Organised by the European Commission, the European Development Days (EDD) bring the development community together each year to share ideas and experiences in ways that inspire new partnerships and innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
The Commission through OCP Group has invited Zenvus to EDD 2017 which will hold in Brussels June 7-8 2017.
The EDD is Europe’s leading forum on international cooperation and development. EDD 2017 will promote a new global strategy to address the most pressing current global development challenges and bring together development actors committed to tackling poverty worldwide with a particular emphasis on engaging the private sector as a partner in economic development. The private sector’s role in international development policies will be discussed and spotlighted throughout the forum. Overarching objectives of the private sector engagement include the promotion of inclusive growth and the creation of decent jobs in particular for women and youth, which leads to improved living conditions.
PARTNERING WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR
This session will seek to stimulate a discussion about the importance of bringing EU and pan-African agriculture into the third millennium and address how “farming 2.0” innovation can improve food security and boost youth employment in a sector which has recently faced skills shortages and abandonment. It will look at how technology driven farming can play a key role in agricultural development over the coming decades to ensure that we can feed the world, given that by 2050 the global population will surpass 9.5 billion and will require 50 to 70 % more agricultural output to secure food for everyone.
In this context, technology- driven farming can help sustain a growing population while simultaneously sustainably increasing agricultural production. By examining the sector from both African and European perspectives, the debate will look to strengthen EU-Africa relations and develop potential private sector partnerships.
The session will also highlight the success of innovative African agricultural start-ups to explore how achievements in sustainable African farming can be leveraged to improve agricultural practices throughout the African continent.
Ultimately, the session will call on EU member states and African countries to promote policies which support the development of agricultural technology, improve sustainability, and encourage the involvement of young farmers.
Zenvus Founder, Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe, will be speaking in this session, alongside other leaders.
Zenvus
Zenvus is a precision agtech company that uses sensors and big data analytics to improve farm yields.
