By Lindsey Chang
On June 12, 2024, Margaret McNamara Education Grants (MMEG) hosted a panel discussion at the World Bank on the impact of climate change on food security. This event highlighted the groundbreaking work of three MMEG grantees: Easther Chigumira (2013), from Zimbabwe, Lilian Elekwachi (2020), from Nigeria, and Isabel Madzorera (2005), from Zimbabwe. These remarkable women shared their research and personal experiences, emphasizing the critical role of education and innovation in addressing the global food security challenges posed by climate change.
Holger Kray, an agricultural economist with extensive expertise in agricultural policy and climate-smart practices, set the stage for a compelling discussion. He introduced the panelists, three outstanding MMEG grantees whose work exemplifies the power of education and innovation.
Discussion Highlights: Innovation, Resilience, and Policy
The panel explored several vital topics, illustrating the importance of innovative solutions and resilience in the face of climate change. Key areas of discussion included:
Innovation in food systems: Isabel Madzorera, a nutritional epidemiologist, discussed the broken state of food systems, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. She emphasized the need for technical expertise and funding to bridge the gap between climate data and nutritional outcomes. Isabel's research sheds light on how climate change affects food production and nutritional quality, highlighting the importance of innovative approaches to improve food security.
Resilient technologies: Lilian Elekwachi, a researcher and sustainable aquaculturist, shared her journey of developing a hybrid fish smoking technology. This innovation addresses health hazards, environmental degradation, and inefficiency associated with traditional fish smoking methods. By significantly reducing the smoking process and enhancing food safety, Lilian's work exemplifies the resilience needed to adapt to climate change's impact on food systems.
Policy and agricultural transformation: Easther Chigumira, a geographer and policy advisor, presented an overview of Zimbabwe's climate challenges, focusing on how frequent droughts and extreme weather events affect food security and economic growth. She highlighted the success of digital climate advisory services in reaching thousands of farmers and boosting their yields. Easther stressed the importance of partnerships and knowledge sharing to scale effective solutions, demonstrating the vital role of policy in agricultural transformation.
Closing Remarks
In his closing remarks, Anup Jagwani, Senior Global Sector Manager for Agribusiness and Forestry at the IFC, reflected on the theme of resilience, sharing personal anecdotes and highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships in addressing agrifood sector challenges. Anup praised MMEG for supporting champions in their fields and reaffirmed the commitment of the World Bank and IFC to scaling up successful agricultural technologies.
The event underscored the transformative impact of MMEG grantees, showcasing how these exceptional women are driving change and creating a more resilient and food-secure future. The discussion concluded with optimism and determination to continue the vital work of addressing climate change and its effects on food security.
MMEG Talks are organized by MMEG board member Priscilla Linn, who welcomes suggestions for future MMEG Talks topics.
Watch the whole Talk here:
