1st AFRICAN ORGANIC RESEARCH CONFERENCE (AFROREC).

CALL FOR PAPER SUBMISSION FOR THE 1st AFRICAN ORGANIC RESEARCH

CONFERENCE (AFROREC)

About the conference
African Organic Research Conference (AFROREC) is an initiative of the Network of Organic Agriculture Researchers in Africa (NOARA) with participation of diverse regional and international multi-stakeholder organizations (farmers/ producers, researchers, manufacturers/marketers, policy makers, etc.) in organic and agroecology sectors. The 1st AFROREC taking place in Ibadan Nigeria from 6-8th December, 2022 is the maiden edition by NOARA and first of its kind in Africa. This event shall be a hybrid of virtual and physical participation. This conference is a contribution of NOARA to the decision of the African Heads of States and Governments on organic farming [EX.CL/Dec.621 (XVII)] as well as the demand by stakeholders of the organic and agroecological sectors of Africa, for research interventions to improve their operations. The importance of organic and ecological agriculture in national food security, health, biodiversity, environment conservation and fight against poverty is increasingly being recognized in Africa and all over the world. Despite on-going efforts of the African Union Commission led-Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of German Government, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), IFOAM Organics International, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and some other in the organic agriculture and agroecology sectors of Africa, there is still a gap of appropriate research interventions to strengthen efforts of these organizations in Africa. Thus, NOARA through the 1st AFROREC with the theme – Unfavorable Climate and Food Systems in Africa: Organic and Agroecology Solutions, shall be providing a platform for multi stakeholders (agencies, organizations, civil societies, projects and individuals) of organic and agroecological research in Africa to showcase their research results/innovations as solutions to stakeholders’ challenges.
The conference also aims to create interactive and networking opportunities, as well as information sharing among the diverse participants of the event. During the three-day event, there will be interaction among participants through plenary speeches, research paper presentations, dialogue of researchers with farmers, producers and input merchants and policy makers, journalists, as well as exhibition of organic products and projects. The event will also provide opportunities for regional and continental meetings related to organic agriculture and agroecology, as well as a field trip to a community of organic farmers for scientific interventions into their challenges. Moreover, there shall be opportunity for consultation and Press conference during the event. The Network of Organic Agriculture Researchers in Africa (NOARA) as a major stakeholder in disseminating organic agriculture research outputs within and outside Africa is privileged to coordinate this important event.

Objectives of the conference:

• To showcase the potentials of organic agriculture and agroecology research in transforming national and regional economies, ecologies and livelihoods through income growth, climate change adaptation, food sovereignty and trade.
•  Sharing knowledge, information, experiences and skills among all stakeholders of organic and agroecology sectors in Africa.
•  To present scientific evidence on the capability of organic agriculture/agroecology in contributing to healthy living and transformation of national and continental economy, enhancement of systems resilience and mitigation of climate change, among others.
• Platform for uptake of organic/agroecology alternatives through interdisciplinary collaboration, especially, in the sharing of experiences.
• Exhibition of organic produce and products to stimulate national, regional and international trade; linking producers to markets.
• To showcase and publicize benefits of organic agriculture and agroecology for consideration of policy makers, organic stakeholders and the general public.
• Platform for policy makers to interact with researchers and other stakeholders on organic and ecological issues

FOCUS OF THE 1st AFRICAN ORGANIC RESEARCH CONFERENCE (AFROREC)

The 1st AFROREC shall be addressing the theme of the conference as well as providing a platform to present the Organic Agriculture Research Agenda for Africa (OARAA) 2032 and other similar policy products of partner organizations of the event. This event shall also provide opportunities to showcase results of personal, institutional, national, regional and continental projects in the areas of organic agriculture and agroecology addressing the sub-themes below:

1.  Collaborative and innovative research for favourable climate and food security in Africa
2.  Food System and Value Chain Development in Organic Agriculture and Agroecology
3. Compliance to Organic Agriculture and Agroecological practices
4. Enhancing Nutrition and Health of stakeholders through Organic Agriculture and Agroecological practices
5. Social and Environmental Protection of Human and Ecosystem
6. Economic and Agribusiness opportunities in Organic Agriculture and Agroecology

CONFERENCE FEES

Date and Venue 

The 1st AFROREC taking place in Ibadan Nigeria from 6th-8th December, 2022 is the maiden edition by NOARA and first of its kind in Africa.

This event shall be a hybrid of virtual and physical participation.

EXPECTED PARTICIPANTS AND BENEFICIARIES OF AFROREC

• The following are the expected participants and beneficiaries of the Conference: Researchers and students within and outside Africa focusing on Organic Agriculture and Agroecology issues in Africa.
• Farmers and companies focusing on Organic Agriculture and Agroecology
• Continental and regional governments
• Policy makers from national and regional Ministries of Agriculture, Environment, Trade and other related governmental agencies in Africa
• Projects, NGOs, Community-based organizations (CBOs) within and outside Africa
• Journalists
• Developmental organizations

CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS, PARTICIPATION AND SPONSORSHIP
(Papers and success stories by Researchers/Producers)
NOARA therefore invites researchers from within and outside Africa, representing their institutions and various organizations to submit presentations of their research findings, innovations and success stories on Organic Agriculture and Agroecological practices. All these aiming at showcasing how these interventions are contributing to strengthening resilience in climatic conditions and food security in Africa. Below are the guidelines for scientific manuscript submission for the event. Appropriate presentations addressing the theme and topics under sub-themes of the conference are requested. Please note that only those duly registered for the conference shall be allowed to present papers or posters during the event.

❖ SUCCESS STORIES BY FARMERS/ PRODUCERS
First stage – A page poster presentation with name, location and success story Second stage – A 3 – 5 mins video clips of specific success stories in organic agriculture production.

❖ MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION
First step: Abstract not more than 300 words (double spacing, Times New Roman and font 12) should be submitted to noaraafrica@gmail.com … Deadline – 15 November, 2022

Second step: Full papers of accepted Abstracts to be submitted at http://publications.noara.bio.
and noaraafrica@gmail.com on or before 30 November, 2022.

Please note that all finally accepted manuscripts will be published in the Conference Proceedings, while those evaluated acceptable for journal publication will have the opportunity to be published in the African Journal of Organic Agriculture and Ecology (AJOAE). Authors’ Guideline for 1st African Organic Agriculture Research Conference (AFROREC) Manuscript Submission

Scope:
Contributions may be on Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Extension, Agroforestry, Agroecology, Animal science, Crop/Environmental protection, Crop science/Horticulture, Environmental Sciences, Fishery/Aquaculture, Nutrition, Pharmacy, Soil science, Veterinary Medicine, Wildlife Management and other relevant fields. Manuscripts can be submitted in both English Language and French.

Preparation of manuscripts

•  Articles could be written in either English or French with moderate technical terminologies to facilitate wide readership.
• All manuscripts should be typed, Times New Roman (12), 1.5 spacing on A4 size (210 x 297mm) paper.
• The length of the manuscript should in general not exceed 10 pages (tables, figures and other illustrations inclusive).
•  Leave ample margins, 2.54 cm to the left and 2.54 cm to the top and bottom of the page.
• The cover page should contain (a) Title of the article (b) Author(s) name and affiliation(s) followed by correspondence email address and phone number (c) Abstract of not more than 250 words with relevant keywords (maximum of 5).
• The manuscript should be organized as follows: Title, Abstract, Introduction, Aims/Objectives, Materials and Methods (or Methodology), Results, Discussion (or Results and Discussion), Conclusion and Recommendations and References.
• The main headings should be centered and typed in sentence case letters while tertiary headings should be to the left of the page.
•  Use only the international system of Unit (SI) and ensure that units are quantitative measurements, e.g. 3kg; when they are preceded by a capitalized noun, e.g. Table 8.
• Tables and figures should be numbered in Arabic numerals, cited in the text, sources indicated if not original (i.e. not made by the author).
•  Each table and figure should have an explanatory legend, which should be typed at the bottom of the page.
• Reference citation in the text should follow the name, years system; all references cited must be listed in alphabetical order of the sole/senior/first author’s names; each reference should be systematic and should comply with APA Style i.e surname of the author(s) and initials; year of publication (in parenthesis), title of paper, name of Journal/source of paper (italicized), volume number, number of issue (if applicable) in Arabic numerals on the first and the last pages of the references, e.g. Lawale A.A. (1991). “A Descriptive Analysis of Agriculture Cooperative Model in Rural Development”. Journal of Rural Development and Administration. 23 (3):1-8.

For the citation of books, the author’s name comes first followed by year of publication in bracket, title of book (underlined), edition and volume number (if any) page or pages, city of publication and publishers e.g.
Fredick, G. B. (1970). Principles of Educational and Psychological Testing. 468 pp. Illinois: The Dryden Press Inc.

For a chapter in a book, e.g. Pickering, D. C. (1978) “An overview of agricultural extension and its linkages with agricultural research”.The World Bank experience. In: Agricultural Extension Worldwide: Issues, Practices and Emerging Priorities (eds.) Rivera, W. M. and Schram, W. G.) 320 pp. New York: Crom Helm.

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