August 14, 2018
Sustainability

Advancing Kenya's Food Security Agenda – BASF’s Food Innovation Cluster Stakeholder Workshop

August 14, 2018

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Leah Kaguara - GAIN Country Director, on malnutrition and the food value chain.

BASF, one of the world’s leading chemical companies, brought together stakeholders in the food value chain in a workshop aimed at enhancing cooperation to address challenges in the food value chain. The partnerships will focus on contributing to the United Nations’ Sustainability Develoment Goals (SDGs) (2) zero hunger, (3) good health and wellbeing, (12) responsible consumption and production and (17) partnership for the goals. The deliberations will also help advance the government’s food security agenda.

The UN estimates that the world population will increase to 10 billion by 2050 - half of which will come from Africa. The population increase will not only have an environmental impact but also affect social issues. Chemistry as a key industry will play a pivotal role providing sustainable solutions for the challenges that arise from three major areas in “resources, environment and climate,” “food and nutrition” and “quality of life.”

Food security is a global challenge that requires a multi-stakeholder approach to enhance dialogue and build capacity to address the challenges. Stakeholders need to invest in the food value chain to ensure food security. With this workshop, information will be shared, best practices learnt and replicated in order to ensure we are producing food in a sustainable manner to feed the growing population.

According to Juliana Rotich, BASF’s Country Cluster Head for East Africa, “The key to ensuring food security lies in public-private partnerships. Innovations will impact how the world will feed the growing population amidst decreasing natural resources, soil degradation and climate change. The government, private sector and international organisations need to collaborate to ensure sustainable food security. These stakeholders should work together to produce multi-faceted solutions”.

“From the production, processing, storage and transportation of food, improvements need to happen to ensure food safety and quality during processing and ensure minimum waste. At BASF, we are working with stakeholders along the food value chain to provide innovative products and solutions to ensure high yields during production; food fortification ingredients to enhance nutrition value of food and cold chain solutions to address food wasteage”, added Andreas Bluethner, Director Food Fortification and Partnerships at BASF.

Participants, drawn from different sectors – government, international organisations and private sector, will combine diverse skills, backgrounds and expertise to provide innovative approaches to strengthen the local food value chain and, in turn, support the Government’s Big Four Agenda on Food Security.

BASF’s Food Fortification Initiative is a shared value business, that offers innovative product solutions, technical assistance and scientific capacities to contribute reducing micronutrient deficiencies. BASF works in over 40 countries by supporting multi-stakeholder alliances and public-private partnerships jointly striving towards sustainable nutritional improvements and a positive social impact.

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Birgit Hellmann
Global Sustainability Communications
Last Update August 14, 2018