From September 5 to 9 2023, Land O’Lakes Venture37 will join its peers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania for the 13^th annual Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF). Venture37 experts will present and share lessons learned from our implementation and partnerships — focusing on the most pressing issues in African food systems, including gender and youth inclusion, climate change, and resourcing.

This year’s conference theme is “Recover, Regenerate, Act: Africa’s Solutions to Food Systems Transformation,” urging the global community to build stronger, more resilient food systems, with women and youth at the center of the equation. AGRF elaborates: “Recovery calls for decisive strategies and actions to rebuild food systems after multiple crises and shocks. Regenerate emphasizes the need to regenerate natural capital resources with adaptation practices, innovation, and technology for sustainable food production in a changing climate context. Act urges urgent action to accelerate food systems transformation through better policies, practices, and investments.”

Venture37 experts will participate in five in-person panels, with livestreaming open to the public. Among the presentations, John Ellenberger, Executive Director of Land O’Lakes Venture37, will be sharing insights on investment opportunities to drive food systems business outcomes, and innovations in regenerative agriculture. Maggie Kasiko, Senior Gender and Youth Advisor for Land O’Lakes Venture37, will be speaking on a USAID-hosted side event to discuss women’s empowerment through climate-smart innovations. Neema Mrema, Tanzania AgResults Team Lead, Justine Lightness, Dairy Specialist, Consolata Kavishe, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Manager, and Dai Harvey, Group Director for Technical Impact and Innovation, will be exploring how strategic investments in Tanzania’s dairy sector can improve women’s positions as decisionmakers. And, Venture37’s National Coordinator for Tanzania Joachim Balakana will shed light on sustainable livestock practices in Africa, focusing on women and youth.

Venture37 at AGRF 2023:

Monday, September 4, 2023

• AIM for Climate: Making Investments in Climate-Smart Innovation Count for Women; 8:30 – 10:00 EAT; Mkomazi Hall; hosted by USAID and AIM for Climate.
• Gender-Inclusive Dairy in Tanzania; 11:00 – 12:30 EAT; Mt Meru Hall; hosted by AgResults. Learn more here.
• Herding Change: Sustainable Livestock Innovations by Women and Youth; 16:00 – 17:30 EAT; Mkomazi Hall; hosted by the International Livestock Research Institute; SNV; Heifer International; Global Dairy Platform; and Land O’Lakes Venture37. Learn more here.

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

• Deal Room Opening: Roundtable One: What Will It Take to Double the Numbers of Businesses in Food Systems?; 11:30 – 13:30 EAT; Deal Room; hosted by AGRF.

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

• Parallel Session: Program and Innovation: Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Food Systems; 17:00 – 18:30 EAT; location TBD; hosted by AGRF.