Croda Foundation’s Post

🌱 **Join the Movement: Empowering Young Black Farmers with Ezulwini Africa (Pty) Ltd ** 🚜 As Co-Founder and CEO of Ezulwini Africa with Partners Mitch Marescia and Matt Beckett from n plus 1 : Impact Venture Partner, we're on a mission to revolutionize agriculture and empower communities across South Africa. 🌍 Our vision is simple yet profound: to transform farming practices through aquaponics and uplift young black farmers (YBFers) by providing them with the tools, training, and support they need to thrive. Here's why you should join us on this incredible journey: **Our Aims and Objectives:**  At Ezulwini Africa, we're not just about profits; we're about creating lasting change. By leveraging aquaponics technology, we're addressing critical challenges in the agricultural sector while empowering YBFers to become successful entrepreneurs. Our aim is to build a network of partner farms that serve as beacons of prosperity within their communities, driving economic transformation and food security. **Why Support Us?**  1. **Impact:** Supporting Ezulwini Africa means investing in sustainable agriculture and community empowerment. Your support will catalyze tangible, transformative change in South Africa's agricultural landscape. 2. **Innovation:** We're pioneering a new approach to farming that transcends traditional profit-driven models. Our focus on sustainability, community empowerment, and ethical practices sets us apart and positions us as leaders in the industry. 3. **Empowerment:** By supporting us, you're empowering young black farmers to realize their full potential and become successful entrepreneurs. Together, we can break down barriers, create opportunities, and build a brighter future for all. So, are you ready to join the movement? Together, we can sow the seeds of change and cultivate a better tomorrow for generations to come. 🌿 Let's make a difference, one farm at a time. #EzulwiniAfrica #EmpoweringCommunities #SustainableFarming #YoungBlackFarmers #InvestInChange 💪🌟

I had the privilege of joining His Majesty at an SMI event in Kenya, which saw the launch of the SMI’s Africa Council. As the SMI’s Agribusiness Task Force Chair, my focus in Africa remains the same as anywhere in the world, address the low adoption of regenerative farming (less than 10% of farmers practice it worldwide). Regenerative farming brings vast environmental benefits like better water retention, soil resilience, GHG capture, and enhanced biodiversity. However, most farmers simply cannot afford to bear the transition cost, despite the many benefits. Our goal is to change this by uniting public, private and philanthropic entities — farmers, consumer companies, financial institutions, insurers, governments and philanthropists—in a cooperative (not competitive) alliance. This alliance aims to create a sustainable marketplace around farmers, with new incentives, shared standards, and common metrics. We still have a lot to do, but with the convening power and support of the Sustainable Markets Initiative we will get it done!

It is about Scaling up and mainstreaming seed systems interventions

During my @africanofilter fellowship, I had the incredible honor of attending a session on Agriculture in Africa, led by Enock Chikava of the foundation. It was, without a doubt, the most exhilarating and eye-opening experience of the entire program. This session not only reignited my passion for agriculture but also connected the dots between my urban upbringing in Nairobi and the rural farming adventures I enjoyed during school holidays on my grandparent's farm in Kirinyaga, Kenya. As a child, my grandmother would involve me in various farming activities, and after the harvest season, she'd reward me with some money or a small treat, attributing it to the hard work I'd put into the farm. These moments not only made farming exciting for me but also sowed the seeds of my love for agriculture. When Enock shared his journey, transitioning from a smallholder farmer to an advisor on policies shaping agriculture in Africa, I was utterly captivated. His words resonated deeply with me, and I couldn't help but draw a parallel between my childhood experiences and the broader issues he addressed. Two key takeaways from the session profoundly impacted me. First, the importance of empowering women in agriculture. Enabling and supporting women in this sector directly contributes to ending hunger, reducing malnutrition, and indirectly, mitigating conflicts that can arise from food scarcity. The second point that stood out was the significance of identifying the food baskets of a region and investing in technology to enhance the genetics of crucial crops like Cassava, Millet, Sorghum, and Sweet Potato. This strategic approach has the potential to significantly improve Africa's food security. Inspired by these insights, I chose to depict the scene with women as the central figures in my artwork. I aimed to underscore the vital role of women in all aspects of agriculture, from technological advancements to financial decision-making. Their empowerment and involvement are not only central to food security but also to the sustainable development of our beloved continent, Africa. 🌾🌱👩🌾 #AgricultureForChange #EmpowerWomenInAgri #FoodSecurityAfrica

The Malabo Montpellier Panel’s 13th Report! Launched on February 14, 2024, the – YOUTH AHEAD: Policy Innovations to Create Opportunities for Young People in Africa’s Agrifood Systems – report reviews the challenges limiting young people’s engagement in agrifood systems & demonstrates opportunities to empower Africa’s youth in agrifood systems. It also highlights the successful strategies implemented by various countries in Africa and summarizes the key findings of four systematically selected countries: #Ghana, #Uganda, #Zambia, and #Zimbabwe. These countries are at the forefront of empowering youth in their agrifood systems. Learn more: https://shorturl.at/qDEHM

Today is the International Day of the World's Indigenous People! It's important to note that the Sangha Tri-National World Heritage Site is home to over 20,000 indigenous forest peoples (Baka, BaAKa, etc.)! Faced with a rapidly changing world, the BaAKa are generally very vulnerable and therefore subject to low standards of living and social injustice. With this in mind, FTNS has supported the TNS parks in implementing a number of activities to empower them economically and promote their rights! The three parks have developed complaints mechanisms to deal with the injustices and abuses committed against these people. FTNS also provided financial and technical assistance through the signing and implementation of a historic memorandum of understanding between Cameroon's Ministry of Forests and Wildlife and Asbabuk (Association of Forest Populations). In return, this guaranteed them better regulated access to the Lobéké and Nki national parks, the Ngoyla wildlife reserve and the surrounding region. FTNS also supports the Lobéké National Park in organising the annual Baka-Bantu Festival. The three previous editions have helped to promote and enhance Baka know-how to a number of local, national and international visitors! FTNS funds have also been used to equip and support civil society structures such as ASBABUK, Dimakali and the Bayanga Human Rights Centre (MFEP) to implement complaints management and cultural promotion mechanisms in the TNS protected areas. This mission is so important that FTNS devoted more than 154 million FCFA of its resources to ecodevelopment and co-management in 2023,. Supporting the FTNS means ensuring the survival of the TNS's indigenous populations and their habitat! #indegenouspeople #CongoBasin #TNS #conservation #worldheritage #GermanCooperation

Empowering the women of Homa Bay County through sustainable fish farming!   We are proud to celebrate the incredible women of Homa Bay County who are challenging traditional stereotypes in fish farming - a field typically dominated by men in this area. Thanks to Rio Fish Ltd, an investee in the Investing in Women in the Blue Economy in Kenya Programme (IIW-BEK), 20 women groups in Suba South have gained the skills, knowledge, and resources needed for sustainable fish cage farming. This achievement is a significant step towards their economic independence. Diana Muthike Thomas, Angela Juliana O., Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada

Reflecting on my recent mission in Cameroon, I had the privilege of visiting the ABC-PADER Project of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. As a Cameroonian, gaining firsthand insights into our cooperation work in the country, especially in the northern region, was incredibly meaningful. The mission provided valuable observations of our experts' dedication and commitment as they tackle challenges and enhanced the capacities of local farmers. GFA Consulting Group GmbH's role in sustainable agriculture and rural development initiatives reinforces the impactful work we undertake in communities. Key takeaways include the importance of team motivation, strategic project execution, and cultivating strong partnerships with local stakeholders. These elements not only improve livelihoods but also contribute to long-term economic growth and stability in the region. Christopher Biller #Cameroon #InternationalDevelopment #ImpactfulProjects #Consulting #SustainableDevelopment #Partnerships #Innovation #CommunityImpact #NorthernRegion #GIZ #AgricultureDevelopment

“For us, Chuquisaca honey is much more than a product, it is the fruit of the dedication of our beekeepers who preserve biodiversity”. These were the words of Bolivia’s Foreign Minister, Celinda Sosa Lunda, at an event held recently to launch a new collective mark, Miel del Chaco Chuquisaqueño, for the country’s honey producers. Delivered as part of a WIPO Development Agenda Project, and as part of our impact-driven approach to development work, the mark will help local producers create their own brand and position their honey as a premium product at home and abroad. Already, we are seeing results, with the number of honey producers represented by the Asociación Regional de Apicultores del Chaco Chuquisaqueño (ARACH) growing from 25 to 42 across five different municipalities. As word continues to spread, we hope the mark will lead to new possibilities for honey producers and the local community. Indeed, colleagues have already engaged with women lettuce producers in Chicani who heard about the scheme and wanted to know how they could benefit from a collective mark as well. None of this would have been possible without the close collaboration of our partners in the Bolivian government, and the support from Member States for the work of our Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP). But most importantly we are grateful to the local community of honey producers for putting their trust in WIPO and for seeing how intellectual property can help drive growth and prosperity. #WIPO #Bolivia #IntellectualProperty #Brand #Branding

The Malabo Montpellier Panel’s 13th Report! The YOUTH AHEAD: Policy Innovations to Create Opportunities for Young People in Africa’s Agrifood Systems report reviews the challenges limiting young people’s engagement in agrifood systems & demonstrates opportunities to empower Africa’s youth in agrifood systems. It also highlights the successful strategies implemented by various countries in Africa and summarizes the key findings of four systematically selected countries: #Ghana, #Uganda, #Zambia, and #Zimbabwe. These countries are at the forefront of empowering youth in their agrifood systems. Learn more: https://shorturl.at/iuAJ9