Agenda: Building Resilient Agri-Food Systems in the Middle East, Africa & South Asia

• As countries in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia intensify efforts to improve domestic food production, how can sustainable agricultural practices be implemented to build resilient food supply chains? How can nature-based solutions be scaled alongside to enhance food security?
• How can intergovernmental cooperation and public-private partnerships be fostered to reinforce national food security strategies?
• To what extent can the adoption of new climate smart technologies be accelerated to transform local food production? What policies must be implemented to ensure technology and innovation are at the helm of food security initiatives?
• What is the role of catalytic capital, and how can other new finance models be mobilised to increase the pace of investments in sustainable agriculture?

Moderator:
Zitouni Ould-Dada, Senior Advisor, FAIRR

Speakers:
Her Excellency Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, Director General, EMIRATES NATURE–WWF
Dr Shamal Mohammed, Head- Agri-Tech, SILAL

• With an increasing awareness of the correlation between soil health and human nutrition, how can regenerative practices be adopted to improve soil structure, fertility and water retention?
• How can a balanced approach be adopted to promote the use of biofertilizers and innovative inputs to enhance soil fertility and increase yields?
• How can farmer-led initiatives champion awareness and adoption of biofertilizers?
• As soil salinity continues to impact marginal environments, how can R&D efforts be prioritised to better understand the salinity development process? What advanced soil management techniques can effectively combat salinization?
• What advances in soil monitoring, analysis, and mobile testing labs have proven successful on farms and have resulted in long term improvements in the soil’s physical condition?

Speakers:
Sheila Keino, Vice President: Development Cooperation, AFRICAN FERTILISER AND AGRIBUSINESS PARTNERSHIP
Ole Kristian Sivertsen, CEO, DESERT CONTROL
Adair Gallo Junior, CEO, TERRAXY
Dr. Dinesh Chauhan, CEO & Head of Agribusiness and Innovation Platform, ICRISAT

• Where are the opportunities to develop strategic partnerships that successfully ensure the implementation of farmer-led regenerative practices, such as low tillage and cover cropping at scale?
• How can corporates, agribusiness and startups work in tandem to ensure farmers and partners are adopting regenerative agriculture across the global supply chains?

Speaker:
Krishnan Hariharan, Senior Practice Lead, TECHNOSERVE INDIA

• How can cutting-edge technologies in precision agriculture such as remote sensors, robotics and data management platforms be leveraged to further increase yield and productivity for farmers across the MEASA region?
• How can these emerging technologies be deployed at scale and how can these technologies be successfully integrated on the field?
• What innovations are making digital tools and technologies more accessible and affordable for smallholder farmers?
• Where are the opportunities to develop multi-sectoral partnerships to ensure technologies are being developed that are customisable to the region and to specific challenges faced by smallholder farmers?

Speakers:
Faissal Sehbaoui, CEO, AGRIEDGE
Alloysius Attah, Co-Founder and CEO, FARMERLINE
Marco Brini, Sr. Director Agri Innovation-R&D, NADEC

• How can technologies in gene editing be advanced to accelerate the development and deployment of seeds resilient to extreme weather conditions?
• In what ways can R&D in molecular breeding, sophisticated seed testing and genetic mapping be adapted to develop hybrid crops? How can cutting-edge technologies be embraced to increase seed germination?
• How can big data and machine learning algorithms be deployed to enhance research in drought and disease-resistant seeds?
• How can multi-gene transformation strategies be leveraged to identify drought-resistant genes and preserve local landraces? How can we ensure free or subsidised distribution of these new varieties and selected lines?

• As the region continues to grapple with depleting freshwater supplies, what cutting-edge and sustainable initiatives are emerging to ensure precise water usage in agriculture?
• In what ways can modern ultra-low-energy drip irrigation solutions be deployed at scale to support sustainable agricultural practices? How can these innovative solutions be made more economically viable for smallholder farmers?
• How can countries enhance collaboration to establish networks focused on evapotranspiration and other methodologies aimed at assessing crop-water consumption?
• In regions where were water subsidies support farmers, how can conservation management strategies empower farmers to adopt climate-friendly solutions?
• How can water scarcity be integrated into the climate–water– energy nexus to highlight the intricate interdependencies and ensure holistic solutions?

Moderator:
Luma Al-Abbadi, Project Officer, UNDP

Speakers:
Adri Pols, CEO, DESOLENATOR
Max Moldavsky, Director of Innovation and Climate Solutions, NETAFIM

• What is the role of incubators, accelerators and universities in facilitating the chances of survival of agri-tech start-ups across the region?
• How can government-led initiatives and agrifood clusters achieve a balance between attracting international talent and nurturing homegrown innovation? What role can local universities and centres of excellence play in achieving this balance?
• What support do incubators need to facilitate the commercialization of high-impact, innovative start-ups?
• As incubators and accelerators expand, how can cross-regional collaboration and strategic partnerships be leveraged to broaden their geographical reach?

Speakers:
Dr. Motaz Alsolaim, General Manager – Innovation and Modern Technology, MEWA
Haitham Al Humsi, Head of the NTI Entrepreneurship, KAUST
Abdul Rahman Ilyas, Advisor to the President, ASRT
Fatima Al Dhaheri, Head of AGWA Cluster, ADIO

• How can the agri-food sector promote equitable, win-win partnerships that increase market access for smallholder farmers? Where are the opportunities to develop public-private-produce partnerships across the value chain?
• As the sector seeks to foster inclusive partnerships between farmers and markets, how can consumer behaviour be leveraged to strengthen the supply chains? How can local quality crops be positioned to contend with imported produce?
• How can disruptive innovations be utilised to improve processing and packaging to reduce waste and create a more resilient supply chain?
• In what ways can retailers work with farmers’ organisations and agri-cooperatives to address local supply chain bottlenecks?
• How can quality certifications and traceability solutions be positioned to deliver clear ROI for smallholder farmers?
• In what ways must regulation and policy evolve to address supply chain challenges? How can government entities work together to develop sustainable supply chain initiatives?

Speakers:
Tom Harvey, General Manager, SPINNEYS
Emma Banks, Vice President, F&B Strategy & Development Europe, Middle East and Africa, HILTON
Kenneth D’Costa, Managing Director, BARAKAT GROUP

Early-Stage Agri-Tech Entrepreneurs from the MEASA Region Present 5-Minute Snapshots of their Solutions.

Judge:
Amit Grover, Founding Partner & CEO, GROVER IMPACT VENTURES
Lola Fernandez Flores, Principal, VENTURESOUQ

Start-Ups:
Nana Opoku Agyeman-Prempeh, Co-founder and CEO, GROW FOR ME
Akshay Khobragade, Chief Operating Officer, SALAM KISAN
Mutuma Muriuki, Founder, ECO BRISTO

• How great is the potential for large-scale greenhouses and protected cropping to expand domestic food production in desert climates?
• How can innovative solutions in cooling systems and heat blocking be deployed at scale, and what progress has been made in minimising energy and water consumption?
• What bottlenecks are growers and technology providers facing in implementing these innovative solutions, and how can the sector overcome these challenges?
• Where are the opportunities to accelerate R&D to create optimal growing conditions for crops in greenhouses in arid conditions? How can collaboration be fostered to fast-track these solutions to be rolled out at scale?
• As the commercial high-tech greenhouse market continues to develop in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, how can the private sector play a role in fast-tracking investment?

Moderator:
Mark Tester, CSO, IYRIS

Speakers:
Zienab Ahmed, Assistant Professor-Horticulture, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY
Giovanni Angiolini, Director Middle East & Africa (MEA), DUTCH GREENHOUSE DELTA

• How can finance-first models centred on credit provision be enhanced to close the funding gap for farmers, reduce risk, and build economic resilience for smallholders?
• What new digital platforms have emerged to provide financing solutions for small and medium sized enterprises in the ag sector? What success stories are appearing and how can these be replicated across the MEASA region?
• How can the sector improve partnerships between agri-tech companies and financial institutions to facilitate and accelerate the provision of financial services for smallholder farmers and agri-SMEs?
• Which capital financing models are most effective for smallholder farmers and agri-SMEs? How can alternative financing such as foreign direct investments, tax incentives and micro finance increase the flow of capital to those farmers most impacted by the climate crisis?

Moderator:
Margarete Biallas, Agri-Finance Africa Practice Lead, IFC

Speakers:
Adwoa Oduro-Frempong, Programme Lead, MASTERCARD FOUNDATION
Prateep Basu, Founder & CEO, SATSURE

• Despite the promise of climate smart technologies to increase food production and improve rural development, why has the adoption of ag-tech solutions been slow?
• Which ag-tech solutions, like mobile agriculture apps and digital marketplaces, have higher adoption rates among smallholder farmers in South Asia and Africa, and why?
• What investments in agricultural extensions and government-led programmes can facilitate the adoption of climate-smart technologies? What role do farmer-farmer peer networks play in combating misinformation and positively influencing farmer behaviour?
• How can start-ups work in partnership with farmer groups to design technologies and business models that match their needs?
• How can the sector accelerate the development of pilot farms as a risk-free area for farmers to test and trial new technologies in precision agriculture?
• In what ways can traditional, indigenous methods be blended with technological innovation to ensure the adoption of emerging technologies?

Moderator: 
Tamer El-Raghy, Managing Director, ARAF

Speakers:
Jehiel Oliver, CEO, HELLO TRACTOR
Daniel Asare-Kyei, CEO, ESOKO

Small-group discussions focused on specific topics from the summit agenda.

• Accelerating Sustainable Food Sourcing for People and Planet. HOST: Emma Banks, Vice President, F&B Strategy & Development Europe, Middle East and Africa, HILTON
• Strategies to Reduce Food Loss and Waste. HOST: Daniel F. Solomon, Founder & CEO, HEROGO
• Bolstering Food Security in Africa Through Accessible Mechanization. HOST: Jehiel Oliver, CEO, HELLO TRACTOR
• Driving Agrifood Exits in the Global South. HOST: Sherief Kesseba, Managing Partner, CLIMATE RESILIENT AFRICA FUND
• Challenges and Opportunities of Advancing Sustainable Land-Based Aquaculture in the Middle East. HOST: Robert Kupstas, Founder & Chief Strategy Officer, OCEAN HARVEST
• Scaling-Up African Ag-Tech Through Climate Adaptive Financing. HOST: Tamer El-Raghy, Managing Director, ARAF

• How can vertical farming technologies be scaled up to effectively and significantly reduce the reliance on food imports and improve access to locally grown, high-quality ultra-fresh produce? What are the primary challenges and solutions to this process?
• What successful use cases of vertical farming have emerged in the region and how can the unique economic environment, low electricity costs and stable energy production be leveraged to maximise its potential? What opportunities exist to learn from past challenges?
• How can new seed varieties enable producers to expand into new products and market opportunities? How are operators adapting to changing customer preferences in the region?
• What government policies, private sector initiatives and strategic collaborations are most effective in fostering the growth in the sector?

Moderator:
Henry Gordon Smith, CEO, AGRITECTURE

Speakers:
Sky Kurtz, CEO, PURE HARVEST
Sherif Hosny, CEO, MISHKAT AGTECH
Fadi Sbaiti, VP/ GM, AgX, KHALIFA UNIVERSITY
Liliana Slowinska, Founder, BELOW FARM

Early-Stage Agri-Tech Entrepreneurs from the MEASA Region Present 5-Minute Snapshots of their Solutions.

Start-up:
Pratik Desai, Founder, KISSANAI

• How can generative AI-powered chatbots be leveraged to strengthen agricultural productivity across the MEASA region, and what are the potential benefits and challenges in their deployment?
• How can partnerships between technology providers, agribusinesses and governments be leveraged to ensure successful scaling of AI-powered tools in agriculture?
• Where opportunities exist to better utilise proprietary agronomic data to train large language models (LLMs) that can provide on-site assistance and enhance accessibility of modern agronomic practices?

Presenters:
Madhusudan (Madhu) Shekar, Customer CTO, GOOGLE
Shivagami Gugan, Chief Technologist, Middle East, Africa & Turkey, AWS

• What is the future of animal husbandry across the MEASA region and how can emerging digital technologies be applied to foster efficiency and resilience in livestock production?
• How can on-farm data be used to identify opportunities for emissions reduction and improved healthcare on the farm? How can predictive platform use this data to recommend actionable interventions to the farmer?
• How can AI and precision platforms be leveraged to allow livestock farmers to extract the most value from inputs such as feed and medicine to support farmers improve on-farm economics?

Moderator:
Diane Fermin-Roeder, Dubai Ambassador, FOODHACK

Speakers:
Alexander Kappes, CEO, GREENER HERD
Jack Corless, CEO, PROGRESSIVE DAIRY SOLUTIONS

• How can agri-tech start-ups across the MEASA region adapt to the current challenging macroeconomic climate and maintain a competitive edge for attracting VC funding?
• As investor appetite remains suppressed, where have the investment highlights been and what categories within agri-tech are investors optimistic about?
• How can investors and start-ups work in tandem to ensure scalable business metrics are proven on the onset prior investment?
• What is the importance of a strategic agri-tech investor base to develop an ecosystem within the Middle East, Africa and South Asia?

Moderator:
Mark Kahn, Managing Partner, OMNIVORE

Speakers:
Paul Rous, Partner, NATURAL VENTURES
Shirley Shahar, Co-Founder, DANA VENTURE BUILDER
Olúwatóyìn Emmanuel-Olubake, Investment Director, NOVASTAR VENTURES