ABN joins like-minded networks at 1st African Youth Summit on Food Systems
With a deep commitment to sustainable agriculture and youth empowerment, the African Biodiversity Network (ABN) actively participated in the inaugural Youth Summit on Food Systems held in Kenya in May. The three-day summit, organized by the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) in partnership with Regional Schools and Colleges Permaculture Programme (ReSCOPE), brought together over 50 young participants from across the continent. Abdel-Karim Ali Mahamane, ABN Regional Programme Coordinator, attended the summit and shares the Summit’s discussions.
From 27-29 May, young voices from diverse agricultural sub-sectors converged in Machakos County, Kenya, to participate in the first ever African Youth Summit on Food Systems. As Africa grapples with the challenges of agriculture and strives for inclusive development, the summit focused on preparing the youth to harness the potential of agroecology to transform food systems sustainably. The ABN, renowned for its commitment to biodiversity and community-led approaches, took an active role in this transformative gathering, collaborating with other networks with a shared vision for Africa’s future.
Under the theme “Youth driving the transition to agroecology,” the Summit sought to unite young minds, providing them with a platform to exchange ideas and contemplate the future of food systems in Africa. The Summit’s core objective was to empower the youth, emphasizing their crucial role in making meaningful contributions to combat hunger through the adoption of vital principles of agroecology.
Keynote Speaker’s Insights:
Dr. Million Belay, the General Coordinator of AFSA, and Mr. Walter Mugove Nyika, President of ReSCOPE, avidly emphasized the importance of agroecology as a response to the food insecurity challenges faced by African agriculture. Both cited that unsustainable farming approaches that use chemicals in farming activities kill healthy microorganisms in the soil, leave poisonous residue on crops, and promote costly hybrid seeds and unyielding that continue to contribute to food insecurity on the continent. Their presentations sparked lively discussions on sustainable food systems besides the need to promote youth-led solutions. They reiterated the significance of agroecology as the best approach to fostering healthy soils, preserving the environment, yielding crops and benefiting all living things. They encouraged youth to take their position in agriculture while also urging them to adopt agroecology as a means to achieve food sovereignty in Africa.
Dr. Belay stated, “Agroecology is the future of agriculture, and this Summit provides a platform for young minds to engage with the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
Mr. Nyika, co-organizer of the Summit, emphasized the need to make agroecology “sexy” to attract more young people and encouraged cross-learning and dialogue among participants.
AFSA’s Youth Forum Coordinator, Ms. Joyce Brown, emphasized the importance of increased commitment and involvement in agroecological policies, advocating for youth-led sustainable solutions. In his opinion after the Youth Summit, Dr. Fassil Gebeyehu, ABN’s General Coordinator stated, “ABN continues its commitment to advocate for agroecology, supporting Africa’s Youth in driving the transition to sustainable and inclusive food systems.”
From Theory to Action:
Using interactive and direct exchanges, young participants tackled the seven principles of agroecology (Diversity, Recycling, Synergies, Efficiency, Resilience, Participation and Co-creation), brainstorming ways to implement them at national and continental levels. Working groups collaboratively reflected on concrete actions to advance agroecology in their respective states and sub-regional entities.
During the summit, there was an emphasis on the need to invest in education and training programs to make agroecology a more attractive option for young people. Youth at the summit had a common perspective that empowering the Youth and promoting sustainable solutions could strategically place Africa as a leader among continents in food sovereignty, besides shaping a brighter future for its smallholder farmers.
As the Summit concluded, the participants unanimously adopted a Declaration addressed to African countries’ governments and decision-makers. They also committed to launching a campaign called “My Food is Africa,” and they decided to organize a larger Summit in September 2024. The aim will be to continue bridging the intergenerational gap between Elders and Youth, fostering the sharing of knowledge and practices on agroecology.
AFSA was born from the ABN, and ReSCOPE is an important ally of ABN. The three networks share a vision and jointly contribute to the philosophy of leaving a better future for future generations.
