Kenya Food Systems Conference:

04.04.23- 05.04.23, Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya

Recommendations and actions to support the implementation of the

Bottom-Up Economic Plan in Kenya

The CGIAR Research Initiative on National Policies and Strategies for Food, Land, and Water
Systems Transformation (NPS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock
Development cordially invites you the Kenya Food Systems Conference on April 4–5, 2023, at
the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi. NPS is a new CGIAR initiative, co-created with national and
international partners with the main objectives of building policy coherence, responding to
crises, and integrating policy tools at the national and subnational levels in six countries in
Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The initiative is expected to make substantial research-based
contributions to improve food and water security, nutrition, and livelihoods; reduce poverty and
support job creation, gender equality, and social inclusion; and find solutions for climate change
adaptation. NPS is led by IFPRI researchers in collaboration with other CGIAR Centers.

The conference will provide evidence-based recommendations, developed by Kenyan

researchers with the support of their international counterparts, to policy- and decision-makers.
In addition, a matchmaking “marketplace” will bring  CGIAR Research Initiatives and their
Kenyan research partners together with Kenyan policymakers and decision-makers to identify
current and future research demand and explore how research can better provide timely
information.

DAY 1 PROGRAM

 09:00-10:00: Opening session

(Moderator: Josephine Mbeo, Director of communication, MoA&LD)

Introductory remarks

 Prof. Appolinaire Djikeng, CGIAR Senior Director, Livestock-Based Systems and Director
General, International Livestock Research Institute – ILRI
 Dr. Clemens Breisinger, Lead, CGIAR Initiative on National Policies and Strategies and
Country Program Leader, Kenya, International Food Policy Research Institute
 Prof. Nancy Mungai, Director of Research and Extension, Egerton University
 Hon. Kenneth Lusaka, Council of Governors, Chair of the Agricultural Committee
 Mr. Bimal Kantaria, Agriculture Sector Network – ASNET
 Official Opening remarks

 Hon. Mithika Linturi, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development

10:00-11:30: Transforming food supply chains

(Moderator: Enock Matte, Agriculture and Food Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock
Development)

 Maize Productivity Growth: Addressing uncertainties and potential for further growth. (Charles
Bett, Deputy Institute Director, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research – Kiboko)
 Agricultural Inputs: Affordability, Availability, and Adoption. (John Olwande, Research Fellow,
Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy, and Development)
 Improving Postharvest Management systems: The Social, Economic, and Environmental Gains.
(Prof. Jane Ambuko, University of Nairobi)
 Knowledge Transfer: Building capacity through extension and digital services. (Michael
Keenan, Associate Research Fellow, IFPRI)
 De-risking agriculture through crop insurance? Insights from an impact evaluation of novel
insurance solutions. (Berber Kamer, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI)

11:30-12:00:  Coffee break

12:00-13:30: Transforming the food consumer environment and behavior.

(Moderator: Simon Kimenju, Kula Vyema Centre of Food Economics)

 Options for addressing high food prices and for making food more affordable. (Lilian Kirimi,
Senior Research Fellow, Tegemeo)
 Improving food safety. (Prof. Erastus Kang’ethe, Food Safety Consultant)
 Last mile retail: A Look at Mama Mboga and supermarkets. (Christiane Chege, International
Center for Tropical Agriculture – CIAT)
 Promoting healthier diets and influencing consumer preferences. (Olivier Ecker, Senior
Research Fellow, IFPRI)

13:30-14:30: Lunch break

 14:30-16:00: Drivers of food system transformation

(Moderator: Nancy Laibuni, Member, Council of Economic Advisors, Office of the President )

 Developments and forecasts for global food, fertilizer, and fuel markets. (David Laborde, Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – FAO)
 Climate-proofing agricultural production and the food system. (Michael Ndegwa, Associate
Sceintist, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center – CIMMYT)
 Managing migration and urbanization. ( Dr. Moses Muthinja,  Director, Integrated
Development, Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis – KIPPRA)
 Demographic shifts: Leveraging women and youth for food system transformation.
( Prof. Salome Bukachi, Institute of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies, University of
Nairobi)

16:00-16:30: Concluding remarks

 Leonard Kubok, Agricultural Transformation Office – ATO

DAY 2 PROGRAM:
 
09:00-9:30:  Recommendations and actions to support the implementation of the Bottom-Up
Economic Plan (Summary of Day 1)

 Joseph Maina, MoALD and Joseph Karugia, ILRI/CGIAR

09:30-11:00: Panel Discussion on the Implementation of Recommendations

(Moderator: Joyce Maru, International Potato Center – CIP/CGIAR)

 Harry Kimtai, Principal Secretary for Livestock Development

 Kello Harsama, Principal Secretary for Crops Development
 James Muhati, Principal Secretary for Economic Planning, National Treasury
 Kiplimo Arap Lagat, Chairperson, CECMs in charge of Agriculture Caucus & CECM in charge
of Agriculture, Nandi County
 Agatha Thuo, General Manager, Agriculture Sector Network – ASNet
 Vinay Kumar, Senior Agriculture Economist, The World Bank (The World Bank chairs the
Agriculture and Rural Development Group)

11:00-11:30: Coffee break

11:30-12:30: Panel discussion: How to bridge the science-practice-policy gap and how to
finance food policy research sustainably?

(Moderator: Clemens Breisinger, IFPRI, CGIAR)

 Prof. Walter O. Oyawa, Director General of the National Commission for Science, Technology
& Innovation (NACOSTI)
 Ada W. Mwangola, Director, Social and Political Affairs Vision 2030 Secretariat
 Paul Gamba, Lecturer, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management,
Faculty of Agriculture, Egerton University
 Michael Keenan, Associate Research Fellow, IFPRI

12:30-14:00: Food Systems Transformation Market Place

(Moderator: Joseph Karugia, ILRI, CGIAR)

The food system transformation marketplace provides a space for CGIAR research initiatives
and their Kenyan partners to present and interact with policymakers, private sector
representatives, and other stakeholders. The objective is to match the demand for food system
transformation research with ongoing and future CGIAR-led initiatives in Kenya.

14:00 Closing remarks

 Harry Kimtai, Principal Secretary, State Department for Livestock Development

This work is part of the CGIAR Research Initiatives on National Policies and Strategies (NPS).
CGIAR launched NPS with national and international partners to build policy coherence,
respond to policy demands and crises, and integrate policy tools at national and subnational
levels in countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. CGIAR centers participating in NPS are
The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture
(Alliance Bioversity-CIAT), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), International
Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), International Water Management Institute (IWMI),
International Potato Center (CIP), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and
WorldFish. We would like to thank all funders who supported this research through their
contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund. Please contact nps@cgiar.org