Margaret A. Gilliam Lecture in Global Food Security: Africa鈥檚 Road to Agrifood Systems Transformation: Challenges and Opportunities
The Margaret A. Gilliam Institute for Global Food Security, the 9I制作厂免费 School of Population and Global Health, and the 9I制作厂免费 Centre for the Convergence of Health and Economics invite you to the Margaret A. Gilliam Lecture in Global Food Security with a keynote lecture titled:聽Africa鈥檚 Road to Agrifood Systems Transformation: Challenges and Opportunities聽by Dr. John Ulimwengu, Senior Research Fellow in International Food Policy Research at the CGIAR (formerly the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research). A cocktail will follow the presentation.
- Date: February 18th, 2025
- Time: 5:00 to 7:30 pm EST
- Location: Room 1140 of 2001 9I制作厂免费 College, 11th floor
Please note that this even is in person only
Abstract
The Kampala CAADP Declaration, adopted in January 2025, marks a transformative step in Africa鈥檚 journey to build resilient and sustainable agrifood systems. With its population projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, the continent faces significant hurdles, including limited access to resources, post-harvest losses, climate variability, and shifting dietary trends. However, these challenges also present opportunities for sustainable development. The adoption of innovative technologies such as digital agriculture, biotechnology, and climate-smart practices offers solutions to boost productivity and sustainability. Regional integration through frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can enhance trade and economic growth. Moreover, empowering women, youth, and vulnerable groups is critical to driving inclusivity and resilience. By leveraging its youthful population, advancing policies, and fostering collaboration, Africa can lead the way in global agrifood systems innovation, ensuring food security and sustainable economic growth for generations to come.
Speaker Bio
John Ulimwengu is a senior research fellow at the . He holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Ohio State University (USA), and Master in Development Economics from Williams College (USA). His research interests include resilience, food systems, poverty dynamics and network analysis. Since 2007, Dr. Ulimwengu is involved in strategic research on the transformation of agricultural sector in Africa under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) agenda. In 2017-2021, he was the Africa wide coordinator of the Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System ().
