The INCiTiS-FOOD project took part in the Africa’s Food Systems Forum 2025 in Dakar, Senegal. This year’s forum highlighted the role of young people under the theme “Africa’s Youth: Leading Collaboration, Innovation, and the Implementation of Agri-Food Systems Transformation.” The theme resonates closely with our mission to empower youth and advance sustainable food systems in African urban and peri-urban areas.
From 31 August to 5 September, the Africa’s Food Systems Forum brought together nearly 6,000 participants from 106 countries, including 149 exhibitors, 40 ministers, and 137 journalists.
The Annual Summit plays a vital role in convening stakeholders across agriculture and food systems to strengthen collaboration and coordination. With its special focus on youth this year, the event was particularly important for fostering peer-to-peer learning and building lasting connections among the younger generation. Highlights included activities in the Youth Dome, youth speakers in high-level discussions, the Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, and the launch of new platforms to support youth exchanges during and beyond the summit.
INCiTiS-FOOD took part in the event with a booth where our co-coordinator, Benjamin Emmanuel from Universität der Bundeswehr München (Unibw M), was present. On top of that, our partners participated in three panel discussions.
Read on to learn more about INCiTiS-FOOD’s participation in the event and the panel discussions.
Advancing Food Innovation through Collaboration with UniBw M
On Day 0 of the forum, Sunday, August 31st, 2025, our co-coordinator, Benjamin Emmanuel from UniBw M, took part in a special event titled “All FCI Convening Event: Showcasing the Food Convergence Innovation Concept.”
This side event brought together diverse voices to explore the interconnections within today’s food systems. By presenting an overview of the Food Convergence Innovation (FCI) concept, participants were able to gain valuable insights into its design and mission. The session highlighted how human-centered approaches and stakeholder collaboration come together in practice, with the FCI network serving as a prime example.
The event showcased three EU Horizon Europe projects, FS4Africa, INCiTiS-FOOD, and FCI4Africa, spotlighting their shared focus on empowering youth, women, entrepreneurs, and policymakers. Through lively discussions, innovative strategies for food system transformation were exchanged, setting an inspiring tone for the days ahead.
Empowering Youth Voices in Food Systems with Youth 4 Development
On August 31st, 2025, one more INCiTiS-FOOD partner joined another panel discussion. Emmanuel Kyengo, from Youth 4 Development, joined the session: “All FCI Convening Event: Showcasing the Food Convergence Innovation Concept.”
The panel centered on the role of youth, women, entrepreneurs, and policymakers in driving meaningful transformation within food systems. At its core, the discussion underscored the Food Convergence Innovation (FCI) concept – an approach that unites diverse innovations, skills, and perspectives to develop solutions that are sustainable, inclusive, and scalable.
Emmanuel’s contribution emphasised a crucial point: youth must not be left on the sidelines of these conversations. Their energy, creativity, and digital fluency make them uniquely positioned to accelerate change and bring fresh momentum to the food sector.
Reflecting on the experience, Emmanuel shared that the forum offered a valuable platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange. He was particularly encouraged by the recognition of youth as key actors in shaping future food systems, while also noting the need to translate recognition into practical opportunities and concrete support.
Harnessing Digital Solutions for Food Safety with Wageningen University & Research
On Day 1 of the forum, Monday, September 1st, 2025, our project had one more representative – Inder Kumar from Wageningen University & Research. He joined the session “Food Safety in the African Food System – Innovation and Impact at Scale.” This special event was also part of the Food Convergence Innovations (FCI) consortium, of which INCITIS-FOOD is a member.
The session highlighted five key digital and AI use cases that can significantly improve food safety from farm to informal markets:
- Low-tech traceability solutions (SMS/QR-based) for informal markets
- AI-driven rapid diagnostics for aflatoxins and microbial infestations
- IoT-enabled cold chain systems with Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) models
- Micro training modules for vendors delivered via accessible channels like WhatsApp
- Access to finance to strengthen youth and women entrepreneurship
The discussion also emphasised the importance of assessing digital readiness in the African food system. Frameworks from the Digital Agri Hub – covering policy, infrastructure, and business development – were highlighted as essential tools to help stakeholders move from pilot projects to large-scale implementation.
Finally, the role of local innovation ecosystems and Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) was underscored, showcasing how cities and regions are already leveraging promising technologies, such as hydroponics, recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), and insect farming, to ensure safer, more sustainable food at scale.
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