 each) will be awarded to organizations that have created innovations that are scalable, economically feasible at scale, trusted, and compelling to consumers, and have demonstrated major impact potential to transform the food system. The innovation must benefit at least two, ideally three domains with no negative impact on the others.
Eligibility Criteria
  • To be eligible for an award, the project must be innovative, impactful and lead to new advances that benefit at least one but ideally more than one of the intersecting domains of the Innovation Focus Area, shown in the diagram, while not negatively affecting any of the other domains. Innovations that benefit two or more domains and are at an advanced development stage are eligible for the highest award levels. The definition of Innovation in the context of this challenge is: A novel idea, approach, concept or technology that is practicable and leads to a significant beneficial for people or the environment.
  • The following organizations are eligible to compete in the Challenge:
    • Non-profits located in any country
    • Academic or research institutions located in any country
    • Early-stage or emerging North American or European based for-profit companies (‘small companies’)
  • Individuals are not eligible to apply. Please note, however, that teams of students or researchers may participate as part of their University or Research Institution’s submission. Organizations are encouraged to form teams to compete in the Challenge. If two or more organizations form a team to compete, they should choose one of the organizations to serve as the applicant.

Documents to Verify Your Organizational Status and Financial Standing

  • North American or European based for-profit organizations must submit:
    • Most recent financial statement that includes a budget and revenue (including disclosure of current levels of investment and financial assets)
    • Articles of Incorporation or similar documents
    • Federal Tax ID Number (TIN) or tax status documentation
    • Certificate of good standing, indicating that the business is properly registered with the state or country
  • U.S. based non-profit organizations must submit:
    • Most recent financial statement (audited financials preferred but not required)
    • Most recent 990 -OR-
    • IRS letter of determination
  • Non-profit organizations based outside of the United States must submit:
    • Most recent financial statement (audited financials preferred but not required)
    • Documentation verifying that the applicant organization is currently registered as a non-profit organization (equivalent to a US 501(c)(3) public charity) in its country. Please note that IFT may follow up to request additional documentation to verify the applicant’s non-profit status.
What the Challenge Won’t Fund
  • Projects that have a negative effect on either the safety or healthfulness of food, the sustainability of the food supply chain or, that are unlikely to be accepted by the end-user or consumer
  • Theoretical concepts or ideas without any experiments or a reduction to practice
  • Individual persons
  • Projects where funds will be used to support large for-profit entities in their commercial activities such as R&D, Innovation, Manufacturing or Sales/Marketing
  • Initiatives which are not scalable beyond the initial project scope and have limited projected impact over time
  • Projects associated with political campaigns or lobbying
  • Capital campaigns
  • For profit entities with significant financial assets or which passed Series A financing round.
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Small and Large Grants Program for the Advocates of Climate Change Mitigation

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The Minor Foundation for Major Challenges (MFMC) is now inviting applications for its Small and Large Grants Program to support advocates of climate change mitigation.

MFMC is a Norwegian foundation that supports communication projects which advance the transition to a low carbon economy. The Foundation also supports projects that support urgent, large-scale transformation, with a focus on changing policies and practices in public or private institutions.

Priorities
  • The foundation’s priorities for 2019-2023 are to
    • encourage and support innovation in climate communication
    • increase the number of voices and narratives in climate advocacy
    • help strengthen social and political movements that open up for radical change
    • concentrate on supporting European proposals
Types of Grants
  • Large Grants: In this category, MFMC is looking for projects typically in the range of EUR 20,000 to EUR 200,000, although larger projects may be considered. The application process consists of two steps, where interested organizations are asked to initially submit a short pitch. Based on this, the organization may be invited to submit a full application if the MFMC board finds the project appealing.
  • Small Grants: In this category, it is possible to apply for smaller grants of up to EUR 10,000 in a simplified one-stage process. Applications will be assessed by the MFMC board based on its aims and strategy.
Eligibility Criteria
  • The Foundation supports advocates of climate change mitigation. The calls for applications are open to international applicants.

For more information, visit MFMC.

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Broadspectrum Limited, Melcom, Amas Farms partner with Agrihouse Foundation for the Ghana Poultry Day

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Broad spectrum, Melcom, Amas Farms, are among leading organizations supporting this year’s Ghana Poultry Day and the 3rd Ghana Chicken Festival, at the forecourt of the State House, on Saturday, July 1, 2023.

Other organizations also providing financial and technical support include Qualiplast, Chilli Belly, Boris B Chicken, Flour Mills, Maphilix Trust Ghana Limited, Fidelity Bank, ADDFRA, Dainess Chief School, Joerees Farms, and Agrogenics Ltd.

In a press statement, Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Ms. Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, said the contributions of these organizations reinforce the importance of collaborations and further highlights the pivotal roles they play in the growth and success of Ghana’s poultry industry.

“The Ghana Poultry Day and the 3rd Ghana Chicken Festival, would not be possible without the support of these sponsors, and we are uttermost grateful for their support,” she said.

She said this year’s exciting full day event would not only highlight the immense potentials of Ghana’s poultry industry, but also provide a platform for industry networking and knowledge sharing among stakeholders.

While all sponsors have reiterated the need for intensive advocacy, platforms, interventions and events that highlight the contributions of poultry sector stakeholders to national growth and development, implementing partners like Ghana Egg Secretariat, Ghana Poultry Farmers Association, and National Farmers and Fishermen Awards Winners Association of Ghana, have joined Agrihouse Foundation to urge government to institutionalize July 1 as Ghana Poultry Day.

The official media partners for the Ghana Poultry Day and the 3rd Ghana Chicken Festival includes; Agric Today, Kantanka Tv, EIB Network, Angel FM and TV and Uniq Fm. 

“We are grateful to all these organizations who are collaborating and supporting our cause because they believe in the vision. Their sponsorship demonstrates their dedication to fostering growth and excellence within the poultry sector,” Ms. Akosa said.

The Ghana poultry Day and 3rd Ghana Chicken Festival is scheduled for Saturday, July 1, 2023, will be an unforgettable experience, displaying the achievements, challenges, and potential of Ghana’s poultry sector.

The poultry sector is indeed an essential part of the agriculture industry and in recognition of this all – important sector, Members of parliament, CEO of Various Companies, Tv and Radio personalities across the country will be cooking up a storm with their own chicken dishes as a way of raising awareness about the importance of our local poultry products.

Attendees can expect activity line-ups including exhibitions, enlightening panel discussions from various key stakeholders in the poultry sector, culinary, cultural festivities that celebrate the essence of Ghana’s rich poultry heritage, talk on Nutritional values of poultry and Egg dishes training.

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Why the govt, private sector must invest in agribusiness – Experts.

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The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and its partners have emphasised the need for the government and private sector to collaborate and invest in agribusiness in order to attract more youths into the sector.

This was the submission at the Agribusiness Investors Network organised by the Innovative Youth in Agriculture (I-Youth) recently in Lagos. The event was put together by IITA in partnership with Mastercard Foundation and Ecobank.

In attendance were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and representatives of African Development Bank, Lagos State government, among others.

Ken Dashiell, deputy director, general partnership for partnership and delivery, IITA, said it has become imperative for stakeholders to work together to empower the youth in transforming Nigeria’s food system.

Dashiell said the government and other developmental partners must begin to put the right policies and programmes in place to attract the youth into agriculture.

Former President Obasanjo, who is an ambassador of IITA, said that a concerted effort must be made to ensure that the funding gap in agribusiness is bridged, adding that financial institutions, investors and entrepreneurs must collaborate.

Obasanjo noted that the sector must be attractive for the youth, saying no serious entrepreneur would be interested in seeking a double-digit loan.

He explained that the agricultural sector had suffered for too long due to the lack of commitment to industry development and inadequate funding from the government as well as uncertainty from potential investors and other key stakeholders.

He stressed the need for government to invest heavily in the agricultural sector, noting that no nation has witnessed reasonable industrial development without paying adequate attention to agriculture.

Also speaking, Bolaji Lawal, managing director and regional executive of Ecobank Nigeria, stated the commitment of the bank to support any investment that will stimulate the growth of Nigeria’s economy and transform the opportunities in Nigeria into business and empowerment for the youth.

Areo Evelyn, the CEO of Farm2Fill Enterprises and beneficiary of the I-Youth project, stated that participating in IITA’s training programme impacted her entrepreneurial journey as she now offers a variety of agricultural produce to local and international markets.

Aline Mugisho, the executive manager, I-Youth Project, who spoke on ‘De-risking agro-industry investment,’ emphasised the need for stakeholders to work together to, demystify the agricultural sector’s myth around profitability, sustainability, and growth.

Mugisho said that youths were catalysts in agriculture technology and innovation scaling, and when empowered with skills and expertise, they become invaluable assets to companies.

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Call for Applications: African Climate Innovation Challenge 2023

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Applications are now available for African Climate Innovation Challenge to empower young Africans to create impact in their local communities by solving sustainability challenges through entrepreneurship and innovation.

Applications are now available for African Climate Innovation Challenge to empower young Africans to create impact in their local communities by solving sustainability challenges through entrepreneurship and innovation.

The African Climate Innovation Challenge (ACIC) which is jointly developed and implemented by 3 E’s 4 Africa, Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) and StartUp Lounge Africa is a project which intends to focus on the innovative minds and projects of young Africans and encourage and empower them to create a local impact in their communities. It is an idea contest which challenges young Africans to come up with innovative, green ideas and helps them to develop them into real solutions.  Young Africans apply with ideas for solving environmental problems with an entrepreneurial mindset.

The best 10 concepts are selected as the ACIC Cohort. They will go through an online curriculum, consisting of training and digital workshops, as well as P2P sessions between mentors and participants. This gives teams the opportunity to work on and develop their ideas further. Topics covered include environmental protection, climate change, social engagement, digital literacy, project management and business creation/management.

The top 5 projects will be invited to the African Climate Week in Nairobi as finalists where the pitch event will take place. After the pitch event, the jury will select the 3 winners. Each winner will receive a considerable prize money dedicated to support them in the direct implementation of their idea in the community.

Objectives
  • Empower youth and local communities in Africa by providing them not only with entrepreneurship skills, but also with the tools and knowledge they need to create local impact.
  • Help African communities build resilience and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change locally.
  • Addressing and solving sustainability-related challenges through entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa.
Benefits
  • Up to USD15,000 in prize money for the three winning teams to directly implement their innovative start-up ideas in their communities.
  • Tailor made curriculum as well as dedicated Peer-to-peer mentorship for all participants to further develop their start-up ideas.
  • 3 months incubation for all 10 selected teams to move past the ideation stage and turn their ideas into reality.
  • Pitch your project during the African Climate Summit co-hosted by the Republic of Kenya and the African Union Commission (AUC) in Nairobi.
Eligibility Criteria
  • Before applying, make sure your team and yourself are willing and able to commit to the program of the ACIC
  • You should be a team of 2 – 6 people. Applications from teams with less than 2 people and more than 6 people will not be considered
  • Although not required, they specifically want to encourage female-led teams and teams with 40% – 50% female participants
  • All the members of your team must be of African descent and based in Africa
  • Existing and officially registered start-ups will not be considered
  • The idea you are applying with must be centered around climate change mitigation and/or climate change adaptation
  • All members of your team must be between 18 and 35 years old
  • All members of the team must have a good mastery of the English language.

For more information, visit 3 E’s 4 Africa (3E4A).

Deadline: 29-Jun-23

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Ghana needs innovative solutions to unlock agricultural potential – GIRSAL CEO

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Ghana’s agribusiness sector still faces significant challenges, according to Kwesi Korboe, the Chief Executive Officer of GIRSAL.

Contributing to a panel discussion on the Citi Business Festival on Tuesday, June 27, Mr Korboe said while progress has been made, there is still a long way to go to fully unlock the potential of agriculture in the country.

Mr Korboe emphasized that the agriculture sector in Ghana is in need of innovative solutions and increased investment to improve productivity, efficiency, and sustainability.

Access to modern farming techniques, advanced machinery, and quality inputs such as fertilizers and seeds is crucial for the growth of agribusiness in Ghana.

Another major challenge Mr Korboe highlighted is access to land for farming by the private sector. He added that insufficient road networks and limited access to markets make it difficult for people to invest in the agricultural sector.

Furthermore, Mr Korboe added that access to finance remains a significant hurdle for many small-scale farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs. Limited access to credit, high-interest rates restrict the ability of farmers to invest in their operations, expand their businesses, and adopt modern technologies.

Korboe also highlighted the need for effective policies and supportive government interventions to promote agribusiness development. This includes policies that prioritize agricultural research and development, provide incentives for private-sector investments, and create an enabling environment for innovation and entrepreneurship in the sector.

Despite these challenges, Mr Korboe acknowledged the immense potential of Ghana’s agricultural sector.

The country, he said has favourable climatic conditions, fertile land, and a rich biodiversity that can support diverse agricultural activities. With the right investments, infrastructure development, and policy support, Ghana can harness its agricultural resources to drive economic growth, create employment opportunities, and ensure food security for its population.

Tuesday’s forum was under the theme ‘Understanding and leveraging Agribusiness Value Chain’.

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