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Five things happening in SA agriculture today, 16 November 2020

by Noluthando Ngcakani
16th November 2020
We track three webinars on our radar this week. Wandile Sihlobo (left) takes centre stage at Cultivate Africa on Tuesday. International experts weigh in on transformations in the global food system. PLAAS has a learning opportunity up for grabs and Mondays come with the latest edition of the Mzansi Flavour Digest. Photo's: Supplied

We track three webinars on our radar this week. Wandile Sihlobo (left) takes centre stage at Cultivate Africa on Tuesday. International experts weigh in on transformations in the global food system. PLAAS has a learning opportunity up for grabs and Mondays come with the latest edition of the Mzansi Flavour Digest. Photo's: Supplied

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On the agricultural agenda today, we look forward to a webinar around transformation in the global agri-food system with UNISECO at 16:30.

The African Agri Council (AAC) partners with the African Agri Investment Indaba Secretariat to launch the Investment Food Forum (IFF) on Tuesday while the Cultivate Africa conference kicks off its two-day conference with insights to be shared by the globes foremost agricultural experts.

Graduates still have until 30 November to apply for a postgraduate diploma at the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS).

And the latest edition of the Mzansi Flavour Digest goes live at 12:00 with your meal inspiration sorted with our recipe mailer.

1

Advocating transformational change in agri-food systems

Transformational change in the global agri-food system has now been widely acknowledged.

Ahead of the UN Food Systems Summit 2021, UNISECO will today, 16 November 2020 host a transparent dialogue centred around the different approaches and movements set to develop a strong advocacy effort in the global debate of the future of our worldwide food systems at 16:30.

Experts will unpack the concept of agroecology which is now dominating the narrative in the future of agriculture.

According to UNISECO the steady growth of the organic market has a strong impact on the global development of standards and regulatory requirements. Alternative terms, such as regenerative agriculture, ecological organic agriculture and others approaches such as zero budget natural farming are being scaled-up significantly. These concepts have involved many actors who share the desire to “scale-up” transformational change initiatives to bring about resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems.

To participate in this exciting dialogue interested parties can join in via Zoom link.

2

Africa Agri Council hosts investment food forum

The African Agri Council in partnership with the African Agri Investment Indaba Secretariat will launch the Investment Food Forum (IFF), from 17 – 18 November 2020. The digital event is set to highlight global and regional investment opportunities in agrifood and offer attendees a comprehensive overview of the food investment landscape, tracking the flow of capital and asset performance.

The forum features global venture capital, banks, donors, development finance institutions (DFIs), family offices, pension funds and agrifood stakeholders who will discuss how the asset class is weathering the pandemic, the current rising flow of capital as well as diversified investment funds in the sector.

Interested in following this informative dialogue? Register here.

3

Partnerships key in promoting resilient agriculture and food systems in Africa

Cultivate Africa is the culmination of a partnership between the African Union (AU) and Hallpax focused on an effective response to the adverse effects of the global health crisis caused by the coronavirus on food security, nutrition, and food systems.

From 17 to 18 November a treasure trove of experts in the field of agriculture across the globe will unpack:

  • Innovative approaches for strengthening regional and in-country partnerships among stakeholders to play visible and effective roles in the fight against effects of the pandemic on agriculture and food systems in Africa.
  • A set of strategies established to be effective and successful which can be advocated to governments of AU member states to prioritise in their contingency plans for responding to the pandemic.
  • An agreement on creation and operationalisation of regional platforms for sharing action plans, reports, updates and relevant information on activities and developments across AU member states, to provide continuous knowledge and experience sharing and garnering consensus on new solutions to emerging challenges.

The two-day event will kick off at 10:00 on Tuesday, register here to grab your seat at the table.

4

Calling all graduates and starved minds

Applications for postgraduate diploma at the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) are open.

Undergrads and post-graduate students have until 30 November to apply.

The Postgraduate Diploma in PLAAS is a unique programme offered by the institute at the University of the Western Cape and is the only programme in the land and agrarian studies field offered at a South African university.

The PG Diploma is designed for passionate and committed working professionals such as policymakers, planners, managers and fieldworkers. It will benefit those working in government departments, local government bodies, NGOs, private sector companies and consultancies.

Applicants should have an undergraduate degree, with an average of 60% in the final assessment of the exit-modules in relevant courses such as sociology, history, economics, political science, agriculture, public administration, geography and/or environmental studies, together with at least three years’ relevant experience in the areas of poverty, land reform and sustainable natural resources management.

For those applicants without a first degree, recognition of prior learning (RPL) procedures will apply to candidates with extensive work experience of at least ten years in land and agrarian reform, rural development, natural resources management and gender issues. Preference will be given to students with good English writing abilities.

Interested students may apply here or send queries to postgraduates@plaas.org.za by 30 November 2020.

5

Looking for food inspiration?

Keep your eyes glued to your screens! The Food For Mzansi “Mzansi Flavour” weekly digest will be in your mailbox at 12:00 with your weekly dose of meal inspiration.

The carefully selected menu guide contains meals from our top chefs and cooks and has got all your meal needs covered to carry you through the week. It will only be availed to those who have signed up for it. No spam – we promise!

If you haven’t registered, no worries, sign up here to receive the recipe mail every Monday.

  • Do you have an upcoming event that should be on Food For Mzansi’s watchlist? Drop us an email to diary@foodformzansi.co.za and we’ll do our best to include it in this weekday feature.

Noluthando Ngcakani

With roots in the Northern Cape, this Kimberley Diamond has had a passion for telling human interest stories since she could speak her first words. A foodie by heart, she began her journalistic career as an intern at the SABC where she discovered her love for telling agricultural, community and nature related stories. Not a stranger to a challenge Ngcakani will go above and beyond to tell your truth.

Tags: African Agri CouncilAfrican Agri Investment Indaba SecretariatInstitute for PovertyInvestment Food ForumLand and Agrarian StudiesPLAASUNUnited Nations
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