Over 50 African countries attend inaugural African Chef Gathering meet

Muchaneta Chimuka in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

AGROECOLOGICAL entrepreneurship and territorial markets are transforming local food systems in Africa and agriculture experts are calling for harmonisation of policies to achieve food sovereignty.

Speaking at the first ever African Chefs Gathering and Policy Convening on African Food System hosted by the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia today, the country’s Minister of Planning and Development Fitsum Asefa Andela said food is not only there for nourishment, but a symbol of culture, community, and identity.

The conference was held under the theme: “My Food is African: Chefs and Changemakers Shaping Food Futures” and it has united farmers, chefs, policymakers, grassroots leaders, and advocates, who support the future of food in Africa.

She said Ethiopia is a land of rich agricultural heritage, where farming is not just an economic activity but a way of life and they are known for growing coffee, wheat, fruits and vegetables.

“Most of our population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods. Our food systems nourish our people, shape our culture, and drive our economy,” she said.

“Yet, they are increasingly under threat—from erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, land degradation, and the growing unpredictability of climate shocks.

“The climate crisis is no longer a distant concern—it is here, affecting our harvests, our livestock, and the very plates of our families.

“But this challenge also presents an opportunity: to transform our food systems into resilience, sustainability, and equity.”

She said the government of Ethiopia has been implementing various policies and strategies for enhancing the effective Implementation of Climate Change Adaptation and mitigation actions.

“Our government, along with various stakeholders, has taken proactive measures to address the vulnerabilities, build resilience, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at different levels,” she said..

“We have Climate Resilient Strategy, National Adaptation Plan, Nationally Determined Contribution, Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy, other related guidelines, implementation manuals and adaptation and mitigation interventions; these policies and legal frameworks have laid the foundation for a comprehensive response to the impacts of climate change.”

Minister Fitsum Assefa Adela said that Ethiopia is committed to reforestation and landscape restoration through initiatives like the Green Legacy Initiative and is determined to combat climate change and to protect the ecosystem.

“These efforts not only contribute to carbon sequestration but also provide multiple benefits such as job creation, watershed management, and biodiversity conservation,” she said.

“We have also been working on aligning food systems transformation with Climate Policy actions. This means investing in climate-smart agriculture, restoring degraded lands, empowering smallholder farmers—especially women and youth—and promoting sustainable consumption.”

Mr Theophilus Mudzindiko, the country coordinator for Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Zimbabwe, urged the media to rewrite the narrative, amplifying authentic African voices and showcasing the transformative potential of agroecology and territorial markets for economic benefits.

He narrated the challenges that Zimbabwean farmers face in the wake of climate change and how they overcome them through practising agroecology.

“Agroecology and territorial markets offer a real alternative to industrial agriculture, which often marginalises African farmers and ecosystems,” he said.

“Yet despite growing evidence of their benefits, many countries still lack the policy frameworks to fully support them.”

He underscored the harmful influence of multinational corporations that dominate seed and chemical markets across Africa.

“If Africa is to achieve real food security, it must strengthen its capacity to produce and distribute indigenous seeds and crops,” he said.

He said traditional seeds are very good due to their adaptability to local environments and sustainability in markets.

Zororo Taruvinga, a chef and founder for ZoroNemugoti from Zimbabwe, said agroecology offers numerous benefits, which include improved food security, small-scale farmers’ empowerment and employment creation.

The conference has drawn participants from 50 African countries, and it ends this Friday. Meanwhile, Ethiopia is going to hold the Africa Climate Week from September 1 – 6 this year and the Africa Summit 2 on September 8 to 10, respectively.