By Hassan Wekesa - Editor
Rwanda, 4 September 2026 - Kenyan delegations joined other stakeholders at the 20th edition of Africa Food Systems Forum 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda, to discuss ways of improving agriculture and strengthening food systems across Africa.
The four-day forum, which began on 1 September 2026, concluded on Friday, 4 September with key take away of localising African solutions to African problems.
Panel discussions focused on reinforcing food systems and empowering farmers throughout the continent.
Technology, including generative AI, featured prominently in the talks.
Experts stressed the need to change the current situation in which only 10% of extension officers’ data is utilised, while many non-governmental organisations working to support farmers are excluded from government planning across Africa.
They called for greater investment in advisory services, action to overcome fragmented data, and the creation of a unified infrastructure that would help farmers achieve higher yields and better production.
On Thursday, Kenyan delegation was hosted at the Kenya High Commission in Rwanda.
Principal Secretary for the State Department for Cooperatives in the Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development, Patrick Kilemi, together with Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka and their delegation, were hosted in Kigali by Ambassador Janet Mwawasi Oben upon their arrival for the forum.
Also on Thursday, Rwandan President Paul Kagame led the Presidential Summit at the AFS Forum 2026, where he engaged with young people from across Africa.
He expressed pleasure at witnessing the intergenerational dialogue and the lessons the youth were drawing about transforming their continent.
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During the Friday session, participants heard insightful messages on how decisions about food choices are made beyond Africa.
At this high-level summit, Paul Gulleik Larsen, Special Envoy and Ambassador-at-Large for International Climate and Food Security Initiatives at Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shared measures that his government and stakeholders have implemented to support informed food choices in his country.
Ambassador Larsen is actively participating alongside African ministers and global leaders to discuss critical funding, climate resilience, and strategies for building sustainable, shock-resistant food systems across the continent.
“Africa can draw some lessons from what we do in Norway,” Larsen stated.
He explained that Norway has adopted a whole-of-government policy to promote rational choices about the food its citizens consume.
The country encourages a healthy, balanced diet, advising citizens against excessive meat consumption and instead promoting vegetables, grains, and healthy proteins.
It also enforces strict age restrictions on certain beverages and foods deemed unsuitable for specific age groups, enforced through clear packaging labels.
Acknowledging that healthy food can be expensive, Larsen noted that the Norwegian government has introduced tax exemptions for certain food categories to encourage production and provides subsidies where possible.