Feeding an Appetite for Transformation at the AFS Forum 2024 Culinary Village Stage
The SDG2 Advocacy Hub is bringing Recipes of Change to the Culinary Village at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2024 summit.
As the African continent navigates poly-crises—from the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and conflict to rising living costs and mounting debt, all exacerbated by climate change—this year’s AFS Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, is more crucial than ever. Under the theme “Innovate, Accelerate, Scale: Delivering Food Systems Transformation in a Digital and Climate Era,” the Forum will gather leading voices in food and agriculture to discuss and strategise on the future of food, driving practical action towards equitable, resilient, and sustainable food systems.
In collaboration with civil society, local and international chefs, and global stakeholders, the SDG2 Advocacy Hub is set to lead three days of engaging programming at the Culinary Village stage. Each day will bring to life the Forum’s theme by showcasing key ways to innovate, accelerate, and scale food systems solutions. Through cooking demos, impactful conversations, and interactive sessions, the Culinary Village will not only celebrate African cuisine but also inspire collective action towards achieving Good Food For All.
About the Africa Food Systems Forum 2024
This year’s AFS Forum summit, taking place from September 2-6 in Kigali, Rwanda, is convening around the theme “Innovate, Accelerate, Scale: Delivering Food Systems Transformation in a Digital and Climate Era.” The summit will be a timely opportunity to bring together diverse stakeholders, including world leaders, investors, academia, farmers’ organizations, and the private sector, to spotlight innovations, technologies, best practices, business models, policy delivery mechanisms, and investments to accelerate food systems transformation in Africa and beyond, with youth and women at the helm.
To see the full program of the 2024 AFS Forum summit, please visit here.
About the Culinary Village: Recipes of Change
As part of its commitment to amplifying diverse voices and innovative solutions, the AFS Forum 2024 will feature the Culinary Village, a dynamic space designed to showcase the intersection of culture, cuisine, and sustainable development.
Throughout the forum, the Culinary Village stage will be animated by interactive sessions featuring key voices in food systems alongside local and international chefs from the Chefs’ Manifesto network. Renowned chefs from across the African continent including Chef Dieuveil Malonga, Chef Moyo Odunfa, Chef Pinky Maruping, Chef Claude Bigayimpunzi Chef Kiran Jethwa, and Chef Vanie Padayachee will showcase delicious indigenous and underutilised ingredients, elevating African cuisine to the global stage. Attendees will be invited to experience a range of inspiring conversations and culinary creativity, and feed their appetite for transformation by tasting recipes of change throughout the three-day programme.
- Day 1 – Innovate: Highlighting food innovation that supports both people and the planet. Engage with the Bean Innovation Challenge and hear how high-iron beans are being utilised to enhance school meal programs and address nutritional gaps. Taste the future of African cuisine with one of the continent’s top young chefs.
- Day 2 – Accelerate: Showcasing regenerative food systems with masterclasses on underutilised crops like fonio, millet, and bambara nuts. Learn about the role these crops play in promoting soil health, biodiversity, and resilient agriculture. Hear from young farmers and food entrepreneurs who are leveraging digital tools and innovative strategies to accelerate food systems transformation.
- Day 3 – Scale: Exploring how successful food systems solutions can be scaled globally. Join discussions on key learnings to empower the next generation of food systems leaders, the role of digitalisation in food and agriculture, and celebrate Africa’s rich biodiversity and culinary heritage. Plus, see the chefs take on the world’s most iconic dish in the High-Iron Bean Burger Challenge.
Engage and Take Action at the Culinary Village
- Visit the Culinary Village: Participate in interactive sessions and cooking demonstrations, and learn directly from chefs and food system experts about the the key challenges and opportunities for food systems transformation in Africa and beyond.
- Explore the Beans is How Booth: Learn about the Beans is How campaign’s mission to double global bean consumption by 2030. Meet coalition members, understand the campaign’s impact, and discover how you can get involved in promoting beans as a key ingredient in the recipe for change.
- Join the Hungry For Action Campaign: Add your voice to the Hungry for Action Empty Plates activation, calling for global leaders to take decisive action to end the global food crisis. Visit the booth and sign a plate to join a global movement.
Partner events
CGIAR at AFSF 2024
Engage with experts on innovative science, digital technologies, and sustainable solutions. Connect with diverse stakeholders and international partners. Be part of the future of food systems! Learn more here.
Zero Hunger Coalition at AFSF 2024
The Zero Hunger Coalition will co-host a side event on September 2 at #AFSForum2024 in Kigali. Join us as we explore strategies for mobilizing private sector investment to #EndHunger and enhance nutrition in Africa, focusing on equitable and sustainable food systems, and empowering women and youth. Read more here.
MORE INFO
For more information about the Chefs’ Manifesto, check here.
For more information about the Beans is How campaign, please visit www.beansishow.org.
For more information about the AFS Forum, please check here.
Follow @ChefsManifesto, @BeansisHow, #AFSforum, #InnovateAccelerateScale and #GoodFood4All throughout the week to stay updated.
