By 2050, more than 50% increase in the food currently produced will be needed to feed an estimated world population of almost 10 billion. At the same time, almost 80% of the world’s poor live in rural areas and work mainly in agriculture. How can we use the challenge of feeding the world to zero poverty? The question will be the core of one of the sessions of the Brazil Africa Forum 2019, event that has as theme “Food Security: Path for economic growth” and that will be held on November 12 and 13 in São Paulo.
The session, called Feeding the world: a call for action, will discuss what investments are needed for good infrastructure in the countryside, how to make food sold, nutritious and consumable for everyone, and also increase the number of jobs in agriculture and improve the working conditions.
The debate will include names such as Ghana’s Minister for Food and Agriculture, Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Director of the World Food Program Center for Excellence against Hunger, Daniel Balaban, and FAO Special Ambassador for Cooperativism, Roberto Rodrigues.
Roberto Rodrigues was Minister of Agriculture between 2003 and 2006. He is currently Coordinator of the Agribusiness Center of the Getúlio Vargas Foundation and Holder of the Agribusiness Chair of Esalq / USP, and has published hundreds of works on agriculture, cooperativism and rural economy.
“We know that ensuring quality food for all is the first step towards sustainable development, and it is very significant that the Brazil Africa Forum brings together so many leaders to discuss precisely this very relevant topic,” says Daniel Balaban.
BIG NAMES MEETING
In its sessions, the Forum will promote a meeting of major public policy makers focused on the development of agriculture, both in Brazil and in Africa. One of these names is Alysson Paolinelli. He is currently president of the Brazilian Association of Corn Producers and member of the administrative board of the companies Verde Fertilizantes and CAMPO. Paolinelli was Minister of Agriculture from 1974 to 1979 when he was responsible for the creation of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and the development of Proálcool, a large-scale substitution program for petroleum products.
Also attending the event are Senior Advisor to the President of the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Fadel Ndiame and FARA Executive Director Yemi Akinbamijo.
A Nigerian citizen, Akinbamijo has spent the last 35 years of his career in Africa and Europe, working with International Agriculture, Food Security and Rural Development. Senegalese Fadel Ndiame brings more than 25 years of experience in agriculture and economic development policies and programs.
“Ensuring quality food for all is the first step towards sustainable development”
SIDE EVENTS
In addition to six thematic sessions, the Brazil Africa 2019 Forum will have four side events that will discuss specific themes, three of them focused on agricultural development.
FARA will discuss the ARIFA project, focused on agricultural research and innovation on the African continent.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will promote a debate on the power of South-South and Triangular Cooperation in improving food security.
Brazafric, in turn, will promote a discussion called Agro B – transforming family livelihoods and agriculture in Africa. “We are mechanizing agriculture in Africa in a truly sustainable way,” says businessman Marcos Brandalize.