Agnes Kalibata

"We need to make sure that the market is available, to make agriculture attractive. And I think that’s the biggest gap to date that we see. With a good market, people will invest in research, in improving the sector. In getting better yields. But the market has to pay."

"this is the time to strengthen the resilience that already exists amongst us including regeneration capacity, community social safety nets, diversified food and income sources."

"Africa is a diverse continent with multiple ecological zones and profiles, cultures, farming systems and people. Embracing this diversity through the use and integration of Indigenous knowledge, generating and using context-specific evidence to design and implement programs, is key to ensuring we have sustainable food systems and would ensure greater success of the future food system."

"Improving availability of technologies and functional markets for Africa’s women can be a game changer given that women are involved in the production of ~70% of Africa’s food! Inclusion of women in more equitable ways – in the way they access, use and benefit from improved technologies – has huge potential to stabilize and build resilience in our food systems."

"“the UN’s Food Systems Chief, on How Science Can Transform Farming to Help Save the Planet”"

"“The key to Africa’s prosperity? Cultivating ‘agropreneurs’”"

"Africa improved food is now purchasing from over 350,000 farmers…that’s the signal you want because that farmer will go and purchase seed, that means businesses like seed companies will survive.”"

"Most countries that do a lot of first-class agriculture put huge subsidies on the agricultural sector in a way that makes it possible for people to do farming.” And: “The reason young people don’t want to get (into agriculture) is because it is not paying. They will not go into anything that doesn’t pay.”"

"“Climate change is quickly becoming the most significant challenge facing our planet, and I am committed to working with other partners and stakeholders to address this critical issue."

"Because we’re a small institution and we don’t have a whole lot of money, we focus on trying to be catalytic.”"

"“Agriculture is how I got here. Agriculture sustained my family, but it was not about food. It got my family out of poverty.”"

"“Be prepared to work hard but also be prepared to do the hard stuff.”"

"“We need to make sure that the market is available, to make agriculture attractive. And I think that’s the biggest gap to date that we see. With a good market, people will invest in research, in improving the sector. In getting better yields. But the market has to pay.” Agra Food Systems"

"Africa’s food systems have become fragile because they are highly vulnerable to climate change and, as a result, to all sorts of shocks."

"“Women will perform as well as men if they are given the right education, incentives, access to financing, property and land. … Empowering women is empowering a nation.”"

"I reflect with immense pride on our transformative journey over the past ten years"