African startups can apply for  the Deloitte organized Milan- based FoodTech Accelerator. Every year, they select the 10 best startups to supercharge food innovation. These startups are matched with Corporate Partners business needs and together accelerate concrete industrial pilot projects in a 15-week program. 

This program will take these  startups from Business Model Consolidation to Validation and Prototyping aimed at insuring funding and  successful marketing.

For more details - https://www.foodtechaccelerator.io/

The 5th edition of the   AgroFood Plastprintpack, an international Nigerian agro food fair is coming up in March 2019 ( From the 26^th to the 28^th of March 2019) . The event will be held at the Landmark convention center Lagos Nigeria. Many European countries will have stands at this event, with exhibitions by companies working in the sector to promote their business and explore new opportunities. Here is a link for more details -https://www.agrofood-nigeria.com/agrofood-nigeria.html

The 85th edition of the libramont agricultural fair will be held from the 26th  to the 29th of July 2019. This is one fair that has something on offer for everyone. it is also a great opportunity for a family weekend activity. With over 800 exhibitors , the itineraries focuses on organic, livestock, dairy and animal health, innovation, family. There are also competitions, performances, the  Enchanted Farm, regional product tasting, machinery demonstrations and many other activities. For more details see - https://www.foiredelibramont.com/en/programme-foire-libramont/

The application for the Sustech4Africa 2019 call for projects is now open.  This call for projects organized by African Diaspora Projects Initiative, Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs vzw (Ondernemers voor Ondernemers), the Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO nv) and Thomas More University, will be open for applications from the 27th of November 2018 to 15th of January 2019.
Register - https://goo.gl/forms/MWA1D7d91YSUnXL03

Supporting social entrepreneurship with sustainable projects, is important for the development of Africa. Thus we intend to use the interconnections of African diaspora communities, to insure the best entrepreneurial projects are chosen. This call is open to African Diasporas in Europe. The first selection of candidates for this call for projects will be on the 12th of February 2019 from 10am to 5pm. A maximum of 30 project owners will be invited to present their projects. A jury will select 10 out of these for further collaborations. 

CFS 46 is from 14 – 18 October 2019 at FAO, Rome, Italy and will be the first major global meeting on food security and nutrition after the High Level Political Forum SDG Summit in New York in September 2019. The SDGs will be the theme of the week with a particular focus on ways to accelerate SDG 2 – zero hunger. For more details go to - https://mailchi.mp/fao/cfs-updates-cfs46-and-more?e=38b40b4176

The founder of the Food Bridge vzw was a speaker on the panel that discussed 'Diaspora innovations for agricultural productivity and sustainability ',  at the opening event of the global diaspora week 2018,held at the European parliament Brussels. Other speakers on the panel included 

Moderator: Mrs. Marina Diboma, Deputy Managing Director of NABC
Mr. Patrick Gilabert, Permanent Representative of UNIDO to the European Union
Mrs. Christine Leurquin, VP Institutional Relations and Communications at SES Satellites
Mrs. Oladunni Stähler, Chapter Lead Germany, Women in Tech Africa
Mrs. Isolina Boto, Manager of Brussels Office at CTA
Mrs. Irene Salvi, Results Measurement and Fundraising at UNCDF
M. Myrto Arvaniti, Communications officer, FAO Liaison office with the European Union

                                                   Photo credit - Unsplash (Nordwood & Rawpixel)

After a successful 2018 edition, we are happy to announce the date for the 2019 African Diaspora Agro Food Forum. The forum will be at the Bouchout castle Meise Belgium, with the support of the Meise Botanic Garden. This forum is open to African Diaspora agro food entrepreneurs and anyone interested in the agro food sector in Africa. You can direct inquiries for partnerships, exhibitions and participation to the organizers via email - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Join the Food Bridge vzw, the heritage department of the Brussels regional government (VGC), the centre for agricultural history (CAG) Leuven, the BigPicnic Project of  Meise Botanic garden and FAAb vzw, as we highlight and celebrate Brussels diverse food heritage, on 28th of September 2018, 12-2pm at Muntpunt Brussels.
From Nigeria, we present the YAM and its cultural significance. There will also be a tasting of free Yam frites!!!

Here is a  links for more details -

https://www.uitinbrussel.be/agenda/e/yam-yam/e50d10a2-ca75-4fed-8062-11e91dd4dd65?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com

The Sustech4Africa call for projects being organized by  Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs Belgium(OvO), VITO nv, Thoman More University Mechelen and the African Diaspora Projects Initiative now has a new deadline. Applications can still be sent in until the 25th of January 2019.

Supporting social entrepreneurship with sustainable projects, is important for the development of Africa. Thus we intend to use the interconnections of African diaspora communities to insure the best entrepreneurial projects are chosen.  This call is open to the African Diasporans in Europe. The selection of candidates for this call for projects will be on the 12^th of February 2019 from 10am to 5pm. A maximum  of  30 project owners will be invited to present their projects. A jury will select 10 out of these  for further collaboration. This will be followed by:

Boot camp – Experts from VITO nv, Thomas More University and Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs will  train candidates on the 4^th to 5^th of March 2019 from  9.30am to 6pm. At the Boot Camp, business coaches will teach the participants  all they know on how to start their business. With the assistance of mentors they  will further work out their ideas and develop a business pitch, which they will present to the other participants at the end of the Boot Camp.

Coaching sessions – 12^th, 19^th and 26^th of March from 9.30am to 6.00pm. The open questions and assumptions that emerge during the Boot Camp, will be the focus of the homework in the coaching sessions afterwards.

On  the 4th of April 2019, all the finalists for this call for projects on  "Sustainable Technologies for Africa", after  the boot camp and coaching sessions, will  pitch their business ideas to an audience from  the public, potential investors and representatives of the organizing partners . A jury will choose the winners after deliberation.
Companies, aspiring entrepreneurs, engineers and scientists from the African diaspora with great ideas for a sustainable economy can participate in this “Sustainable Technologies for Africa” call for project .
With the SusTech4Africa competition,  the African Diaspora Projects Initiative, Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs, VITO nv  and Thomas More University will accelerate the founding and growth of cleantech industries in African Countries, by connecting local African and Belgian cleantech companies. This call for project is open to start-ups and scale-ups from all sectors, however you need to state clearly how your project fits the theme “Sustainable Technologies for Africa”, the expected social impact and  profitability. Entries can be sent in French, English or Dutch but note that the boot camp and coaching sessions will be in English.
 

Following recommendations from the African Diaspora Agro Food Forum 2018 and a workshop at Tropentag 2018, which focused on African Diaspora food market and linking African Diaspora agro food entrepreneurs to research and SMEs, The Food Bridge is setting up a database of African Diasporans active in the agro food sector .
This is neccessary for creating the right synergy, to galvanize an integrated approach to African Diaspora input in the development of the agro food sector. Links between research and entrepreneurship will be better put into optimal use. it will also enable dialogues between the different African Diasporas in this sector and also with governments, global agencies, NGOs, policy makers working towards a sustainable development in Africa.

Register here: https://goo.gl/forms/feyvBBC8SFgTtSNn2