Press, media and other coverage of the Brussels Briefings and Regional Events.

2018

Experts say consumers must demand improved food safety in Africa
 on 

Consumer expectations and demands have a role to play in improving food safety in Africa, according to speakers at an event in Brussels this week. The briefing in the Belgian city was organized by the ACP-EU Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation, with the European Commission (DG DEVCO and DG SANTE), the ACP Secretariat, CONCORD and the Global Food Safety Partnership (GFSP). More info: Brussels Briefing 52

2017

Poultry development in Eastern Africa, a regional perspective
Food & Business Knowledge Platform, February 2017

The issue of regional trade and interdependency is on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and hence receives increasing attention. On February 3, the 47th Brussels Development Briefing on the topic of “Regional Trade in Africa: Drivers, Trends and Opportunities” was held at the ACP Secretariat in Brussels for an audience of 200 people. The drivers, trends and opportunities discussed during this Briefing are valuable input for the project on poultry development in Eastern Africa. More info: Brussels Briefing 47

‘‘Africa needs more mutual trade in these times of economic nationalism’’
MO*, February 2017

Africa’s contribution to world trade is small and declining: from 6% in 1980 to 2.4% today. ‘Moreover, 57% of its export still consists of raw materials,’ Kituyi states, ‘signifying that Africa is still stuck in economic activities that result in little added value and few jobs.’ That problem is even bigger for the growing trade with Asia compared to the export to Europe. For example, only 5% of its trade with China consists of finished products. In addition, 56% of payments made in Africa takes place via non-African banks, resulting in the export of the financial benefits of the transactions. More info: Brussels Briefing 47

Linking Farmers & Tourists to Solve Development Challenges in SIDS
Capacity4Dev, January 2017

Developing the link between agriculture and tourism could be a significant opportunity for small island developing states. Already an expanding sector in several Pacific and Caribbean islands, agritourism can address a range of development challenges – among them low agricultural productivity, high food imports and loss of tourism revenue, poor public health and youth unemployment. More info: Brussels Briefing 46

2016

Nukunonu Center welcomes AgriTourism Workshop
Samoa Planet, December 16, 2016

Participants at the AgriTourism Policy Setting Workshop this week, enjoyed a special garden treat with a visit to the Nukunonu Moamoa Center owned and operated by Mikaele Maiava. There they toured the lush organic gardens with its rich variety of local bounty. Dr Malcolm Hazelman who leads the Informal Gardener’s Group in Samoa (IGG), assisted in the tour… The Agritourism workshop was organised by the Samoan government via the Samoa Tourism Authority, and the Brussels-based Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Co-operation (C.T.A), in collaboration with the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation. In attendance were policy makers, private sectors delegates, government officials, chefs and other representatives from the hospitality sector, civil society, academia and international and regional partners. Read more: Samoa Agritourism Policy Setting Workshop 2016

Minister talks up AgriTourism
Samoa Observer, December 15, 2016

The government is serious about promoting the sustainable use of local food by the tourism industry through strengthened inter-sectoral policies. That was the message from the Minister of Tourism, Sala Fata Pinati, when he opened the AgriTourism Policy Setting Workshop being held at the T.A.T.T.E Building this week. The Minister said the key to economic development is the promotion of agri-business and agri-tourism development, led by the private sector with enabling support of the public sector… The workshop is attended by policy makers, government officials, private sector delegates, chefs and actors from the hospitality sector, civil society, academia and international and regional partners. t is organised by the government of Samoa and Brussels-based Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (C.T.A) in collaboration with Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation.

Samoa to develop new combined agritourism strategy
RNZ, December 15, 2016

Samoa’s agriculture and tourism sectors are uniting to develop a combined strategy for Samoa tourism’s industry. A workshop underway in Samoa has brought together over 70 experts to discuss new agritourism development in the country. The workshop is promoting the sustainable use of local food by tourist operators. Kelera Cavuilati from the South Pacific Tourism Organisation says it’s the first time the sectors have worked together. “The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and also the Samoa Tourism Authority, [are] to actually look at strategies and policies that they’ve just discussed in their own separate settings. But now it’s coming together to develop one for Samoa,” Kelera Cavuilati said. Read more: Samoa Agritourism Policy Setting Workshop 2016

Samoa Agritourism forum emphasizes real linkage between farms and hotels
loopsamoa, December 14, 2016

Representatives from Samoa’s tourism sector, business owners and the agriculture and fisheries sector are meeting in Apia to explore the best ways to link locally grown produce to markets. Minister for Tourism Sala Fata Pinati says there is a need to make better connections between farmers and tourism business owners. “We have been planning it for some time now but we have not yet made it work. So this forum is the first act by the Samoan Government to start making these plans reality,” Pinati said at the Agritourism Policy Setting Forum. Read more: Samoa Agritourism Policy Setting Workshop 2016

Talks on agriculture, tourism on agenda
Fiji Times, December 10, 2016

THE South Pacific Tourism Organisation’s (SPTO) investment specialist, Kelera Cavuilati of Fiji, will be one of the panelists during the Samoa AgriTourism Policy Setting Workshop in Apia next week. Ms Cavuilati will serve as panelist on a discussion on “Policy Forum: Regional perspective on opportunities/ experiences to support Agritourism development and investment”. The panel will discuss the current policies and frameworks in support of agriculture and tourism which also promote the private sector development in the Pacific both at commercial and small-scale levels. It will build upon the recommendations of the 2nd Pacific Agribusiness Forum held in Apia in August. Read more: Samoa Agritourism Policy Setting Workshop 2016

SPTO to attend AgriTourism Policy Workshop in Samoa
pata.org, December 9, 2016

The South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) will attend the Samoa AgriTourism Policy Setting Workshop in Apia next week. The main aim of the workshop is to promote the sustainable use of local food by the tourism industry through strengthened inter-sectoral policies. Resource persons will share their experiences on strengthening linkages between agriculture, trade and tourism to support sustainable local businesses. The workshop will be attended by policy makers, government officials, private sector delegates, chefs and actors from the hospitality sector, civil society, academia and international and regional partners. The three-day workshop will feature presentations, panel discussions and field trips. Read more: Samoa Agritourism Policy Setting Workshop 2016

‘Precision farming – the way to go for Africa’, The Southern Times
25/07/2016

It is not wise and sustainable to continue practising conventional agricultural methods, such as ploughing and loosening the soil before planting as it puts stress on land resources and is worsened by effects of climate change, says global agricultural experts who convened in Brussels, Belgium, last week. The meeting brought together participants from the ACP-EU (Caribbean and Pacific countries and the European Union) technical centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), the European Commission, the EU Presidency, the ACP Group, Concord, and other partners on key issues and challenges for rural development in the context of EU-ACP cooperation. Read More | Brussels Briefing 45 

‘Vanuatu seeking irresistible brand’
Vanuatu Daily Post, Tues 7 June 2016

Director General of the Ministry of Trade, Marokon Alilee, has told stakeholders at the start of a Vanuatu Branding Workshop on May 31st that “we have to become irresistible” in order to sell our products. The DG made the call when he launched the daylong workshop at the Melanesian Hotel, to get feedback from the audience present to develop a country branding proposal for Vanuatu. The DG said the Vanuatu Government has created the perfect platform to make the most of an overarching country branding initiative. “Our strategy to promote Vanuatu is dependent on a clear identity and positioning that is differentiated from our competitors,” the DG said. [Read More|Vanuatu Agritourism Policy Setting Worskhop 2016]]

‘Policy setting for improved linkages between agriculture, trade and tourism’
Vanuatu Daily Post, Sat 4 June 2016

Ministry of Agriculture’s Director General, Howard Aru, wishes to see a far stronger collaboration between Agriculture, Tourism and Health Ministries of Vanuatu in driving forward not only the agriculture and tourism linkages, but also the health and nutritional aspects to combat the epidemic of non communicable diseases (NCDs) that are mercilessly killing the lives of the Vanuatu people today. The Director General made his wish known at a three-day policy setting workshop for improved linkages between Vanuatu’s agriculture, trade and tourism was held in Port-Vila last week, which attracted over 60 stakeholders and experts representing the agriculture, tourism and health sectors from Vanuatu and the wider Pacific region. The workshop represented months of committed organisation by the Government of Vanuatu and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation, in collaboration with the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation and Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture. [Read More|Vanuatu Agritourism Policy Setting Worskhop 2016]

‘Agritourism Policy Setting Workshop starts today’
Vanuatu Daily Post, Issue #: 4793, Wed 25 May 2016, page 5

The Government of Vanuatu and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), in collaboration with the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisations (PIPSO) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) will organise a workshop on policy options to strengthen the local agrifood sector and promote healthy food in agritourism in Vanuatu. This event builds on the success of the first ever Agribusiness Forum which took place in Fiji last July. Tourism has the potential to stimulate Vanuatu’s agricultural sector, strengthen local producers and increase sustainable economic growth. The workshop will discuss the opportunities the tourism sector can bring to agriculture and trade, particularly as a stimulus for higher quality and more competitive agribusiness production. To achieve this, a conducive policy needs to be in place which promotes cross-sectoral linkages between agriculture, trade, tourism and health policies. A diverse range of stakeholders and experts from the tourism, agriculture and development sectors will consider proposals for successfully realizing synergies between Vanuatu’s agricultural, health and tourism economies. [Read More|Vanuatu Agritourism Policy Setting Worskhop 2016]]


2015

‘Improving nutrition through accountability, ownership and partnerships’ Global Donor Platform for Rural Development
28/05/2015

…The Briefing focused on “Improving nutrition through accountability, ownership and partnerships” and was held on 20th May 2015, organised by CTA, the ACP Secretariat, the European Commission, Concord in collaboration with the IFPRI-led CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH). Policy-makers and representatives of EU Member States, civil society groups, research networks and international organisations came together to discuss the key challenges and new opportunities to strengthen linkages between agriculture and nutrition in ACP countries. Read More | Brussels Briefing 41 

‘Improving nutrition through accountability, ownership, and partnerships’, CGIAR
22/05/2015

This week, A4NH joined together with the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) in co-hosting the latest in a series of Brussels Briefings entitled, Improving nutrition through accountability, ownership, and partnerships. The Brussels Briefings are a platform for engaging in discussion on key issues and challenges for rural development, with an emphasis on cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the African, Caribbean and Pacific the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States Group of States (ACP). Read More | Brussels Briefing 41 

‘Brussels Briefing “Data: the next revolution for agriculture in ACP countries?”’, Ben Schaap, Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition
05/03/2015

On Wednesday 18 February a ‘Brussels Briefing‘ on the subject of ‘the next revolution for agriculture in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries’ was held which was of interest to the GODAN partner network. The programme included invited speakers from government, sector representatives and researchers who shared their thoughts on the future of data use in ACP countries. Read More | Brussels Briefing 40

‘Agriculture’s Data Revolution’ Capacity4Dev Coordination Team
25/03/2015

…The amount of data created through mobile phones, internet use and other digital transactions is growing exponentially. Participants at the 40th Brussels Development Briefing co-organised by CTA, DEVCO, ACP Group and Concord on Data: the next revolution for agriculture in ACP countries met recently to discuss how this so-called ‘Big Data’, including weather reports, online purchase records and GPS information, can assist farmers in developing countries. Read More | Brussels Briefing 40


2014

‘How to Fight Illegal Fishing’, Capacity4Dev Coordination Team
28/11/2014

…Experts from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries recently met in Brussels to discuss how the European Union and ACP countries can address this global problem…Read More | Brussels Briefing 38

‘EJF presents at Brussels event on successes in fighting illegal fishing’, Environmental Justice Foundation
28/10/2014

….Presenters at the Brussels Briefing discussed the trends, successes and challenges in combating pirate fishing in Africa, with Fiji’s and Guinea’s efforts to tackle pirate fishing being used as case studies. Read More | Brussels Briefing 38

‘CTA: Transforming Agriculture « Critical » to Future Growth in Africa’, afronline
05/04/2014

 The African Union’s Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture and Tanzania’s Minister for Trade and Industry joined CTA Director Michael Hailu and a panel of experts, policy-makers and investors in Brussels today to discuss the role of agriculture in Africa’s economic transformation. The meeting was the latest in CTA’s series of ‘Brussels Briefings.’  Read More | Brussels Briefing 36

‘Ousmane Badiane talks Agricultural Growth recovery and Economic Transformation in Africa’, IFPRI
30/01/2014

On october 2013, Ousmane Badiane held a presentation on “the successes in agriculture and structural transformation in Africa” as part of the Brussels Briefing on the ‘Drivers of success for agricultural transformation in Africa’ organized by CTA Brussels at the Borschette Congress Center in Brussels. In this CTA Brussels video interview,Ousmane Badiane , IFPRI’s Director for Africa tells us more about the agricultural growth recovery and economic transformation in Africa. Read More | Brussels Briefing 33 


2013

‘Brussels Briefing 34: Farmer-driven research’, ProLINNOVA

Experiences and policy messages from Prolinnova and various other initiatives – including JOLISAA (Joint Learning in Innovation Systems in African Agriculture) and CoS-SIS (Convergence of Sciences: Strengthening Innovation Systems) – were presented at the CTA Brussels Briefing on “Farmer-driven research to improve food and nutrition security” on 14 November 2013. This was co-organised by the ACP-EU Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (CTA) Brussels office and INSARD (Including Smallholders in Agricultural Research and Development), an EU-funded project coordinated by ETC Foundation in the Netherlands. Read More | Brussels Briefing 34 

‘Agriculture in Africa: The ‘cow’ that feeds the family’,  Eva Donelli, DEVEX
15/10/2013

The agricultural sector’s growth has lagged behind national economic growth in Africa, according to an International Food Policy Research Institute study…Speaking at a Brussels Development Briefing titled ”Drivers of Success for Agricultural Transformation in Africa,” hosted by the European Commission, Badiane explained how “negative diversification moved labor from underperforming higher productivity agriculture into the oversized lower production service sector,” and how the lack of an effective industrialization policy has “impeded growth in the manufacturing sector and forced specialization in low-value primary goods.”Read More | Brussels Briefing 33 

‘Aquaculture and adaptation to climate change’, AFSPAN
30/10/2013

Rohana Subasinghe, Senior Aquaculture Officer, FAO, talks about the risks and challenges of aquaculture in the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, and the specific situation of small-scale aqua-farmers…This video was presented at a session on “Aquaculture nutrition: addressing the long-term sustainability of the sector” as part of the Brussels Briefing “Geography of food: reconnecting with origin in the food system” organized by CTA Brussels at the ACP Secretariat. Read More Brussels Briefing 32 

‘Participation of PAFO and CAADP/NEPAD to Brussels Briefing’, PAFO
5/10/2013

The 33rd Brussels Development Briefing was focused on the topic of “Agricultural Transformation in Africa”. Mr Martin Bwalya, head of CAADP/NEPAD has seized the… Read More Brussels Briefing 33 

‘African agriculture: lessons learned’, Future Agricultures

Future Agricultures researcher Steve Wiggins gave a talk on “African agriculture in a changing global context: lessons learned” at a briefing in Brussels on 2 October. The 33rd CTA Brussels Development Briefing on “The key Drivers of Agricultural transformation in Africa” is organised in partnership with NEPAD/CAADP.  Read More Brussels Briefing 33 

‘Brussels Briefing on Agricultural Resilience’, IFPRI
20/08/2013

What are the key challenges posed to strengthen resilience in agriculture? On March 4, 2013, IFPRI joined CTA in collaboration with the ACP Secretariat, the EC/DEVCO, and Concord to organize 30th Brussels Briefing on “Agricultural resilience in the face of crisis and shocks”. This Briefing focused on identifying approaches to resilience and highlighting approaches and instruments around some key areas of special benefit to the small-scale farmers in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. Read More Brussels Briefing 30 

‘Agricultural Resilience in the Face of Crises and Shocks’, Red Cross EU Office

Kingsley Kwenani, Food Security Officer, from the Namibia Red Cross, will be present and will focus on “Building community resilience: Namibia Red Cross approaches and successes”. The Namibia Red Cross introduced an integrated food security project in 2011 in order to address food availability and access as well as malnutrition and poverty within its programme areas. Read More Brussels Briefing 30 

‘Major fish farming potential in ACP largely untapped’,  Aquafeed.com
 17/07/2013

While the global demand for fish is climbing faster than current resources can meet, aquaculture remains a largely underdeveloped industry in African, Caribbean and Pacific regions. However, experts speaking at the 32nd Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) Brussels Briefing last week noted the “significant potential” of the sector across ACP (Groupe des Etats d’Afrique, des Caraïbes et du Pacifique) regions if the right policies are in place…Read More Brussels Briefing 32 

‘Caribbean Countries Consume High Significant Amount Of Fish Annually’, pridenews.ca
16/07/2013

The Executive Director of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), Milton Haughton, says while the region consumes a significant amount of fish annually, most of the commodities are imported. Haughton told the 32nd CTA Brussels Briefing that the region has a high per capita fish consumption with Antigua and Barbuda consuming 77kg and The Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada and St. Kitts-Nevis consuming in excess of 30kg. Read More Brussels Briefing 32 


2012

‘NRI participates in Brussels Development Briefing: Addressing food waste in times of crisis’, Ruth Leavett John Orchard, NRI
27/07/2012

…A policy briefing in Brussels on June 26th on ‘food losses and food waste’ addressed some of the concerns that revolve around global hunger, food security, sustainability and waste recovery. Read More Brussels Briefing 28

‘Options to enhance resilience in pastoral systems: The case for novel livestock insurance’,  ILRI
22/02/2012

Shirley Tarawali, director for institutional planning at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), gave a slide presentation today (22 Feb 2012) titled ‘Options for enhancing resilience in pastoral systems: The case for novel livestock insurance’, at a Brussels Briefing on New challenges and opportunities for pastoralism in ACP [Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific] countries. Rangelands, Tarawali told the participants at this policy briefing, have fewer than 20 persons per sq km and a growing period of less than 60 days/annum, making crop production impossible. Constituting the largest land-use system globally, rangelands cover some 35 million sq km and support almost 50% of the world’s livestock. Read More Brussels Briefing 26


2011

‘Briefing reaffirms importance of agriculture and nutrition linkages’, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
21/06/2011

Last week’s joint event hosted by IFPRI and CTA highlighted the growing recognition about the importance of linking nutrition security to agriculture. More than 200 policy experts and stakeholders gathered to learn about and discuss the challenges of malnutrition and potential policy action to be taken. Participants represented a range of actors from embassies, international organizations, civil society and the Brussels development community at large. Read More | Brussels Briefing 23

‘High-level Brussels Briefing shows ways to combat food price volatility’, bilaterals.org
2/12/2011

The new Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) was one of the key items discussed at a Brussels Briefing on Food Price Volatility on 30 November. The Briefing brought together 170 actors from international organisations, ACP embassies, the European Commission, African farmers’ representations and civil society. In two panels, the Briefing debated the causes of food price volatility and presented a set of policy recommendations that can improve food security in ACP countries. Hafez Ghanem, assistant director-general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), presented the AMIS, recently endorsed by the G20 summit in October and located within the FAO. AMIS is tasked to improve agricultural market information and provide market development forecasts at national and international level. “It will produce regular reports on the international food market situation, not only for UN member states but as a public good for all,” Ghanem stressed. Read More Brussels Briefing 25


2008

‘Hon Waven William, MNA for Grand Anse-Mahé, at CTA Brussels Rural Development Briefing on New Players and New Drivers in ACP Rural Development’, Seychelles Embassy, Brussels
03/07/2008

The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (ACP-EU) – held its 6th Brussels Briefing on 2nd July 2008 on the theme of “New Players, New Drivers in ACP Rural Development”. Hon Waven William, invited in his capacity as Seychelles Representative to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) and Co-Rapporteur for the JPA’s report on “Effectiveness of Aid and Definition of Public Development Aid”, participated as the Discussant for the third panel of the day. Read More | Brussels Briefing 6

 

 

 

Neither CTA, the European Commission, the ACP, Concord nor any other co-organiser of the Brussels Development Briefings accept any responsibility for the content and materials hosted on the websites of third parties. The views expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the organisers of the Brussels Development Briefings.

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