Dr. Jemina Moeng

Good day HLPE Members
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this process. The input herein is from the Chief Direcorate: Food Security team of DALRRD.
RESPONSES:
Different ways of defining resilience :
How do different groups define resilience (e.g. Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations, the scientific / peer reviewed literature, other key rights holders)?
The ability to recover and restore the original status quicker.
What are the main types of vulnerabilities facing food supply chains and what are the potential consequences of the food system actors?
The main types of vulnerabilities facing the food system chains include power (electrical) insecurity affecting the irrigation schedule, and storage facilities because the food needs cold storage facilities. At the level of production, an increase the cost of production inputs and the production processes. The breakdown of diseases and pests also affects the food system because production gets affected resulting in food shortage for consumers. Additionally, any political uprisings affect the whole chain because the inputs will not reach the farm, workers will be unable to get to their workstations and produced food will not be distributed.
The food system in South Africa is characterised by under–and–overfeeding. There are malnourished people as well as obese people in the country. The need to transform food systems is critical. The system disadvantages mainly the smallholder and subsistence sector when it comes to access and affordability of inputs, as they are operating on the periphery.
Furthermore, Climate related shocks inclusive of floods, droughts, biological hazards and conflicts affect food supply chains equally.
Under researched shocks include biological hazards and these require further research as they don’t have boundaries.
Vulnerable communities (especially women, youth and people with disabilities) are totally displaced and call for more funding support which normally would not be budgeted for.
What resilience frameworks are there that should be explored?
The Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis (RVAA) Programme is one of the frameworks that can be replicated. Concerted efforts to understand livelihoods and how they are impacted by shocks have been the priority for this programme. It is the fundamental view of the RVAA Programme that there is a pressing need to advance from planning for response to planning for and building resilience, which will require poverty analysis as well as resilience measurement and monitoring (SADC, 2018 – Synthesis Report on the State of Food and Nutrition Security and Vulnerability in Southern Africa, 2018).
3. Understanding and mitigating trade-offs:
3.1 Increasing environmental or climate change adaptation through agro-ecology will have a long and sustained positive impact on the quality of the soil structure but may in the short to medium term affect large scale production of food.
3.2 Resilience programming will have an everlasting impact on food and nutrition security pillars as food access, availability, utilization, stability will improve and be able to withstand different shocks and knocks, Developing food and nutrition security resilient strategies aimed at the most vulnerable also ensures that a buffer is created to cushion those likeliest to be hit by seen and unforeseen shocks.
4. Existing programmes and policies to promote resilience – a gap analysis of current strategies and recommendations:
Existing Policies:
4.1 The National Food and Nutrition Security Policy which seeks to provide an overarching guiding framework to maximise synergy between the different strategies and programmes of government and civil society.
The Agriculture, Agro-processing Masterplan that serves as a partnership compact for the country:
Partnerships and measures to improve:
4.2 Partnership between the department of agriculture and the Commodity Organisations, inclusive of farmer associations.
4.3 Innovative research is conducted resulting in drought resistant seeds and the re-introduction of indigenous crops.
4.4 Not well aligned due to the fragmented conception, development and implementation, monitoring and reporting of multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder adaptation and mitigation policies and strategies.
4.5 Improved coordination, monitoring and reporting by different stakeholders involved in ensuring a resilient food system.
4.6 To create a conducive environment for continuous food systems dialogue by multi-sectors and stakeholders and put building blocks (resources – human and capital, legislation, policies, research, monitoring and evaluation framework, etc) in place to ensure achievement of set objectives. Roll-out country specific interventions or initiatives.
4.7 Tax rebates and profit. Roll-out a deliberate country-wide infrastructure programme to improve production, storage and movement of food. Ensure uninterrupted supply of critical resources such as water and electricity. Depoliticize the municipalities and ensure the hiring of skilled professionals.
Good day
Kindly see find my inputs.
South Africa’s inputs into the topic of “From Foresight to Field: Exploring regional and multistakeholder perspectives to implement a foresight on emerging technologies and innovations in agrifood systems,” is premised on the reality that producers/farmers have indigenous knowledge that has stood them in good stead over centuries and therefore technologies and innovations should build upon their past experiences. Producers at all levels, be it subsistence, smallholder and commercial levels play a critical role in the agrifood systems transformation, farming at all stages has an impact on the environment, hence the need for holistic approach towards agrifood systems.
Critical to the development of technologies and innovations is the level of consultation and partnerships that occur amongst all stakeholders. At the Regional stakeholder engagements, the role of current policies and legislation are critical for the development of new technologies and innovations. Indeed, the ability of multi-stakeholders to collaborate and fund the development of technologies and innovations enables timeous implementation of these for supporting pathways of agrifood systems.
South Africa has the National government sphere that has concurrent functions with Provincial Departments, for some of the key Departments. The National sphere provides Policy and legislative guidelines whilst Provincial Departments are the implementing arm of government, therefore working very closely with farmers/producers. A collaboration nexus exists between the National, Provincial and Local spheres with the producers/farmers at the centre. The five scenarios provided by the report become applicable to the SA situation.
The SA dialogues involved all these stakeholders and the re-initiation of these dialogues to implement pathways will assist in igniting the food systems transformation deliberations.
Consideration of additional drivers of agrifood systems for emergence of technology and innovation should be added as follows:
Leveraging private sector support for innovations will enhance further coverage and use of such innovations – the role of Institutions of Learning becomes critical.
The South African Food system is comprised of a range of actors in the production, storage, processing, distribution, consumption and disposal of food products. Furthermore, the food system is made up of sub-systems (farming/production systems, market systems, waste management systems and input management systems).
Issues affecting the country’s food system include governance, political, social and economics of food production.
The country’s National Food and Nutrition Security Plan Evaluation Report (2023) has identified governance as one of the gaps that requires urgent attention. The country has identified four pathways:
Each pathway will be governed by a Committee and will report to the Food Systems National Task Team. The Food Systems Task Team will then report to the Food Security Council which will make decisions regarding the food security matters in the country. The National Food and Nutrition Council will be chaired by the Deputy President of the country.
The FAO can contribute towards the governance of the agrifood systems by further linking up with the Nominated Food Systems Focal Points in various countries. The need to involve various stakeholders in the food systems transformation is critical as each role player has a specific area of focus.
In South Africa engagements have been with Farmer Organizations, Institutions of Learning, Civil Society and Traditional Leaders. The cost of hosting various consultative processes are unaffordable for some of the critical stakeholders. The FAO can support by providing assistance for meeting platforms, eg. The FAO once supported our Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development with a 1 000 people consultative meeting during the Food Systems Country Dialogues [prior the Food Systems Summit] and created a virtual meeting platform that was used to engage all.
The country, therefore, seeks assistance in setting up a governance structure by facilitating the establishment of a National Food Systems Task Team, and a committee for each identified pathway.
Specifically, assistance is required on the following requirements:
SUBMITTED BY THE FOOD SECURITY UNIT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DALRRD).
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submitted by Dr Jemina Moeng on behalf of the team.
Input by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) Food Security Team
Introduction: Hidden costs are like a vicious cycle as they cost more in the future than in the present, making attempts to achieve sustainable development impossible.
To effectively incorporate the hidden costs and benefits of agrifood systems into decision-making requires:
Thank you
CDFS Team
Input made by the Food Security team in the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.
Introduction: Urbanisation is an inevitable trend seen across the world, and it could be lessened by providing adequate livelihood opportunities and public services for rural populations, and by collectively building resilient agricultural sector in the face of climate change.
Urban and peri urban food systems could be improved by:
In conclusion:
Dr. Jemina Moeng
CONTRIBUTE TO SHAPING THE DESIGN OF THE AGRIFOOD SYSTEM TECHNOLOGIES & INNOVATIONS OUTLOOK (ATIO) KNOWLEDGE BASE (KB)
DISCUSSING A PROTOTYPE AND A DRAFT CONCEPT NOTE OF ATIO KNOWLEDGE BASE
Questions and proposed responses: Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) Chief Directorate: Food Security
Given the description of the ATIO KB, how do you think it can help you and users like you? As a Policy developer and support provider to farmers/producers the ATIO KB will assist in providing realistic and appropriate technologies to the users, key is that the ATIO should be considerate of the farmer’s circumstance which will then enhance their adoption. Grassroots communities require hand holding and once an innovation is adopted success benefits these users, in particular at their local spheres.
Describe one or more specific use cases that you wish the KB would address, - one would like to see information amongst farmers themselves, an example is the FAO’s Farmer Field School is a case that can be used wherein farmers use another farmers field as a learning platform to gain practical knowledge.
2. What do you make of concepts like policy innovation and social innovation? Policy innovation is a process wherein policy makers such as government craft policies that create conducive environments for farmers and policy users to thrive. Social innovation on the other hand is like a public call to support community growth and development without expecting profit.
Can you think of examples? Examples include the supply of water harvesting equipment to communities which then enables the communities to harvest rainwater to augment water availability for their various needs.
Is it useful for you to be able to find such content? Yes.
In which form do you expect to find them? User friendly, pamphlets, graphics. How would you use them? Collaborate with Provincial Extension Officers to disseminate the information to users.
3. How important is it to feature grassroots innovations? It is critical as these are the most challenged communities in terms of resources.
Looking at some records of grassroots innovations in the prototype, what would you like to see in the descriptions that you don’t see? Under the Innovations section need to add: Use of paperless technologies for farmers [especially subsistence farmers/producers] to apply for support in their respective areas – this reduces their travel costs to areas and sites where such support is dispatched from.
Which dimension should we capture? Support to subsistence producers as these are disadvantaged.
What is most useful for grassroots use/application of innovations? Consultation prior the development of innovations and awareness including illustration of benefits for such innovations.
4. How do you think branded commercial products should be featured on the ATIO KB? Branded commercial products should be featured as they are provided by the owners of such brands as this will promote data sharing and exchange amongst users. Consultation with owners is necessary to ensure protection of people’s information.
Data sources of technology-related information often feature individual models of technologies (for instance, different models of solar-powered irrigation pumps). Should the ATIO KB feature models? Yes as these will promote knowledge sharing.
What is the “innovation” unit you expect to find? Use of easy to buy mechanisation for smallholder and subsistence producers’ alternative sources of energy and climate smart technologies that are basic and user friendly.
5. Here are two of the main taxonomies used in the prototype: types of innovations and use cases. Considering that there is no agreed standard for these categorizations, and that we are aligning them to those used in similar projects, are these “good enough” to start? As a start, yes.
Which major problems do you see? The exclusion of some excellent lessons from some of the countries that failed to share their cases due to lack of access to this platform.
Please suggest changes or volunteer to help us improve them in the next months. The need to link up with specific government departments, institutions of learning and research institutions as well as feedback sessions. Other taxonomies are here.
6. We are developing a chatbot-like search capability. Do you prefer the classic filter-based search or the chatbot search? The filter -based search to avoid spams is ideal but should be easily accessible. Or the possibility of choosing either?
Tell us how we can improve the search experience. Establish a control desk or enhance the existing to filter information whilst allowing new ideas to come through.
7. We use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enrich and automatically categorize the records: you will see an AI stamp at the end of descriptions that have been generated by AI: how good is the text generated? Is AI enriching the records in a meaningful way? Response: AI is a useful tool though more research is needed to enhance is use by all not the selected few.
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