Events

A high level event alongside the UN Climate Talks in Marakkesh focused on the implementation of the Adaptation of African Agriculture initiative launched by the Moroccan Government.

 

 

Final outputs

Read the outcome statement from the event

Press release: Experts Launch Action Plan to Help African Agriculture Adapt to Climate Change

View photos from the event

The conference provided a platform for national governments, local practitioners, farmer organisations and civil society to present, reflect upon experiences, and share success stories and approaches to enhance food security, resilience and productivity in the agricultural systems. It provided an opportunity to inform the AAA initiative, which aims to transform agriculture in Africa.

Background

The Paris Agreement has opened the door for action by including food security in the text, and the international community has acknowledged that urgent attention is needed to address the future of those who are on the frontline of climate change threats and impacts.

African Countries have presented their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and agriculture is well represented in their commitments. This underscores the importance of agriculture for African economies and societies. The willingness by countries to address agriculture and food security finally appears to be having some impact and Parties must now show their ability to follow through.

Hosted by the CGIAR Research Programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) in collaboration with the host country partners, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Morocco and the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Morocco, the event will focus on the implementation of the Adaptation of African Agriculture ("AAA"), an ambitious new initiative launched by the Moroccan Government to transform African Agriculture by mobilizing climate finance to support sustainable management of soils, agricultural water and climate risks projects as well as innovative policies, financial mechanisms and capacity development at multiple scales. 

Outcome

Key policy recommendations from each of the sessions were captured and compiled into a summary document: click to read the outcome statement from the event.

Programme

 

09.00-10.00

Registrations and coffee

10.00-11.00

Opening plenary

 

Video: African innovations in action, addressing the three pillars of AAA, from across the continent.

 

 

Welcome, aims of the day and introductory remarks

Moderator:

  • James Kinyangi, Chief Climate Change & Policy Adviser, African Development Bank (AfDB)

 

Speakers:

  • Dr Mohammed Saddiki
    Secretary General of the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture
  • Maria-Helena Semedo, Deputy Director General, Natural Resources, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
  • Ms Margarita Astralaga, Director of the Environment and Climate Division of
    the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

11.00-12.30

Agriculture in Africa: Challenges and Solutions under Climate Change

 

Dealing with the climate challenges faced by African Agriculture

Aida Diongue, Director,  Agence Nationale de l'Aviation Civile et de la Météorologie (ANACIM) - 15 mins

 

How AAA can advance the implementation of NDCs

Mohamed Ait Kadi, President, General Council of Agricultural Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Morocco - 15 mins

 

Implementing African NDCs: Challenges and opportunities

Martin Frick, Director of Climate, Energy and Tenure Division, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) - 15 mins

 

Adapting to climate change in Africa: From science to farmers

Rob Bertram, Chief Scientist, USAID Bureau for Food Security - 15mins

 

Introduction to the breakout parallel sessions

James Kinyangi, Chief Climate Change & Policy Adviser, African Development Bank (AfDB) – 10mins

 

12.30 – 14.30

Networking and Lunch (Sofitel Hotel)

14.30 – 16.00

3 Breakout Parallel Sessions

The Pillars of Adaptation of African Agriculture

 

Sustainable and Resilient Soil Management

Improved Agricultural Water Management

Climate Risk Management

Chair:

Mohamed Badraoui, Director General, National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) Morocco; Aly Abousabaa, Director General, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)

Chair:

Rudolph Cleveringa, Executive Secretary, Global Water Partnership (GWP)

Chair:

Arame Tall, Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) Regional Coordinator for Africa

Speakers:

  • Tekalign Mamo, Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA), Ethiopia & Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Special Global Ambassador, 2015 International Year of Soils
  • Martial Bernoux, Natural Resources Officer (Climate Change Mitigation), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
  • Rattan Lal, Professor of Soil Science, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University
  • Rachid Mrabet, Research Director, National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) Morocco
  • Charlotte Hebebrand, Director General, International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA)

Speakers:

  • Eduardo Mansur, Director, Land and Water Division, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
  • Alex Simalabwi, Global Coordinator, Water, Climate and Development Programme (WACDEP)
  • George Rothschild, Emeritus Professor International Development, University of Greenwich; Member, International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Board of Trustees
  • Mhamed Belghiti, Assistant Director for Irrigation and Management of Agriculture Space Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Fisheries, Morocco
  • Guillaume Benoit, Member of the General Council of Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas (CGAEER), France

Speakers:

  • Olga Speckhardt, Head, Global Insurance Solutions, Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture
  • Tariq Sijilmassi, President, Credit Agricole du Maroc
  • Jim Hansen, Flagship Leader: Climate Risk Management, CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)
  • Ekhosuehi Iyahen, Director, Policy & Technical, African Risk Capacity (ARC)
  • Jon Hellin, Senior Scientist, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

 

16.00 – 16.30

Coffee Break

16.30 – 17.00

Video – AAA

 

Report Back Session: Rapporteurs to present summary of discussions, followed by Q&A

 

Moderator:

Sonja Vermeulen, Head of Research, CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)

 

Sustainable and Resilient Soil Management

Andrew Noble, Deputy Director General, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)

Improved Agricultural Water Management

Jerome Delli Priscoli, Chair, Global Water Partnership (GWP) Technical Committee

Climate Risk Management

Arame Tall, Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) Regional Coordinator for Africa

17.00 – 17.30

Closing session: Closing message on way forward and closing remarks

 

Mohamed Ait Kadi, President, General Council of Agricultural Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Morocco

Ann Tutwiler, Director General, Bioversity International

17.30 – 19.00

CGIAR Hosted Reception

 

 

 

 

 

More information

Information about the event will be updated regularly at this page.

View the full list of CCAFS events at COP22 in Morocco.

Partners

Sponsoring partners: CGIAR, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), International Fertilizer Association (IFA), Groupe Crédit Agricole du Maroc, Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA), Agriculture and Climate Risk Enterprise (ACRE) Africa, CTA - Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Co-operation ACP-EU