The UN designated  International Day for Biological Diversity is on 22^nd May 2020. The theme for this year is "Our Solutions Are in Nature."  With all the challenges mankind is facing now, the theme couldn’t have been more apt. Recent events have shown us that we need to protect the earth, by limiting our harmful interference with nature’s way of regulating, protecting and renewing the earth.   According to the FAO nearly a quarter of wild food species are decreasing rapidly and this is very much evident in Africa. It is alarming the rate at which deforestation for large scale mono industrial agriculture is increasing. Despite the arguments for large scale industrial agriculture, it has not eliminated hunger where it matters most, rather adds environmental and other challenges to the problems in these areas.

In an article on biodiversity,  Jared Kaufman  stated that ‘ Biodiversity is not only important for the planet—but it’s important for human health, too. Eating a range of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help immune systems by providing the full range of nutrients, from vitamins C and D to zinc and iron. And COVID-19 is revealing the urgency of improving immunity—and the power of food to protect us’.

The  food heritage project by the Food Bridge vzw, has shown that African farmers have the indigenous knowledge to work in unison with nature, growing nutritious indigenous food that is good for people and the environment. So they  need to be supported to use farming methods which recognizes and supports  biodiversity, to  grow crops that for centuries have benefited people and protected the environment. However, for this to happen, consumers also need to be better informed of the impact of the  food choices they make and  the health benefits that are available in the indigenous crops and plants.

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Although Covid-19 pandemic has been a major challenge to the healthcare sector, it's impact on the agrofood sector will also be enormous. This was highlighted too during an e-meeting on the impact of covid-19 on African Diaspora Agrofood Entrepreneurs.  To insure the food security of nations and the survival of the agrofood sector  as a major  stimulus for economic development, entrepreneurs have to be prepared to face the challenges of the post covid-19 business environment. Thus we are now organizing the second session of our online seminar series.

 We invite you to join the Food Bridge's next online seminar for African Diaspora Agrofood entrepreneurs, which will be held on the 29th of May 2020 at 11am. The theme is 'Doing Business in Post COVID-19 Agrofood Sector'. Learn from Mr Jeremy Knops, DG Coleacp , the expertise and support COLEACP can provide for agrofood entrepreneurs.  

Registration: info@thefoodbridge.org

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