From 13 to 16 February 2024, the international organic food and natural and organic cosmetics community met in Nuremberg Germany for the BIOFACH and VIVANESS 2024. Among these were the KCOA-KHEA Project team from Uganda-PELUM Uganda, Kenya-Biovision Africa Trust & PELUM Kenya, Tanzania-TOAM, Rwanda-ROAM and Madagascar-GSDM&SYMABIO and the funding partner GIZ.
Around 35,000 trade visitors from 128 countries attended the world’s leading Trade Fair for organic food and the International Trade Fair for Natural and Organic Personal Care.
Under the Biofach 2024 theme which was: “Food for the future: Women’s impact on sustainable food systems,” the KHEA Country Implementing Partners and Project team were inspired by the diverse range of products and services offered by a total of 2,550 exhibitors from 94 countries. In addition to the products, the focus was primarily on the numerous dialogue formats.
The opening ceremony was composed of many speakers and international icons, and ministerial delegates including ministers of agriculture form Uganda and Madagascar. The opening ceremony that marked the opening the BIOFACH and VIVANESS 2024. was officiated by the Germany Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture, Cem Özdemir, who has led the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture since December 2021.
Converging together and dialoguing is essential, especially in turbulent times and this was very evident. KHEA participants discussed and interacted in the exhibition halls, at the congress and in other dialogue formats and they were able to play an active role for example in the different side sessions such as; a Side session on Sowing Seeds of Change: In conversation with female leaders in the organic agri- business field organised by IFOAM – Organics International, Side session on Global market overview where Dr. David Amudavi the ED, Biovision Africa Trust and KHEA Project Coordinator presented among other presenters across the world, and another side session on the Landscape of Agroecology and Ecological Organic Agriculture in Africa that had Dr. David Amudavi -Executive Director of Biovision Africa Trust and KHEA Project Coordinator as part of the facilitators.
Another key highlight and key Side session dubbed; KCOA Women Change Makers in Africa: Insights & Experiences for Food Transformation was organised by the GIZ team and the IFOAM – Organics International team. In this session, outstanding women across the KCOA Hubs shared insights and success stories on their role in food transformation. This was well attended by all KCOA partners, KCOA hubs, GIZ team, BMZ team and the Uganda State Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries-Hon. Fred Bwino Kyakulaga.
Another key highlight was the KHEA delegation continuity strategy meeting that was presided over by KHEA Project Manager-Francis Nsanga from PELUM Uganda and Biovision Africa Trust. In this session, he shared the key strategies under the 4 focus areas of the project to be implemented for Phase 3 of the KCOA Project in the Eastern Africa Region. In attendance was the GIZ team, KHEA Project team, KHEA Country Implementing Partners and the EOA-I project team.
This was the second time the Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology in Eastern Africa participated in the Biofach, the last being 2022.
Prepared by Ms. Venancia Wambua, EOA Senior Project Manager
