BY CANISIUS KANANGIRE Technology is undoubtedly the new world order, impacting all spheres of modern
BY CANISIUS KANANGIRE Technology is undoubtedly the new world order, impacting all spheres of modern
By James Nyaigoti The Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development,
The African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT) advocates for agricultural technology transfer, uptake of innovations,
The inaugural African Conference on Agricultural Technology (ACAT) will take place in Nairobi, from 30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD2VIjmXIMQ PS Kello Harsama, Principal Secretary- State Department for crop development at the Ministry of
The Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF),
The African Conference on Agricultural Technology (ACAT) 2023 themed, “Agricultural Resilience through Innovation” focuses on centrality of science, technology, and innovation (STI) in fostering agricultural transformation on the continent. It will also provide an opportunity for in-depth discussions and consensus building on the barriers to technology development and transfer and generate higher policy level interest at the continental level to resolve the identified challenges. The conference will be held from 30th October – 3rd November 2023 at the Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya.
The inaugural ACAT will be held in Nairobi Kenya on October 30 to November 3, 2023, at the Safari Park Hotel, Thika Road, Nairobi Kenya
The theme of the Inagurual ACAT conference is "Agricultural Resilience Through Innovation"
The sub-themes will cover an array of topics of interest including:
ACAT will be structured to accommodate peer consultations among various stakeholder groups such as ministers, policy makers, private sector, academia and farmers.
At its best, ACAT hopes to facilitate creation of an African Farmers’ Network that will lead farmer engagement with key decision makers and influencers on agricultural development at various administrative levels and with diverse stakeholder groups such civil society, development partners, investors etc. More than 400 participants are expected to attend.
ACAT will feature technical/scientific sessions, policy dialogues, including a segment for high level policy makers (ministers), a stakeholder forum (private sector, farmers associations) and exhibition stands displaying innovative agricultural technologies, products and services. Side events will include seminars, media forums and field visits, among others.
Key areas of discussion during ACAT will focus on contributing to the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and continental agendas including the Africa Union Agenda 2063 and especially the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) that aims at eliminating hunger and reducing poverty by raising economic growth through agriculture-led development as well as promoting increased national budget provision to the agriculture sector.
ACAT will be held every two years.
The actual structure and themes of the ACAT will be defined each year. It will be designed as a 5-day event made up of plenary discussions and side events to provide for special interest discussions, consultations, and consensus building.
ACAT will feature technical/scientific sessions, policy dialogues, including a segment for high level policy makers (ministers), a stakeholder forum (private sector, farmers associations) and exhibitions / side events will include seminars, media forums and field visits, among others.
The ACAT will promote structured discussions towards finding solutions to challenges hindering the progression of agricultural technology uptake and use. It will appraise the progress that Africa has made towards utilization of innovative technologies and explore opportunities to address challenges affecting technological development, uptake and use, particularly agricultural biotechnology.
The specific objectives of ACAT include:
The ACAT is expected to build momentum towards action on current discussions and recommendations on the importance of utilisation of innovative agricultural technologies and produce a report that would complement the knowledge and updates that are compiled by the AUC for the Summit, especially on adoption of biotechnology and scientific innovations in agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The African Conference on Agricultural Technology (ACAT) 2023 themed, “Agricultural Resilience through Innovation” focuses on the centrality of science, technology, and innovation (STI) in fostering agricultural transformation on the continent. Join us from 30th October – 3rd November 2023 at the Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya.
+254 20 422 3706
ACATDelegates@aatf-africa.org
© 2023 African Conference of Agricultural Technology. All rights reserved
Follow us:
Executive Director, AATF
On behalf of AATF, I would like to invite you to participate in the 1st African Conference of Agricultural Technology (ACAT) which we will be hosting in Nairobi from October 30 to November 2, 2023. This is AATF’s flagship platform and through it, we are looking to provide an opportunity for stakeholders, who are keen on progressing the continent’s socio-economic development, food and nutrition security through the development and commercialization of innovative agriculture technologies, to convene, deliberate and come up with solutions to the challenges they face.
AATF is at the forefront of facilitating access, development, and commercialization of agricultural technologies that help to address the multiple stressors facing farmers in Africa. These stressors include population expansion, climate change, and the resistance to crop pests and diseases. It is important to highlight that technology development has steadily grown but diffusion of products by beneficiaries is still an area that needs attention if investments in the sector are to bear fruit. We recognize that public participation and an enabling and sustainable policy environment are important to enable decision-makers and government institutions across the continent to make informed choices regarding the use of agricultural technology which is critical not only for food security but also for intra-country and cross-border value chain optimization and commerce.
AATF facilitates the creation of a responsive, receptive, science-based, legal, regulatory, and commercial environment that delivers safe and effective technologies to market while protecting human health and the environment and this new conference provides an opportunity to discuss how to scale and enhance the impact of agricultural technologies with an aim of transforming the sector. Adoption of these innovative cutting-edge agricultural technologies in Africa that contribute to addressing the multiple emerging and recurrent production challenges is paramount. These new technologies also enhance productivity and bolster the African economy by empowering farmers to transform their livelihoods.
We look forward to your participation in this inaugural event as we seek to transform Africa’s agriculture.
See you at ACAT in October!
Cabinet Secretary
We welcome you to Nairobi for the African Conference of Agricultural Technology (ACAT), to be held from 30th October – 3rd November 2023 here in Nairobi, Kenya themed Agricultural Resilience through Innovation. We consider it an honour and privilege to have been selected to host this inaugural Conference and look forward to warmly welcoming the delegates from around the world. Come prepared to enjoy a taste of the globally acclaimed Kenyan hospitality!
The conference themes will revolve around areas that will make a contribution to the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and continental agendas, such as the Africa Union Agenda 2063 and in particular the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP). All these aim to end hunger and reduce poverty by spurring economic growth through agriculture-led development and encourage increased national budget allocation to the agriculture sector.
The Conference will also provide a platform to discuss the state of science, technology, and innovation (STI) in Africa, including policy, practice, and opportunity, as well as the sharing of upto date information and lessons on cutting-edge agricultural technology, notably biotechnology. It will also put a spotlight on projects and opportunities that can be initiated to advance Africa’s economic growth and prosperity. These will also be the subject of talks in deal rooms between AATF, African government representatives, research partners, donors, and technology owners.
We look forward to hosting our regional and international guests in Nairobi for this four-day conference as we deliberate and chart the way forward to develop and facilitate the adoption of innovative solutions to address emerging and recurrent challenges in agricultural technology.
Karibuni Nairobi!