Online Reporter
Sifelani Tsiko
Fact Check Editor
INNOVATION is critical for addressing gaps in the implementation of the country’s food systems and for unlocking the potential to tackle nature and climate crises, a senior Government official has said.
Professor Fanuel Tagwira, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, said this at a Food Innovation Conference in Harare recently.
He said there was a need for rigorous approaches to identify the right innovations to deliver the right impact for the attainment of Vision 2030, NDS2 and UN sustainable development goals on food security and climate action.
“The Food Innovation Conference is far more than a forum for discussion, it is a crucible where ideas are refined and solutions to the growing challenges of feeding the world are engineered,” he said.
The world’s population will increase by one billion in the next five years, and there will be a need for capacity to produce 50 percent more food to feed the world by 2050.
Prof Tagwira said the world was now confronted by global challenges such as climate change, a growing population and the depletion of natural resources.
Food production, he said, was directly affected by critical resources such as land and infrastructure, which are increasingly being threatened by climate shocks and natural disasters.
“There is a compelling urgency to transform our food systems through innovative approaches, so that we can maximise the available resources to benefit humanity,” Prof Tagwira said.
“Thus, the global value of our work here over the next three days is both significant and well-timed.”
The conference is being held under the theme: “Sustainable Food Innovative Approaches for the Future.”
“As the demand for food rises, we as researchers and innovators are best placed to devise transformative practices and technologies that ensure food security, environmental stewardship and resource efficiency,” he said.
“Our collaborative ability to achieve this will contribute towards the creation of a healthier, more resilient and more sustainable food system.”
By harnessing science, technology and innovation as well as creating new commercial opportunities, he said, researchers could drive agricultural productivity, food security and inclusive economic growth.
Innovation, Prof Tagwira further said, was key in the attainment of NDS2 and building an innovation-led and knowledge-based economy.
President Mnangagwa says the future of Zimbabwe must be anchored on innovation, science and technology development.
The Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) is hosting this conference, which has attracted various government agencies, companies, universities, food safety and standard regulators, as well as researchers.
Speaking at the same event, HIT Vice Chancellor Prof Quinton Kanhukamwe said innovation by researchers was critical to develop, incubate, transfer, and commercialise technology for rapid national industrialisation.
The conference, he said, should act as a catalyst for partnerships, new business creation, innovation, and a platform for developing practical solutions for sustainable food systems that will shape the future of what people eat and support Zimbabwe’s development goals.
“Food systems are complex, and our responses must address this complexity to effectively serve our people,” Prof Kanhukamwe said.
“I urge you all to prioritise practical application. Research should extend beyond the laboratory and the theoretical to include pilot plants and markets, ultimately translating into commercial ventures.”
The conference will explore key drivers that lead to successful food innovation, obstacles and challenges that need to be overcome.
Discussions will centre around key challenges in food innovation – climate change, sustainable natural resource management, agricultural productivity and soil health.
Last year, Zimbabwe launched its Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy (2026–2030) that aims to enhance food sovereignty, modernisation, and sustainable agriculture.
The policy aims for a billion-dollar agriculture industry by promoting climate-smart practices, value addition, and agro-processing investments.
