The Murang’a University of Technology (MUT) hosted its 2nd International Conference with the theme “Leveraging on Science, Technology, and Innovation for Economic Transformation” from 8th -10th November at the university’s main campus. Delegates who included professionals from the academia and industry participated in the hybrid (physical and online) organized conference.
Among the keynote speakers was Dr. David Amudavi, the Executive Director of Biovision Africa Trust, who addressed the sub-theme “Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture, Hospitality, and Food and Nutrition Security.” Dr. Amudavi highlighted the challenges facing Africa, such as a growing population, urbanization, and climate change, intensifying pressure on natural resources and impacting land, water, and biodiversity. These challenges have notably contributed to food insecurity through effects of climate shocks, geopolitical forces creating price fluctuations, and persistent double challenge of food insecurity and undernourishment.
Dr. Amudavi emphasized that climate shocks have escalated acute food insecurity affecting nearly 50 million people across Sub-Saharan Africa since 2019. Global price shocks, stemming from commodity market volatility, conflicts, and the Russia-Ukraine war, have led to steep increases in food prices, further exacerbating food insecurity. He explained that the condition of undernourishment extends beyond acute hunger, with long-term malnutrition posing serious health consequences to populations.
The complexity of food systems, intertwining agriculture, health, environment, gender, markets, trade, and humanitarian assistance was a focal point. Dr. Amudavi introduced the transformative approach of agroecology to this issue to which the power of science, technology and innovations are needed, delineating its five levels: increasing industrial input efficiency, substituting alternative practices, redesigning agro-ecosystems, re-establishing connections between growers and eaters, and rebuilding the global food system for sustainability and equity.
Addressing the challenges outlined, Dr. Amudavi underscored four key policy interventions needed to make science, technology and innovations relevant: supporting transformative systems, stimulating sustainable product demand, incentivizing incremental improvements, and raising legal requirements. These interventions aim to promote sustainable practices, drive demand for eco-friendly products, encourage incremental improvements, and enforce legal standards.
To ensure sustainability, Dr. Amudavi emphasized a shift toward regenerative technologies prioritizing landscape restoration and ecosystem services. Equitable distribution of value within the food system, innovative models, resilient production systems, and the incorporation of technology alongside traditional knowledge were underscored as essential components.
Effective governance emerged as a critical factor for the success of food systems transformation. This involves establishing desired food systems, adopting a whole-of-government approach, demonstrating political will, ensuring policy coherence, and engaging citizens through various tools and platforms.
Dr. Amudavi further emphasized key intervention areas requiring bolstering by science, technology and innovations to ensure sustainable agriculture, food and nutrition security, and these included enhancing transformative technology, revolutionizing agricultural extension and advisory services, developing new marketing structures and institutions, embracing a zero-waste circular economy, prioritizing strategic food reserves, and creating an enabling institutional and policy environment informed by evidence.
The aspirations for agroecology, the basis of sustainable agriculture, food, and nutrition security, in Africa involve aligning with global agendas, promoting environmentally friendly practices, encouraging vibrant farmer-managed seed systems, generating incomes and market share for agroecological products, and establishing supportive policies and institutions.
In conclusion, Dr. Amudavi stressed that current food systems are unsustainable and approach to addressing them should not be business as usual, necessitating a shift towards agroecology-based solutions to food and nutrition security. Transformation must consider the entire value chain, promote sustainability, and this requires good governance, citizen engagement, and inclusive policies for success. He advocated for a culture of action, emphasizing that comprehensive frameworks, investments in technology, innovations and policy coherence are essential for Africa’s path to sustainable food systems.
Dr. Amudavi thanked the Murang’a University of Technology Administration for inviting him to speak at this important conference.
Prof. Prisca J. Tuitoek, Deputy Vice Chancellor – Academic and Student Affairs, Murang’a University of Technology, introducing Dr. David Amudavi to make his keynote presentation. Dr. Amudavi made the presentation while attending the 3rd National Ecological Organic Agriculture conference in Dodoma, Tanzania.
Prepared by Mercy Zakayo.