Stakeholders in the food and agriculture sector recognise the need for collaboration to strengthen food safety, reduce food loss and improve nutrition in Africa.

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 addressed the urgency of addressing gaps in food safety, fortification and waste management to ensure healthier populations and thriving economies.

The high-level conference themed: From Farm to Future: Africa’s Journey to Safer, Stronger Food System, 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).

In his opening remarks, Senior Deputy Director for Livestock Policy Research and Regulations at the Ministry of Agriculture William Akwimbi, explained the government’s policy for 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, who was also in the event called for investment and innovation in building resilient food systems.

On the other hand, IFC Regional Director for Eastern Africa, Mary Porter Peschka and Hamadi Boga, Vice President for Programmes 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 followed, beginning with global perspectives on Africa’s Food Safety Strategy (FSSA) 2022–2036, led by Natia Mgeladze (IFC) and Huyam Salih (AU-IBAR). The 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, showing 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) both examined how women are central to food systems and how innovations are driving gender equitable agri-value chains.

Similarly, 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.

Later on, Zanele Hlatshwayo (GAFSP) and Elsabe Matthee (Foundation FSSC) both addressed innovative solutions for food loss and waste, citing Kenya’s Ksh72 billion annual losses and calling for urgent reforms in production, processing and market distribution chains.

A final panel 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.

For the event’s closing remarks, Samuel Kamau Ng’ang’a, 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 supported 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.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Gabriel Mwangi