Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

Hi FAO 

This is my contribution to the design of the ATIO Knowledge Base (KB) E-Consultation, a global resource dedicated to advancing agri-food technologies and innovations. It emphasizes Africa, aiming to drive the adoption of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly across the continent. The initiative prioritizes key attributes such as:

1. Accessibility: Ensuring resources and tools are available and user-friendly for all stakeholders.
2. Sustainability: Promoting practices that align with long-term environmental, economic, and social goals.
3. Effective Communication: Using language and formats that resonate with diverse African communities.
4. Local Relevance: Tailoring solutions to address the unique socio-economic dynamics and cultural specificities of various regions.

Through this focused approach, the ATIO Knowledge Base will empower communities and enhance the integration of STI into agricultural systems in Africa and beyond.

Strategic Objectives:

My goal is to create a globally accessible knowledge base of agri-food technologies and innovations. This resource will emphasize Africa's diverse ecosystems, traditional practices, and innovation potential, ensuring grassroots and indigenous contributions are central.

I. Context and Rationale: Addressing Africa's Unique Needs

African agri-food systems (AFS) face specific challenges and opportunities that require a focused approach to STI adoption. These include:

• Infrastructure Limitations: Inadequate transportation, storage, and communication infrastructure hinders the efficient flow of goods and information.
• Fragmented Value Chains: The dominance of small-scale producers who often lack access to markets and finance creates fragmented value chains.
• Capacity Development Needs: Limited technical training and resources restrict farmers' ability to adopt modern practices.

Recognizing the value of local knowledge, the KB should incorporate Africa's indigenous knowledge systems and grassroots innovations. This approach offers culturally relevant solutions, scales up locally adapted practices, and strengthens community involvement and ownership of innovations.

II. Structural Components of the ATIO Knowledge Base:

The KB will then need to have two components:

• Centralized Knowledge Base (ATIO KB): This will catalog innovations globally, from early-stage to widely adopted technologies. It will include:
  • End-to-end lifecycle data (readiness levels, adoption case studies, success factors).
  • Context-specific metadata (economic, ecological, and cultural suitability).
  • Foresight tools for policymakers and investors to prioritize innovations.
• Grassroots Innovations Catalog (Grassroots KB): This will document informal, indigenous, and community-led innovations through crowdsourced entries vetted for authenticity and impact, recognizing Afro-descendant and indigenous practices.

III. Key Actions for Development:

• Data Collection & Integration:
  • Federated Data Sourcing: Partnering with African agricultural research centers (e.g., IITA, FARA), universities, local communities, and NGOs to incorporate indigenous knowledge.
  • Crowdsourcing: Utilizing mobile platforms to gather data from smallholder farmers, cooperatives, and extension workers.
  • Gap Analysis: Identifying missing data on grassroots innovations, pre-emergent technologies, and regional STI adoption trends.
• Platform Development:
  • Open Access and Participatory Design: Ensuring accessibility to rural stakeholders with low bandwidth and mobile-friendly interfaces.
  • Visualization Tools: Developing interactive maps showing innovation adoption and suitability.
  • Language Localization: Translating the interface into major African languages (e.g., Swahili, Hausa, Amharic).
• Prioritizing Sustainability: Focusing on climate-smart agriculture, soil and water management, and circular economy approaches.

IV. Design Considerations for Enhanced Usability:

• Data Collection: Collaborating with African research institutions, NGOs, and farmer organizations; using crowdsourcing mechanisms; and focusing on pre-emergent innovations.
• Data Structure and Annotation: Using context-specific metadata (climate zones, soil types, market access, gender) and relevant keywords and tags.
• Accessibility and Usability: Ensuring language inclusivity, a user-friendly interface, and offline access.

V. African-Specific Features:

• Case Studies: Highlighting successful STI adoption stories with measurable outcomes.
• Interactive Maps: Visualizing the geographical distribution of innovations.
• Success Factors: Documenting the enabling conditions for successful STI adoption.

VI. Collaboration and Partnerships:

• Regional and National Alignment: Partnering with African regional economic communities (RECs) and national governments.
• Innovation Hubs and Academia: Engaging African innovation hubs, universities, and technology firms.
• Farmer Organizations and NGOs: Collaborating with grassroots organizations to ensure practicality and responsiveness.

VII. Key Principles for Implementation:

• Open Access: Ensuring free access to the KB for all stakeholders.
• Regular Updates: Continuously updating the KB with new data and innovations.

VIII. African Contextualization:

• Indigenous and Local Knowledge: Highlighting African agroecological practices and documenting innovations addressing local challenges.
• Grassroots Participation: Empowering local innovators, especially youth and women, and promoting gender-responsive innovations.
• Regional Priorities: Tailoring solutions to specific African contexts (e.g., Sahelian drylands, tropical regions, urbanizing areas).

IX. Anticipated Outcomes:

• Increased STI uptake by policymakers and innovators.
• Enhanced grassroots empowerment and recognition of local innovations.
• Sustainable and inclusive solutions reflecting Africa’s diverse contexts.

X. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Iteration:

Developing impact indicators (e.g., number of innovations adopted, improvements in productivity and livelihoods) and regularly updating the KB based on feedback and new data.

XI. Partnerships & Governance:

Collaborating with key stakeholders, including the African Union (AU), African Union Youth Envoy, environmental organizations, the United Nations Youth Affairs Office, African youth-based groups, regional blocs such as ECOWAS and SADC, UNDP, CGIAR, CAADP, and others. This collaboration focuses on building inclusive, multi-stakeholder governance models to foster sustainable development and youth empowerment across Africa.  

Conclusion:

The ATIO Knowledge Base will be a transformative tool, integrating Africa’s unique context into the global STI landscape. By fostering innovation uptake and ensuring inclusivity and sustainability, it will contribute to a more sustainable and productive agri-food system, aligning with the African Union’s Youth Agenda and Agenda 2063.

Best wishes 

Chief Daniel C. Gbujie

Founder team54project.org