Nairobi: Stakeholders in the food and agriculture sector have emphasised the need for collaborative efforts to strengthen food safety, reduce food loss, and improve nutrition across Africa through the establishment of sustainable and inclusive food systems. Speaking during the Food Safety and Food Systems Conference hosted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Nairobi, experts drawn from governments, development institutions, research bodies, and the private sector underscored the urgency of addressing gaps in food safety, fortification, and waste management to ensure healthier populations and thriving economies.
According to Kenya News Agency, the high-level event, themed ‘From Farm to Future: Africa’s Journey to Safer, Stronger Food Systems’, brought together more than 40 speakers from local and international organisations, including the World Bank, WHO, FAO, AGRA, Global Affairs Canada, and the African Union-InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR). Dr. William Akwimbi, Senior Deputy Director for Livestock Policy Research and Regulations at the Ministry of Agriculture, reiterated the government’s commitment to advancing food safety strategies through public and private partnerships and policy enforcement.
Henrik E. Pedersen, IFC Regional Industry Director for Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services in Africa, emphasised the role of investments and innovation in building resilient food systems. Mary Porter Peschka, IFC Regional Director for Eastern Africa, and Hamadi Boga, Vice President for Programs Delivery at AGRA, opened the day’s sessions with a keynote dialogue highlighting grassroots innovations and success stories of African farmers, women leaders, and food businesses working to improve safety, sustainability, and nutrition outcomes.
A series of expert panel sessions discussed global perspectives on Africa’s Food Safety Strategy (FSSA) 2022-2036, led by Natia Mgeladze (IFC) and Huyam Salih (AU-IBAR). Discussions focused on the WHO/IFC Food Safety Roadmap Development Tool and the need to align regional efforts with global standards. During a panel on elevating food safety to protect health and build trust, Yuriy Zvazhenko, IFC’s Food Safety and Food Loss Prevention Specialist, joined Joachim Westerveld, Managing Director of Biofoods Products Ltd, to explore regulatory enforcement, the informal market, and the role of private companies in mitigating food safety risks in Kenya.
Zvazhenko also led a technical session on Return on Investment in Food Safety, illustrating how businesses benefit financially by adopting food safety measures and quality standards. The afternoon panel discussion featured parallel sessions focusing on inclusion and technology. In one, Lydia Mbevi (IFC) and Lilian Kerubo (Quickmart Limited) examined how women are central to food systems and how innovations are driving gender equitable agri-value chains.
A concurrent session on tech-driven approaches, led by Alan Johnson (IFC) and Peninah Yumbya (ICED), explored digital solutions in reducing food loss and enhancing traceability. Zanele Hlatshwayo (GAFSP) and Elsabe Matthee (Foundation FSSC) addressed innovative solutions for food loss and waste, citing Kenya’s Sh72 billion annual losses and called for urgent reforms across production, processing, and market distribution chains.
A panel discussion led by Robert Peck (IFC) and Rizwan Yusufali (TechnoServe) tackled the challenges and opportunities in mandatory food fortification, stressing the importance of policy alignment and industry collaboration to ensure access to nutritious staple foods like maize flour, wheat flour, and vegetable oils. Samuel Kamau Nganga, IFC’s Upstream and Advisory Manager for East and South Africa, commended stakeholders for their insights and reaffirmed IFC’s dedication to supporting Africa’s journey towards food security and sustainable development.
The conference was sponsored by several development partners, including the Facility for Investment Climate Advisory Services (FIAS), the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP), Global Affairs Canada, and Rootooba, a food systems technical assistance platform based in Africa. Participants lauded the IFC-led initiative for creating a platform for dialogue, networking, and solutions-oriented partnerships that will shape the continent’s food systems for generations to come.