Major regional conference on sustaining agrifood systems transformation in Africa opens in Mauritania on 13 April

Nouakchott/Accra – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations will bring together African ministers of agriculture and other key stakeholders in Africa’s agrifoods future at the 34th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa (ARC34), hosted by the Islamic Republic of Mauritania in Nouakchott from 13 to 17 April.

In the spotlight will be the urgent need to sustain agrifood systems transformation in Africa through innovation, strengthened partnerships and scaled-up investment, in order to meet the needs of a growing population, address the impacts of climate change and ensure food security and nutrition for all.

The conference is the highest regional FAO governance body. It provides a platform for discussing regional matters related to FAO mandate, informing FAO plans, and formulating common views on relevant global matters. Moreover, the conference is one of the major regional forums on agriculture, food security and nutrition.

It comes at a time when Africa’s agrifood systems are under increasing pressure from climate variability, land and water constraints, economic shocks and persistent food insecurity, requiring coordinated action and long-term investment.

Agriculture ministers and other government officials from across Africa will join with civil society organizations, youth and private sector representatives and development partners. Delegates will exchange experiences, hear from experts and formulate regional recommendations to bring to the FAO Council, shaping the direction of FAO’s work under the FAO Strategic Framework 2022–2031 for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

High-level participants

The opening ceremony of the Ministerial Meeting, on Thursday 16 April, will feature high level speakers from the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

Across the five days, the Conference will feature ministerial roundtables and discussions on critical issues including:

• drivers and triggers of agrifood systems transformation in Africa;
• sustainable land, soil and water management;
• strengthening resilience of agrifood systems to multiple risks;
• financing agrifood systems transformation;
• managing transboundary pests and diseases;
• Blue Transformation in Africa and the potential of aquatic foods; and
• leveraging biodiversity and bioeconomy for sustainable agrifood systems.

A High-level Special Event, called the World Food Forum – Africa, will take place on 15 April, highlighting youth engagement, innovation and investment in agrifood systems.

A Ministerial Declaration will close the Conference on the final day.

Ministerial press conference – Thursday 9 April

Journalists in Mauritania are invited to attend a press conference featuring H.E. Mohamedou Ahmadou Mhaïmid, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and Jean Senahoun, FAO Representative in Mauritania. The speakers will brief the media on key themes, priorities and highlights of the Conference, and outline issues of relevance for media coverage.

The press conference is on Thursday 9 April from 10am at the Sheraton Hotel in Nouakchott.

Journalists invited to attend ARC34

Journalists in Mauritania are also invited to attend ARC34. Journalists wishing to participate may contact the communications office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty for further information.

Journalists outside Mauritania are invited to follow the live webcast on the FAO webcast page. We are not able to sponsor travel for journalists to attend this event. 

More details are available on the ARC34 website.