October 16, 2024 | No. 62 |
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| 8TH AFRICAN CONFERENCE OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMISTS (8th ACAE) 2026 |
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8TH AFRICAN CONFERENCE OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMISTS (8th ACAE) 2026
The Executive Board of the African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE) is excited to announce that the 8th African Conference of Agricultural Economists (8th ACAE) will be organised in Nairobi, Kenya, in September 2026.
Key Details: - Event: 8th African Conference of Agricultural Economists (ACAE)
- Location: Nairobi, Kenya
- Date: September 2026
- Theme: TBA
Further announcements about the conference, including the call for papers, themes, speakers, and registration details, will be provided in due course. For more information and updates, please contact info@aaae-africa.org. Stay connected through our website (aaae-africa.org) and social media channels for continued updates.
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| Will AI feed Africa? Your questions answered |
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As the climate crisis bites, Africa is at a crossroads: how will it feed the world’s fastest-growing population in the decades ahead? At GLF Africa 2024, we gathered a panel of experts to debate the role of AI and digital tools in shaping the continent’s food future.AI has significant potential to transform agriculture and food systems in Africa by enhancing crop monitoring, enabling precision agriculture, improving weather forecasting, optimizing supply chains, and providing market intelligence. However, several barriers exist, including limited infrastructure, data scarcity, lack of technical expertise, high costs, and digital literacy challenges. Read More |
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| FAO helps foster new food frontiers with African orphan crops |
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Aspiring and established plant scientists from around Africa gathered in Kenya’s capital for a workshop to review what has been achieved so far by the African Orphan Crops Consortium (AOCC). In its first decade, the AOCC has empowered more than 172 scientists, nearly 40 percent of whom have been women, and 28 African countries in the use of genomics-assisted approaches to crop improvement. The workshop, co-sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), reviewed a number of themes, including: what genomics can contribute to crop development; how to distribute new cultivars for widespread use; what partnership models work best; and, how to strengthen the work force for local private-sector business development in the field. Read More
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| AGCO Agriculture Foundation’s Grant Program 2024 |
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CALL FOR GRANT PROPOSALS!
DEADLINE : November 29th, 2024, 5:00pm EDT.
The AGCO Agriculture Foundation has launched the Grant Program to support the next generation of leaders in agriculture, helping them to develop innovative solutions for agri-food systems. This call for grant proposals seeks to work with nonprofits to support youth-led and high-impact innovations for sustainable food systems. Working with nonprofits, the Foundation will offer grants of USD 400,000 – USD 450,000 each for one or more projects, disbursed over a three-year project duration to support youth-led innovative solutions and educate young people in the agri-food sector. Apply Now
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| African Development Bank’s High Impact Projects Transform Côte d'Ivoire’s Energy and Agriculture Sectors |
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During a recent three-day field visit to central Côte d'Ivoire, Joseph Ribeiro, the African Development Bank’s Deputy Director General for West Africa, expressed his satisfaction with the progress of two high-impact projects funded by the Bank Group that are set to revolutionize the country’s energy and agricultural landscapes. The African Development Bank has contributed €40 million to the €174.3 million project. Key partners, such as the Africa Finance Corporation and DEG, also provided funding. It entails the construction of the 44-megawatt plant, notable for being the country’s first private producer of hydroelectricity. The plant is expected to play a crucial role in powering Côte d'Ivoire and supporting electricity exports to neighboring countries. Read more
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| Diageo Invests in Climate-Resilient Farming in East Africa |
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Diageo partners with tech firms to help East African farmers adapt to climate change, improving crop yields and strengthening its supply chain Global drinks company Diageo, the name behind iconic brands like Johnnie Walker and Guinness, has taken a proactive approach to climate change by partnering with three technology companies to support East African farmers. With a commitment of up to US$570,000, Diageo aims to develop and trial agricultural monitoring technologies designed to mitigate the effects of extreme weather, ensuring more resilient harvests. Read More
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| African farmers benefit from regenerative agriculture |
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SMALLHOLDER farmers in Africa benefit from regenerative agriculture through a diverse set of practices but need better access to technology. This is the key outcome of the second Roundtable of African Farmers, co-organized by the Pontifical Academy for Life, Bayer, Global Farmer Network, World Farmers’ Organization, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), and Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). Sub-Saharan farmers from Ivory Coast, Lesotho, Mali, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia discussed with international policy makers and other key stakeholders the importance of policies that enable smallholders to apply regenerative agricultural practices more broadly and to improve food security in Africa. Read more
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| Modernizing Agriculture: African Development Fund Project Changes Lives in Benin’s Ouémé Valley |
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The sun rises early over Djeffa, a locality in southeastern Benin’s Sèmè-Podji district where Justine Gantekpin is already tending to her flourishing vegetable farm. Thanks to the African Development Fund Project for Support of Agricultural Infrastructure in the Ouémé Valley, Gantekpin has expanded her farm from a small plot to two hectares of thriving vegetables. “This scheme is well thought out and implemented. It has given us the material resources we need for modern agriculture. Our business has flourished,” Gantekpin says, gesturing to the newly installed boreholes and high-quality water pipes that now irrigate her tomatoes, aubergines, and lettuce.
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| African smallholders call for improved tech access |
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Rome roundtable gathers farmers from Sub-Saharan Africa to discuss how a diverse set of practices and technologies can enhance productivity, soil health, biodiversity and more. Smallholder farmers in Africa benefit from regenerative agriculture through a diverse set of practices but need better access to technology. This was the key outcome of the second Roundtable of African Farmers, which took place in Rome and was co-organized by the Pontifical Academy for Life, Bayer, Global Farmer Network, World Farmers’ Organization, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), and Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). Read more
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| Gender-Sensitive Agriculture, Path To Food Security, Poverty Reduction In Nigeria |
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Gender inequality remains a significant challenge across Africa, impacting economic development and food security. Addressing these disparities is crucial for achieving sustainable progress. In response to this, Sahel Consulting, Agriculture, and Nutrition Limited, along with other stakeholders, gathered at the 2024 Gender and Inclusion Summit in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, in September. This summit, the third since its inception in 2020, provided a platform for meaningful dialogue on the relationship between gender inequality and poverty within Nigeria’s development context. It also highlighted the urgency of investing in the capacities of frontline workers, policy development, and implementing gender-inclusive strategies tailored specifically to Nigeria and Africa at large. Read More
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Becoming an AAAE member: The African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE) is a nonprofit association serving the professional interests of those working in agricultural and broadly related fields of development economics. Becoming a member of AAAE brings together people who work in the same industry and/or share common interests and goals. Please subscribe today and become a member to help in advocating for our shared purpose. |
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African Association of Agricultural Economists c/o University of Nairobi, C.A.V.S, Upper Kabete Campus Loresho Ridge Road, Nairobi, Kenya |
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