The UNESCO Chair in World Food Systems is devoting its 14th Annual Symposium to food systems in Africa

Event 27 January 2025
For its 14th Annual Symposium, the UNESCO Chair in World Food Systems, co-headed by CIRAD and Institut Agro, will be looking at African food systems.

© UNESCO Chair in World Food Systems

Africa cannot be seen merely in terms of poverty and conflict, nor as the new Eldorado promised by the development of an urban middle class. 

For the UNESCO Chair in World Food Systems, the many different Africas are proud of their food sovereignty and their capacity to invent the food systems of tomorrow, in terms of business models, products and food cultures. Innovation is everywhere: among small-scale producers, new SMEs and street food outlets. The ways in which the agrifood sector is organized are inspiring responses to the demographic, economic, climate and health challenges facing the continent.

What are the main current issues facing agriculture and food? What are the foreseeable impacts of climate change? How are African cuisines passed down? How can they spread beyond the continent?

It is these questions that the speakers at the Chair's 14th Annual Symposium, to be held on 7 February at Institut Agro, will be attempting to answer:

  • Nicolas Bricas, food socioeconomist at CIRAD, holder of the UNESCO Chair;
  • Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, African Union special envoy for food systems, former Prime Minister  the Republic of Niger;
  • Guéladio Cissé, environmental epidemiologist at the Swiss Scientific Research Centre in Ivory Coast;
  • Hugues Mbenda, chef, Libala/Kin restaurant (Marseille);
  • Aïda Ben Ammar, manager, Ftartchi community catering company (Tunis);
  • Laurence Tibère, food sociologist, University of Toulouse-Jean Jaurès/Institut de recherche pour le développement, Réunion;
  • Justine Basse, co-found of Mom Koumba, an African food and drinks company;
  • Sayouba Traoré, writer and former journalist ("Le coq chante" programme on RFI);
  • Vérane Frédiani, author and photographer of "L’Afrique cuisine en France".

Follow the 14th UNESCO Chair Annual Conference on 7 February, 9 am to 5 pm:

Register to attend in person

 

Nicolas Bricas will be presenting the AfriFoodLinks project, in which CIRAD is a partner.