Speakers from different backgrounds and nationalities offered valuable insights and perspectives on how we as a community can implement new methods and strategies to address various food-related Challenges. Mr Jacques Attali, President of Positive Planet Foundation exposed the impact of population growth and urbanization on food security. He was joined by Mr. Daniel Nahon who tackled the climate change effect on food production when it comes to soil fertility and temperature. Speakers affirmed that every issue must be examined and given the appropriate time to be resolved.
Valuable viewpoints and ideas were shared regarding the sustainable practices that should be adopted to unleash Africa’s full potential. Speakers explored various aspects and perspectives about sustainability, sustainable management of Africa’s materials, and the use of blockchain. Climate advisor and blockchain expert, Mr.Erin Grover, introduced the concept of blockchain for enhanced traceability and fair transactions in the supply chain. This brought us to the 4Rs (Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place) and their potential impact on Africa’s development. All this cannot be undertaken without relying on communities and their involvement in all aspects of agriculture, as a key strategy for fostering sustainability and positive development in Africa.
UM6P J-PAL Agriculture Lab for Africa (UJALA) was launched on this occasion, aiming to design and implement rigorous impact evaluations of policies and programs to improve food security in sub-Saharan Africa. This partnership between the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic is a testament to both parties’ commitment to innovation and knowledge advancement and continuous. UJALA’s mission is to fund research that examines agricultural technologies and practices tailored to increase small-scale farmers’ food security, productivity, and profitability.
By Majda Charkani
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