Expo Event Program

What is the potential of local and indigenous foods to contribute to food and nutrition security, as well as economic empowerment, of poor and marginalized farmers and consumers in Sub Saharan Africa?

African Indigenous Foods and Food Systems Expo 2023 (AIFS) aims to contribute towards landscape and ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation using well proven indigenous knowledge and practices. The three inter-connected issues of food safety, food nutrition and food security are some of the most challenging in Africa’s quest to provide adequate, nutritious and safe food to its growing population.

The shift from food security at household level to market focus has gravely affected the need and desire for post-harvest storage at home level.  The desire to grow for market as opposed to grow for food has seen farmers shift from the traditional/indigenous foods to exotic crops which grow faster but have very short shelve life and do not have the required nutritional content.

The Africa Indigenous Foods expo, is Africa’s premier and largest international food safety, food nutrition and food security conference and exhibition.

Program of Event

Time

Activity

8:00-9:00

Registration and Orientation

This session will give an overview of the day’s activities.

9:00-10:00

 

 

Plenary session

Official Opening Ceremony

Session title: Re-invent, Restore, Conserve and Create Ownership: Indigenous Africa Foods Systems’ Solutions to Food Security. 

This high-level plenary session will be the cornerstone of the IAFS 2023, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders to discuss Indigenous Africa Food Systems as a solution to food security.  The opening ceremony will set the stage for an insightful discussion on how to re-invent, restore, conserve and create ownership of IAFS towards the attainment of SDG 15.

Master of Ceremony – Man-Njoro

Keynote Speakers:

·         Dr Director Eliud Kiplimo Kiregei KALRO

·         DR Njoki Mitugo

Moderator:

·         Prof Kiringai Kamau

Take home remarks.

10:30-11:30

 

Plenary

Session

Topic 1: Towards zero waste – Value chain Development

Key Speakers:

·         Eng Mambiria

·         Dr Kihonge

 

Moderator 

·         Benjamin Wanyoike

 

Take home remark

11:30-12:00

 

Plenary session

 

Topic 2 : Enhancing sustainability and resilience of food systems – a focus on Indigenous Foods Knowledge

Key Speaker:

·         Dr Lusike Wasilwa KALRO

Moderator:

·         Stella Tanui

Take home remarks

12:00-12:30

 

Plenary session

Topic 3 : Challenges in Food Production (costs, pests, Markets, water)

Keynote Speakers:

·         Prof Wainaina Gituuro

·         Prof. Catherine Nkirote

Moderator:

·         Mr Joseph Kamau

Take home remarks

12:30-1:00

 

Break out room 1

Presentation on Zero waste (Bio-manure production)

 Speaker

 

·         Dr Oscar Aghan

 

12:30-1:00

 

Break out room 2

Exploring the role of indigenous livestock value chains in sustainable social economic transformation of Africa

·         DR Kariuki – Deputy Centre Director Muguga

 

1:00-2:00

Health/lunch break

2:00-3:00

 

plenary

Topic 4: Documentation of Indigenous Knowledge on foods, Food systems, herbs and spices

Key Speakers:

·         Prof Kiringai Kamau – UoN, CECM Murang’a County

·         Nancy Sakala – Zambia

 

Moderator

·          

Take home remarks

3:00-4:00

 

Plenary

Topic 5: The future of farms, farmers and farming from a cultural perspective

Key Speakers:

·         Mr Sibeso Mulele – Zambia

·         Ann Njuki   – Groots Kenya

Take home remarks.

Time

 

9:00-9:30

Topic 6 : Models and applied methodologies to study food systems dynamics and trade-offs

Key Speaker:

·         Prof.  Wainaina Gituuro

 

Moderator

 

·         Dr Njoki Mitugo

Take home remarks

9:30-10:00

Topic 7: Oil seeds/crops –  Indigenous knowledge and practice as a means of replenishing the granary in this era

 Speakers:

·         Mr Peter Waweru

Moderator

·          

Take home remarks.

10.00 -10.30

Topic 8: Status Analysis and Strategic Exploitation of Indigenous Soil Potential  

 Speakers:

·         Dr. Stephen Kimani

 

Moderator

·         Stella Tanui

Take home remark

10:30 – 11.30

Break out room 1

Topic 9: The Role of Indigenous Foods Systems for Food Security

Key speaker

·         Prof. Catherine Kunyanga

 

Take home remark

10:30-11:30

 

Break out room 2

Topic 10: The Role of Indigenous Foods Systems in combating climate change

Keynote Speakers:

·         Dr. Serah Kimaru

 

 

 

11:30-12:00

 

 

Plenary Session

Topic 11: Addressing changing dietary demands and inequities in an interconnected world

Keynote Speakers:

·         Mr. Isaac Nzitunga – Burundi

Take home remark

 

 

11:30-12:00

 

Plenary Session

Topic 12: The use of Geo-ICT to enhance Indigenous food systems.

Key Speakers:

·         Serah Kahuri  –  speaking online from Ghana

Take home remark

1:00-2:00

Health/Lunch break

2:00- 4:00

 

Plenary Session

Topic 13: Robust sustainable food systems to reduce harvest losses and food waste. The African Granary.

Keynote Speakers:

·         Dr. Njoiki Mitugo

·         Prof. Cecilia M. Onyango

Take home remark

9:00-9:30

Topic 14 : Role of financial institutions in developing economic opportunities aligned to IK on foods and food systems – 

Mr Joseph Ndiritu Fianance Manager – K-UNITY

9:30-10:00

SMES – in value chains

10:30-11:00

Innovators

11:00-11:30

Tea break

11:30-12:00

SMEs in organic waste management

12:30-1:00

Role of SACCOS and farmer Cooperatives in Indigenous food value chains

1:00-2:00

Health/ lunch break

2:00-4:00

Reports from all moderators

 

Official closing  –  Dr Njoki Mitugo and Dr David Lelgut – Centre Director