Prioritizing agriculture investment in IDA21 to improve Africa’s food and nutrition security is good for the continent’s economic growth

That’s a wrap on Day 1 at the AFSF Culinary Village! 🍽️
It was an incredible celebration of Africa's rich Indigenous foods with live cooking demonstrations and delicious tasting sessions.

Here is a look back at today’s highlights:

Honoring Food Heritage: We ...discussed Rwanda’s rich food culture with Chef Fiston, then Chef Claude Bigayimpunzi and Chef Seyitan Aruna brought it to life with an incredible live cooking demo featuring indigenous crops like red sorgham, kinche, gomen, baobab, and bambara nut.

Where Science Meets the Plate: Chef Arabella Parkinson and Chef Odi Gowa demonstrated how culinary art and food science come together to drive sustainable diets and future-proof our plates.

20 Years of Agri-Food Systems: Marking two decades of AGRA and AFS Forum, Jean Paul Ndagijimana reflected on the journey of African agriculture, tracing how crops, farming practices, and food systems have evolved since 2006.

Youth & Future Changemakers: Passing the baton to the next generation! From a vibrant cooking demo with Chef Lihle Mahambehlala to a powerful youth panel featuring Farmer Daphne Nakiranda, Irene Etyang of Mamlo Foods, and Chef Seyitan Aruna, we explored the crucial role young leaders play in carrying Africa’s food heritage forward.

A huge thank you to all the amazing chef champions and speakers who filled the village with energy, passion, and delicious tasting samples today!

#ChefsManifesto #AFSForum2026 #AFSF2026 #FoodSystems #IndigenousCrops

What does it actually take to get nutritious, biofortified meals onto every student’s plate?

At the PABRA panel discussion, experts highlighted the critical challenges currently holding school meal programs back from scaling:
🧺Logistics Realities: Turning local food economies into... bankable, scalable supply chains.
🌾Market Disparity: Biofortified crops remain scarce, driving up market prices compared to standard options.
🫘The Awareness Gap: Bridging the disconnect between bean production, fortification, and consumer adoption.

If we want to build resilient food systems for future generations, solving these supply chain challenges is step one.

#BeansIsHow #SchoolFeeding #PABRA #AFSForum2026

We’re bringing flavor, culture, and sustainability to the forefront at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026.

Join us at the Culinary Village:

KCC Roundabout, Rwanda | 1–3 September 2026 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

#ChefsManifesto #AfricaFoodSystemsForum #FoodSystems #AFSF2026

Chef champions from across the African continent are coming together on one stage with a key mission: showcasing indigenous ingredients, celebrating rich food cultures, and driving sustainable food systems forward through incredible collaboration in one kitchen!

We’re bringing flavor, ...culture, and sustainability to the forefront at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026.

Join us at the Culinary Village:
📍: KCC Roundabout, Rwanda

📅: 1–3 September 2026

🕒: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

#ChefsManifesto #AfricaFoodSystemsForum #FoodSystems #AFSF2026

Live from the Culinary Village: “Iconic Rwandan Dishes with Indigenous Ingredients” with @chef_bigayim @chefseyitan @chefphiston and @paulnewnham !

#SDG2 #Rwanda #Goodfood4all #afsforum2026 #chefsmanifesto

How good is your Xhosa pronunciation?! Our Chef champions give it their all!

Tomorrow Chef @hostedbylihle will be reimagining the traditional South African dish “Umngqusho” on the Culinary Village stage. Be sure to follow along!

#🇿🇦 #sdg2 #afsforum2026 #beansishow #chefs

✨ Looking for your next comfort food favourite? These Smoky Baked Beans from @aliceinframes are rich, satisfying and full of flavour—perfect for batch cooking, sharing with friends or enjoying throughout the week.

Beans are affordable, versatile and packed with protein and fibre, ...making them a win for both people and the planet. 🫘💚

🔗 Recipe up on beansishow.org