Besides enhancing the worldwide response to AMR, the symposium also promoted One Health concepts through collaborations with groups like AU-IBAR. (Image source: AU-IBAR)

The International Symposium on Pathways to Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials to Support Sustainable Livestock Transformation (RENOFARM) took place from 25-26 April in Chongqing, China

Stakeholders, experts and politicians from around the globe gathered at the RENOFARM symposium last month, to discuss the pressing issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which is becoming a serious problem across Africa, particularly in the agriculture sector. By taking part, AU-IBAR demonstrated its dedication to fighting antimicrobial resistance and promoting sustainable livestock practices among African Union member states.

The symposium which was in line with the goals of the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Union Framework for Antimicrobial Resistance Control (2020-2025), was convened by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to present the project, encourage participation, and pinpoint important approaches to put it into action. Besides enhancing the worldwide response to AMR, the symposium also promoted One Health concepts through collaborations with groups like AU-IBAR.

The significance of customised strategies for various livestock value chains was further emphasised at the symposium, which also brought attention to the priorities and difficulties encountered by African Union member states in executing RENOFARM. Throughout the symposium, various sessions and presentations addressed critical issues related to reducing the need for antimicrobials. Topics ranged from EU One Health actions and biosecurity measures to national action plans and good production practices. Key achievements included the launch of the RENOFARM initiative, the exchange of country and regional priorities, and the issuance of the Rongchang Statement outlining future actions. Participants emphasised the importance of accelerating the implementation of national action plans, strengthening evidence-based policy-making, and promoting international collaboration.

A presentation titled 'Alternatives to Antimicrobials to Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials - Examples from African Union Member States,' was also delivered by AU-IBAR's AMR Expert, Dr Joseph Magona, providing valuable insights into the key pathways for implementing RENOFARM within African Union member states. In addition, he also shed light on alternative strategies to mitigate antimicrobial use in various livestock value-chains, emphasising the importance of good husbandry practices, vaccination, and biosecurity measures.

This year, the primary focus lies on the theme of Digitalisation in the Agrifood business. (Image source: AgriBITs)

The new agritech innovations platform, AgriBITS recently announced  the opening of visitor registration for the highly anticipated AgriBITs 2024 Summit

Scheduled to take place from 5-6 September in Jaarbeurs Venue in Utrecht, the event promises to be enlightening and engaging for all stakeholders in the agriculture and technology sectors.

This year, the primary focus lies on the theme of Digitalisation in the Agrifood business, ranging from AI implementation methods and tools to machinery transformation and bringing together experts, innovators, and thought leaders to explore the latest advancements and trends shaping the future of agriculture.

"This year's agenda is packed with insightful sessions, keynote speeches, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, providing attendees with a rich and versatile overview of the current landscape and future possibilities in agrofood technology," said Birgit Horn, managing director Agrifood at VNU Europe.

Early bird pricing is available until 25 May 25 2024, offering a significant discount for those who register early.

To register and learn more about the event, please visit https://agribits.nl/visit/registration/

Bank vice president Dr Beth Dunford, seen visiting a Bank-supported farmer in Ethiopia, is leading the Bank delegation to AFSH Summit. (Image source: AfDB)

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) leveraged its deep expertise and convening power to highlight the crucial role of agricultural technologies, fertiliser and healthy soils in driving sustainable agricultural growth at the Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health (AFSH) Summit, which took place from 7-9 May in Nairobi, Kenya

The event explored solutions to widespread declines in farmland soil quality and built consensus on an African Fertiliser and Soil Health Action Plan. The summit also adopted an African Union Commission initiative to enhance the health and productivity of African soils. More than 1,500 participants from across Africa, including Heads of State and Ministers attended the event.

One of the notable side events titled ‘Dakar 2 - the State of African Fertiliser and Soil Health: Policy, Governance, and Institutional Framework to Accelerate Country Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts,’ brought together representatives of agricultural ministries, the private sector, and other stakeholders to showcase successful efforts by Ethiopia and Mali to scale soil health interventions, raise crop productivity and bolster rural livelihoods.

Another side event, titled, 'Advancing the Soil Initiative for Africa through the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils,' showcased the strategic and developing relationship between the AfDB and the US-led Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS), a movement to build resilient food systems grounded in diverse, nutritious and climate-adapted crops grown in healthy, fertile soils. VACS is aligned with the Bank’s Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) initiative, which delivers heat-tolerant, drought-resistant and other climate-smart certified seeds to millions of Africa’s smallholder farmers to produce 120 million additional tonnes of food in Africa and lift 130 million people out of poverty.

As part of its Feed Africa strategy to boost yields and build resilience, the AfDB is committed to ensuring African farmers have access to the inputs they need.

In the setting of the Siam agricultural fair, a press conference to present EIMA 2024 was held on 24 April, in Meknés. (Image source: EIMA)

Organised by FederUnacoma, in Bologna from 6-10 November, the 46th edition of EIMA 2024 offers a plethora of innovations to Moroccan operators

Innovations like the REAL space—a space dedicated to robots, drones and more generally, to all those highly automated technologies—are capable of increasing production yields, improving the sustainability of crops and optimising the use of production factors. 

These are requirements that are truly stringent for the agriculture of the North African state of Morocco, which is particularly exposed to the consequences of climate change. Reduction of water supply sources, soil impoverishment, loss of productivity and decline in agricultural incomes are the main challenges that Moroccan agriculture has been facing positively in recent years.

Keeping this in mind, the focus on innovation continues with the usual exhibition of the winning models of the ‘Technical Innovations 2024’ competition and with the numerous in-depth technical meetings on the most relevant issues for the primary sector and for the world of agricultural machinery. 

Technology will also be the protagonist in the spaces outside the pavilions, in the outdoor areas where the show of the finalist tractors of the Tractor of the Year will be staged, as well as demonstrations of vehicles for bioenergy supply chains, trials of gardening and green care machines.

To date, more than 1,500 companies—500 of which from abroad—have already formalised their participation in the event, but the number is destined to grow further in the coming weeks, bringing the total number of exhibitors to the highest levels in the history of the exhibition.

For more information and to register, visit: https://www.eima.it/