In the picture : Dr Maximin Emagna, Expert private sector; African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of states secretariate, Belgium, His Excellency Mr. Ahmed INUSA, Nigerian Ambassador to Belgium, His Excellency Mr. Samuel Tamba MUSA, Sierre Leone Ambassador to Belgium, Dr Maureen Duru of The Food Bridge and Ms latifa-Ait Baala, Brussels parliamentarian . pictures courtesy of  Claus siebeneicher of photoresk

The 2019 African Diaspora Agrofood forum was 2 days of insightful presentations, discussions and exhibitions. We had policymakers, diplomats, African entrepreneurs, scientists and people from all sectors represented at the event.

At the opening event on the first day of the forum, all the speakers emphasized the potentials in Africa, the need for African diasporas to be key actors in all the sctors not just by investing but also by drawing investment to Africa. The Ambassadors in their respective presentations also spoke of important policies by their respective governments to promote investment especially in the agrofood sector. Dr Maximin Emagna's opening remarks focused on the ACP's investment opportunities for African Diaspora Entrepreneurship.

Mr Steven Dessein the Chief Executive Officer of Meise Botanic Garden in his presentation highlighted the need for scientific input in the agrofood sector. He also spoke about the research of the Meise Botanic garden scientists which are relevant to the African food security and  economy. 

We thank His Excellency Mr. Ahmed INUSA, Nigerian Ambassador to Belgium, His Excellency Mr. Samuel Tamba MUSA, Sierre Leone Ambassador to Belgium, Dr Maximin Emagna, Expert private sector; African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of states secretariate, Belgium, Ms latifa-Ait Baala, a Brussels parliamentarian, all the participants and most importantly Mr Steven Dessein, CEO of Meise Botanic Garden Belgium for  hosting us and also for attending the opening event. The report will follow later.

  The registration is now open for the 2019 African Diaspora Agro Food Forum, holding from the 13th to 14th of  September 2019 at the Bouchout Castle Meise Belgium. Some of our confirmed speakers include successful African Diaspora Entrepreneurs, African Ambassadors, BIO- Belgian Investment Company, Rikolto, Coleacp, Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs, FAO, Meise Botanic Garden and many more. The program's sub themes will be -

1)  African diaspora agro food entrepreneurship, creating  synergies for development

2)  Accessing new Markets

3)  A guided tour of the Meise botanic garden  glasshouses focusing on tropical medicinal plants

4)  Impactful investments; building and strengthening the African  agrofood sector

5) Promoting African agrofood entrepreneurship; why scientific research input matters

Online registration can also be done via this link - https://forms.gle/1nbYSMXkqZg4oy9Z7