The West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) is gearing up to host a groundbreaking Stakeholder Engagement Meeting titled “Seeds of Tomorrow: Cultivating Global Partnerships for Africa’s Agricultural Renaissance” on April 12, 2024, at Hotel Silver Spring in Maryland, USA. This event signifies a crucial milestone in reshaping agricultural strategies across the African continent.
Under the leadership of Professor Eric Yirenkyi Danquah, the Founding Director of WACCI, this meeting aims to usher in a new era of agricultural innovation and resilience. With WACCI 3.0 on the horizon, the upcoming phase is dedicated to enhancing crop resilience, promoting innovative farming practices, and ensuring food security throughout Africa.
The event, skillfully hosted by Pascaline Songsore, will kick off with opening remarks from Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana. Following this, Prof. Danquah will provide insights into the rationale behind WACCI 3.0, emphasizing the urgent need to adapt agricultural capabilities in light of contemporary challenges.
The keynote address, delivered by Dr. Robert Bertram, Chief Scientist at the Bureau for Resilience, Environment and Food Security, USAID, will center on forging sustainable partnerships to strengthen resilient food systems in Africa, aligning closely with WACCI’s core objectives.
A pivotal segment of the meeting will revolve around “Funding African Centres of Excellence,” led by Dr. Simeon Ehui, Director General of IITA, Nigeria. Distinguished speakers include Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA; Trina S. Haque, Regional Director for Human Development at the World Bank; and Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister for Education, Ghana. This session aims to explore viable funding mechanisms to enhance research and training capacities in African agricultural centers of excellence.
Furthermore, the event will witness a transition of leadership within WACCI’s International Scientific Advisory Board, acknowledging Dr. Eugene Terry’s contributions and welcoming Emeritus Professor Ronnie Coffman of Cornell University as the new Chair.
In the afternoon session, lightning talks will highlight breakthrough ideas and strategies for agricultural innovation. Topics will encompass artificial intelligence in agriculture and sustainable value chain development. These discussions, moderated by Teale Yalch of GAIN, USA, and Professor Kwame Offei of the University of Ghana, underscore collaborative efforts to bolster food systems and agricultural development in Africa.
With the participation of key stakeholders from renowned organizations such as the World Bank, USAID, the U.S. Department of State, Cornell University, and AGRA, among others, this Stakeholder Engagement Meeting is poised to shape the trajectory of agricultural development and food security in Africa. WACCI’s longstanding commitment to agricultural innovation, coupled with its emphasis on innovative funding and partnerships, underscores the significance of this strategic event.
Source: Graphic Online
