The 2030 agenda looms closer, reminding the world that many global goals remain unmet, demanding a shift in perspective and urgency. The Tropical Summit, held at the Lisbon Congress Center from November 4 to 8, 2024, brought together visionary leaders, innovators, and advocates dedicated to redefining pathways for sustainable development in the tropics, with an agenda packed with high-level interventions, thematic sessions, and dynamic networking opportunities.
The Summit aimed to craft innovative, actionable solutions to address critical issues in planetary health, agricultural sustainability, resilient societal transitions, and human empowerment. With a focus on partnerships across Asia, Africa, and South America, speakers highlighted the urgent need for sustainable solutions to address economic instability, health crises, and environmental challenges exacerbated by climate change. Dr. Bongiwe Njobe, FARA Board Chair, opened the summit by emphasizing the importance of translating analysis into action. "The tropics face some of the world’s most severe challenges. Action must follow analysis to drive real change," she said, outlining FARA's commitment to cross-continental partnerships, innovative food systems, and the 2030 Agenda.
The summit's unique approach combined geographic focus with multi-thematic, multi-sectoral, and innovative initiatives aimed at resilience and food security in the tropics. Portugal’s Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, reinforced the call for action, noting that climate-related events such as fires and floods are intensifying. She stressed the need for a green transition supported by global collaboration and capacity-building, stating, "Only by fighting climate change together can we build a sustainable future."
The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), in collaboration with key partners including CORAF, CCARDESA, RUFORUM, the EU Joint Research Centre at the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research JRC-ISPRA, Agroecology Transformative Partnership Platform (AE-TPP), and IFAD, hosted an impactful parallel session titled "Catalyzing Agroecological Transitions in the Tropics in the Context of Climate Change" during the inaugural Tropical Summit on November 5 and 6, 2024, during the summit.
This session brought together high-profile attendees, including FARA Board Chair Ms. Bongiwe Njobe and FARA Executive Director Dr. Aggrey Agumya, alongside other prominent figures, including the Executive Director of CCARDESA, Prof. Cliff Dlamini, the interim Executive Director of ASARECA, Dr. Dickson Baguma, and Dr. Emmanuel Njukwe who represented the Executive Director f CORAF. Dr. Agumya highlighted a critical gap in the current CAADP strategy in his welcome address. He noted that agroecology remains underrepresented and called on the scientific community to advocate more assertively for agroecological transitions.
Echoing this sentiment, The European Commission’s Dr. Guy Faure presented on agroecology’s role in building food security and resilient agri-food systems. "Agroecology is a critical pathway toward nutrition and sustainability," underscoring the need for market access innovations and region-specific adaptations. The session featured insightful presentations by prominent researchers Prof. Rachel Wynberg of the University of Cape Town and Dr. Marc Corbeels from CIRAD/IITA, who emphasized the vital role of agroecology in addressing climate resilience, policy integration, and the need for institutional support. Prof. Wynberg’s presentation, “The Necessity of Supporting Agroecology in the Tropics: Research, Policy, and Practice,” and Dr. Corbeels' talk on "Agroecology as a Key Approach to Climate Resilience," offered practical insights and examples from African regions where agroecology has shown promise but faces economic and policy hurdles.
A dynamic Q&A session, engaging both in-person and online participants, sparked thought-provoking discussions on scaling agroecology and understanding its return on investment—two pressing questions central to agroecological advancement. Dr. Irene Kadzere-Forichi, from the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), highlighted the long-term benefits of organic farming, noting that while conventional farming’s yields start higher, organic methods eventually surpass them due to improved soil fertility and resilience. She indicated that although organic farming is labor-intensive, it yields promising results, especially with market access, as seen with high yields in macadamia and nuts. Practices like water harvesting, agroforestry, and crop diversity support food security and soil health, especially in areas like the Sahel. Dr. Ireen underscored the need for funding in agroecology research to realize its potential and fully demonstrate its impact.
Dr. Alex O. Awiti, Principal Scientist at CIFOR-ICRAF, emphasized the need for evidence-based solutions in African agriculture, noting that biodiversity enhances drought resistance but that research often focuses too narrowly on single practices without adequate data for context. He further underscored the need for capacity building for researchers on the continent to communicate their thoughts and research outputs to policymakers effectively. He advocated for supporting farmers in reintroducing livestock to improve soil health and called for clear communication of agroecology's economic benefits to persuade policymakers.
Highlighting limited funding, Dr. Felix Rembold of the JRC stressed the urgency of training African academicians to produce relevant research that guides policy, concluding that "African problems need African solutions" grounded in robust, contextual science. Fathiya Khamis of ICEPE stressed the need to build the capacity of farmers and extension agents and further promote partnerships towards adopting agroecological practices in Africa.
Dr. Baitsi Podisi, CAADP-XP4 Coordinator, speaking on behalf of Prof. Cliff Dlamini, called for policy alignment and greater investment in agroecology to ensure food security in the tropics. "Our soils, biodiversity, and the health of our communities depend on the solutions we commit from here," he said, rallying participants to transform ideas into action.
At the summit's closing ceremony, FARA Executive Director Dr Aggrey Agumya said, "Our destinies are linked with the tropics, and through this summit, our commitment to these connections has been strengthened. He explained that FARA’s work is supported by CCARDESA, ASARECA, CORAF, and AFAAS, each of which plays a key role in advancing resilient food systems in the tropics. He committed by saying that this biannual Tropical Summit will next be hosted in Africa, where tangible outcomes from the discussions of the 2024 summit would be presented. To ensure progress, an interim steering committee chaired by FARA and co-chaired by the University of Lisbon, with the University of Campinas, the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI), FAO, and the African Development Bank as members was proposed. As the Tropical Summit concludes, it leaves behind a bold Call to Action—a mandate to mobilize resources, reshape strategies, and foster alliances across South-South-North networks.
The Summit created a unified platform for knowledge exchange, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration across sectors, charting a new course toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. With these solutions in motion, the progress made will be reviewed in future gatherings, ensuring that the transformative ideas born at this Summit continue driving tangible change up to and beyond the 2030 deadline. The summit concluded with a shared vision for sustainable development and resilience in tropical regions, setting a collaborative path toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and a greener future.
