By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa, Umoja Standard.
Kampala, Uganda: The three day, (28th – 30th October, 2025) International Conference and Training Workshop on Food Systems Transformation for Climate Actions (ICTW-FSTCA 2025) is Organized Under COMSTECH Forum on Environment and Ecosystem Restoration (CFEER), by OIC-COMSTECH, and ICESCO, in collaboration with Makerere University, Uganda.
Officiating at the opening, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor Makerere University started with a question, ‘how will we feed all these people? We continue to hear proclamations about Africa having the capacity to feed the whole world, yet at the same time, most of our countries are net importers of food. What a discrepancy!?
“If we are importing food when Africa’s population is only 1.3 billion, what will happen when this population passes the 2 billion mark in just a few years to come? How have our countries prepared for this potential catastrophe?” he questioned.
He relieved that the answer is in research and high-quality training. He noted, “We have strategized to be a research-intensive university. We believe that the only solution to these challenges is innovation, business incubation, and wealth creation,”
He stressed, their intention is to change the mindset of the youth to be innovative and entrepreneurial in agriculture. The solutions to the anticipated problems are within the youthful population stressing a need to harness the potential that lies therein.
On his part, Dr. Alex Bambona the Assistant Commissioner Food and Social Security at the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) stressed that Uganda is very endowed, however cited under utilization of this endowment to our advantage steming from inadequate capacity to use science and technology to transform the country.
He also cited climate change as a key external driver that negatively impacts the environment, however revealed that they have identified irrigation and mechanization as key areas of focus, and have made progress in integrating climate-smart approaches into national development plan.
“Uganda has completely integrated a food system transformation agenda within its planning framework. The key in that agenda is climate-smart agriculture production, climate-smart agriculture transformation,” he revealed.
He hoped that workshop will foster enhancement of climate-smart technologies and go a longer way in taming climate change.
Relatedly, Ms. Angella Atukunda, who represented the Secretary General of Uganda National Commission for UNESCO and ICESCO, emphasized the critical need for food systems transformation to address climate change.
She noted that “the theme of today, food systems transformation for climate action, is not only relevant but critically urgent, especially in Africa, where the impacts of climate change are already deeply affecting food and nutrition systems.”
She highlighted that globally, food systems are responsible for nearly one-third of greenhouse gas emissions, and without urgent reform, efforts to limit global warming will fall short.
Uganda National Commission for UNESCO and ICESCO plays a key role in aligning international frameworks with Uganda’s national development priorities, and supports the implementation of UNESCO and ICESCO programs in areas like science, innovation, and education reform.
She observed the importance of developing homegrown solutions rooted in science, indigenous knowledge, innovation, and inclusive governance, and noted that “proven strategies already exist from climate-smart agriculture to circular food systems, and digital tools that connect farmers with markets and real-time climate data.”
Elsewhere, H.E. Muhammad Hassan Wazir, High Commissioner of Pakistan to Uganda, affirmed the reality of climate change, citing Pakistan’s recent experiences with devastating floods, cloud bursts, and glacier melting, which affected one-third of the country and led to severe food system imbalances. He noted that Uganda is also vulnerable to climate change impacts.
Stressing the need for global cooperation, he said, “while this is a global issue, the solutions are often found in strong bilateral and multilateral partnerships, citing Africa’s Policy that aims to strengthen economic and investment ties with African countries, particularly in agriculture.
He commended Uganda’s progress in infrastructure development, industrialization, and economic stability under President Yoweri Museveni’s leadership, seeing opportunities for partnership.
He revealed, Pakistan is ready to collaborate in agro-processing, water-saving irrigation technologies, and climate-resilient crops, and proposes joint ventures, capacity building initiatives, and specialized training programs.
The conference featured a keynote address on the ‘Need for Sustainable Transformation of the Food Systems from An African Perspective’ by Dr. Logan Cochrane.
Dr. Cochrane observed the importance of understanding global trends and challenges facing food systems, stating, “Food systems do not exist in isolation. We need to pay attention to what’s happening globally, to be able to adjust our food systems and transform accordingly.”
He identified five major challenges: rapid transformation of global food systems, rise of conflict, demographic changes, climate change pressures, and changing food consumption patterns. He noted, “We have a much riskier global food system because of its interconnectedness.”
Despite these challenges, Dr. Cochrane highlighted seven opportunities for transformation, including: sustainable production, trade, government enabling environments, efficiency, social protection, safe and nutritious food systems, and making agriculture “cool” and circular. He stressed the need for locally relevant crops, irrigation systems, road networks, and food reserve systems.
Reacting on the keynote address, the panelists stressed the need for a holistic approach to transforming food systems, prioritizing sustainability, innovation, and collaboration.
They cited key areas of focus, including integrating agroecology, adopting climate-smart production practices, reducing food loss, and promoting youth engagement and capacity building. The importance of value chain strengthening, research and innovation, and private sector engagement was also stressed.
Examples of initiatives and projects underway, such as the Grain Council of Uganda’s self-regulation codes of conduct and Makerere University’s research and innovation programs, demonstrated the potential for collective action to drive meaningful change in food systems and achieve a more sustainable and food-secure future.
The conference and workshop continues today and tomorrow.
