FANRPAN participated in the launch of the Smart Food Africa initiative on 30 October 2024 in Harare at the 20th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program-Partnership Platform (CAADP-PP). The Smart Food initiative is led by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and is designed to diversify staples across Africa and Asia.
Launched to coincide with the 15th Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security, this initiative aims to transform the continent’s food systems by prioritizing nutritious, climate-resilient crops that support both health and sustainability. Its core message—“Smart food is good for me, good for the planet, and good for farmers”—highlights the interconnected benefits of sustainable food systems.
By focusing on staples, often 70% of the plate and eaten 3 times a day, Smart Food Initiative plans to have the biggest impact. To achieve this, the initiative focuses on a couple of Smart Foods to not just popularize but bring it into the mainstream.
The high-level event featured key partners—including the Government of Zimbabwe, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), FANRPAN, the Centre for Agriculture and Food Policy (CAFP), and the Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD)—all committed to making millets and pulses staples in African food systems to address malnutrition, reduce poverty, and confront climate challenges.