Exploring the Global Bioeconomy Summit 2024
Innovations for food security, climate resilience, and inclusive growth in Africa

In early October 2024, the Global Bioeconomy Summit brought together industry leaders, policymakers, innovators, and civil society at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, with one overarching goal: advancing sustainable, inclusive food systems. Welthungerhilfe (WHH) was honored to join this forum as it aligns closely with our mission to foster sustainable solutions for hunger and poverty. The summit emphasized innovative approaches to bioeconomy, highlighting why our focus on food security, compostable products, and sustainable agricultural inputs is vital for a healthy, thriving world.

Sustainable bioeconomy solutions are critical for decarbonizing economies, building resilient food systems, and creating opportunities for youth engagement. Through innovation and collaboration, we can drive the change the world urgently needs.
Amb. Ertharin Cousin CEO of Food Systems for the FutureBioeconomy is a pathway to provide access to food while preserving the environment
Participating in the Global Bioeconomy Summit underscores the link between our goals and those of global bioeconomy leaders. As WHH CEO Mathias Mogge emphasized, creating a world where everyone has access to healthy, nutritious food is foundational. Bioeconomy isn't just a concept but a pathway to provide equitable access to food while preserving the environment. This summit united stakeholders to discuss innovations in agriculture, energy, and sustainable development – all crucial in reducing hunger and supporting resilient economies.

Key Takeaways: Innovation, Collaboration, and Inclusive Solutions
What will resonate beyond this summit is a strengthened commitment to innovation as a tool for progress. Here are some standout lessons and insights:
- Innovation as a Catalyst: The summit reinforced that addressing food insecurity and environmental sustainability is possible when innovation is prioritized. Dr. Lengerich’s endorsement of WHH's innovation labs and his call for actionable ideas reaffirm that solution-driven innovations are the future.
- Unity in Diversity: From North to South Africa, the challenges of food security are shared, yet every region brings unique experiences and solutions. This unity in diversity underlines the importance of platforms like the summit that allow for cross-pollination of ideas across continents.
- Empowering Smallholder Farmers: Summit discussions underscored the necessity of educating and supporting farmers, who form the backbone of food security. This involves bridging market access gaps, promoting digital tools for e-commerce, and encouraging AI-driven solutions to streamline food distribution.

As we rethink plant nutrition, it’s essential to redesign the entire food system to align with nature’s cycles, building a more sustainable, efficient, and resilient future.
Vikash Abraham Chief Strategy Officer, Naandi FoundationDuring interactive sessions, participants divided into groups to dissect specific challenges facing Africa’s bioeconomy. Each group brought forward actionable solutions across farming, processing, nutrition, and clean energy.

- Farming: Limited market access remains a key challenge for farmers. Leveraging digital platforms like social media and AI-powered e-commerce emerged as effective solutions for connecting farmers directly to buyers. To strengthen the farming value chain, partnerships that finance market-led production are important.
- Processing: The role of processing in scaling market opportunities is essential. We need concessional funding and partnerships with academia to drive food innovations, as well as technical assistance to avoid one-size-fits-all approaches. Establishing stronger linkages between academia and processors could unleash more innovations from research shelves into market solutions.
- Nutrition Security: Simple technologies like ready-to-cook foods that cater to modern lifestyles could tackle consumer behavior challenges. Culturally tailored approaches in promoting nutritious diets across Kenya's diverse communities could contribute to equitable access to safe and nutritious food. Enhanced consumer awareness and policies for affordable fortification are also pivotal steps to foster nutrition security.
- Systemic Issues in Food Systems: Recommended solutions for stabilizing supply chains include investments in rural infrastructure, especially cold storage, to reduce post-harvest losses. Digital technologies, clean energy adoption, and strategic public-private partnerships are foundational to creating resilient supply chains.
- Clean Energy and Environmental Impact: Addressing the energy and environmental aspects of food systems, we need affordable, low-cost technologies to facilitate sustainability at the local level. The importance of integrating environmental considerations into bioeconomy solutions is a key takeaway.
Concluding Reflections
The 2024 Global Bioeconomy Summit left us with not only actionable insights but a renewed commitment to fostering partnerships that catalyze sustainable food systems. Through initiatives like WHH’s Innolab, we are more motivated than ever to support innovative solutions that contribute to food security, community empowerment, and climate resilience.