Events

What happens if we can no longer grow our own food? It may sound unthinkable, but the power to grow our own food is under threat. Across Eastern Africa, climate change, biodiversity loss, changing farming systems, and restrictive policies are putting pressure on the Indigenous seeds, local livestock breeds, and traditional knowledge systems that have sustained communities for generations. Our food systems are built on diversity. The seeds farmers save, the breeds they conserve, and the knowledge they pass from one generation to another are the foundation of resilience, culture, and food sovereignty. When communities lose the ability to control these resources, we risk losing not only biodiversity, but also the power to determine what we grow, what we eat, and how we feed future generations. For over a decade, Seed Savers Network (SeedSavers) has worked alongside farming communities to protect this power; conserving Indigenous seeds, strengthening community seed systems, promoting agroecology, and advocating for farmers' rights. Today, SeedSavers works with more than 120,000 farmers and established 125 community seed banks, alongside communities. Building on this experience, SeedSavers is convening the 1st Eastern Africa Indigenous Seed Conference, taking place from 17–20 November 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme "Realizing […]

The fourth edition of the European Mission Soil Week will take place in Ireland, hosted by Teagasc and the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU. The event will bring together policymakers, researchers, farmers, land managers, financial institutions, businesses, philanthropic organisations and citizens, to share knowledge and explore challenges and solutions for sustainable soil management. Through sessions, exhibition stands and networking, it will foster collaboration, large-scale innovation and promote the implementation of the Mission Soil across Europe. The event will be hybrid. Stay tuned for further information!

Connecting knowledge. Driving innovation From November 23 to November 27 the International campus of CIHEAM Bari in Valenzano fill with languages, accents and stories arriving from every shore of the Mediterranean and much of Africa. Startups and young entrepreneurs will pitch their ideas to international investors, while researchers, businesses, international organizations and policy makers will meet to exchange knowledge, build partnerships and strengthen innovation ecosystems. Major international organisations  and policy makers discussing strategies and policies to strengthen innovation ecosystems. This is MIAW  2026 — the Mediterranean Innovation Agrifood Week — the international platform CIHEAM Bari dedicates to innovation and youth entrepreneurship in the agrifood sector, across the Mediterranean and Africa.