Food systems are fragile, subject to disruptions caused by conflict, climate change, and other stresses. Fortunately, awareness of the crucial role healthy soil plays in resolving these issues is on the rise. The recent Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health (AFSH) Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, organized by the African Union (AU), examined global challenges to improving food security through this unique lens and mobilized for inspired action.
For 50 years, IFDC has collaborated with experts and organizations to improve soil health and agricultural practices worldwide. We’re celebrating this milestone anniversary with government organizations, the private sector, and international development partners eager to support the AU’s Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan and regional roadmaps, within the framework of the Soil Initiative for Africa. The symposium is an opportunity to sustain the momentum of the summit and offer a space to explore ideas as the AU mobilizes resources and communicates its next steps to a global audience.
The symposium will be held on June 4, 2024, in Washington, D.C. with a second symposium on November 4, 2024, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
This event is closed to the press.
Registration is now closed. For more information, email IFDCcommunications@ifdc.org.
DC Symposium Agenda – June 4, 2024
Morning Agenda
Welcome Address
Time: 9:00-9:30 AM
Speaker
Josephine Okot, Founder and Managing Director, Victoria Seeds Limited, and IFDC Board Co-Chair
Fireside Chat with USAID Administrator Samantha Power
Time: 9:30-10:30 AM
The clock is ticking – we must improve global soil health if we are to eradicate human hunger and poverty while preserving biodiversity and restoring land before it is too late. In the wake of the AFSH Summit, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Power will lead a dynamic conversation discussing the way forward.
Keynote speaker
Samantha Power, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Facilitator
Dr. Godfrey Bahiigwa, Director of the Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development of the African Union Commission
Coffee break and meet-and-greet table talks
Time: 10:35-11:00 AM
IFDC is more than a research organization. We focus on action, taking research out of the lab and into the field for real-world application. Pick up a cup of coffee and join IFDC leadership for these interactive table talks as they discuss the organization’s work to contribute to global food security.
IFDC Leadership
- Dr. Oumou Camara: Catalyzing Farm Productivity
- Dr. Bocar Diagana: Enabling Impact
- Veyrl Adell: Strengthening Markets
- Dr. Upendra Singh: Developing Better Technologies
Panel: “Transforming Food Systems: The Answer Lies Beneath Our Feet“
Time: 11:00 AM-12:30 PM
How can the nations of Africa sustainably produce enough nutritious food to feed its communities while improving soil health at the same time? As the continent’s population is set to double by 2050, there is great urgency for creating a clear path of action for sustainable change. But it can be done if we all work together to support implementation of the 10-Year Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan. Hear from donors, researchers, and farmers on the frontlines on the concrete action they will take to tackle these challenges.
Panelists
- Dr. Godfrey Bahiigwa, Director of the Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development of the African Union Commission
- Dr. Rattan Lal, Distinguished Professor of Soil Science at The Ohio State University, 2020 World Food Prize laureate, and IFDC board member
- Parmesh Shah, Global Lead for Rural Livelihoods and Agricultural Jobs, World Bank
- Edith Wheatland, Owner, Rockland Farms, Ghana
Moderator
Teresa Welsh, President, Bloom Global Communications
Lunch
Time: 12:30-1:30 PM
Please enjoy a catered networking lunch in the 12th floor reception area.
Afternoon Agenda
Breakout Sessions: “Future Proofing: In Support of the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan“
Time: 1:30-3:00 PM
It’s time to get to work. After a morning setting the scene, join one of five ongoing Working Groups that will spend this afternoon session workshopping real, implementable solutions. We focus on the concrete, achievable actions that the global community can take to support the member states of the African Union in the wake of the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit, to improve soil health and food security.
Expected output: The five working groups will identify actions that can be taken to remove barriers that key actors within the food system face.
- Breakout Group 1: Producers and Consumers, led by the Virginia Tech GAP Initiative
- Breakout Group 2: Private Sector, led by The Fertilizer Institute
- Breakout Group 3: Government/Enabling Environment, led by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Michigan State University (MSU)
- Breakout Group 4: Research & Innovation, led by Kansas State University
- Breakout Group 5: Financial Sector, led by World Bank
During the breakouts, the working group leaders will present their findings and facilitate a rapid workshop to further refine ideas, ratify the selected actions, and discuss next steps to implement a plan of action.
Break: Coffee and refreshments, and meet-and-greet
Time: 3:00-3:30 PM
A second opportunity to meet IFDC experts and learn more about the Center’s work bringing research to life in the field.
IFDC Leadership
- Dr. Oumou Camara: Catalyzing Farm Productivity
- Dr. Bocar Diagana: Enabling Impact
- Veyrl Adell: Strengthening Markets
- Dr. Upendra Singh: Developing Better Technologies
Plenary: Charting a Bold Course for Plants, People, and Planet
Time: 3:30-4:30 PM
We come back together to share the work we have started. One leader from each working group will take the stage to share concrete outputs from the breakout sessions.
While we gather in person in Washington, D.C., at this symposium, the work does not end here. These working groups will plug their outputs directly into international infrastructural frameworks already hard at work on these issues. We must ensure we are aligned in our goals for soil health and food security and harness our collective power to create sustainable change.
The working groups will continue to meet throughout the year, culminating in a second symposium in Amsterdam in November to hold ourselves accountable for achieving these ambitious but essential goals.
Leaders
- Dr. Tebila Nakelse, Research Lead, Virginia Tech GAP Initiative
- Kathy Mathers, Senior Vice President of External Affairs, The Fertilizer Institute
- Charlotte Hebebrand, Director of Communications and Public Affairs at IFPRI
- Dr. Richard Mkandawire, Africa Director of the Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) at Michigan State University and Chairperson of the Malawi Planning Commission
- Dr. Vara Prasad, Director, Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sustainable Intensification (SIIL) and University Distinguished Professor, Crop Ecophysiology and Farming Systems (Agronomy Department), Kansas State University
- Martin Paul Jr. Tabe-Ojong, Economist (Young Professional) at the World Bank
Facilitator
Dr. Leigh Winowiecki, Soil Systems Scientist; CIFOR-ICRAF Theme Leader, Soil and Land Health; Co-lead of the Coalition of Action for Soil Health (CA4SH); and IFDC board member.
Future Proofing: The Time Is Now
Time: 4:30-4:50 PM
It is time to prioritize soil health and sustainable agricultural practices. Policymakers, scientists, and industry leaders must come together across the global community to foster international collaboration and investment in research for resilient food systems. By leveraging technology, embracing climate-smart solutions, engaging youth, and fostering international collaboration, we can secure a prosperous and food-secure future for generations to come.
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics (REE), and as USDA’s Chief Scientist.
Closing Remarks
Time: 4:50-5:00 PM
Dr. Thomas G. Coon, IFDC Board Co-chair
Thank you for attending
Thank you for celebrating IFDC’s 50th year of developing agriculture from the ground up. We invite you to continue working toward a food-secure future. Join the conversation and be part of the working groups. We hope to hear from you again at the November symposium in Amsterdam.
