Building on 60 Years of Science to Advance Africa’s Agrifood Systems Transformation
60 Years. One Mission.
A Future to Transform.
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), in collaboration with CGIAR, will organize an international conference from 29 June to 2 July 2027 in Livingstone, Zambia, to mark 60 years of science and partnerships. In 1967,
IITA set out to help transform Africa’s food systems through science. This Conference marks that milestone by bringing together six decades of scientific achievement and asking what the next generation of science must deliver.
The Conference speaks directly to the strategic priorities of the CGIAR Africa 2045 Strategy— ensuring its conclusions feed straight into Africa’s own agenda for transformation. It will serve as a high-level platform to showcase innovations, foster partnerships, and advance solutions for transforming Africa’s agrifood systems. The event is expected to bring together 400-500 distinguished participants, including senior policymakers, research leaders, development partners, farmer organizations, and representatives from international organizations.
Conference Themes
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What to expect
- Themed plenaries introduced by globally recognized keynote speakers, with presentations from IITA and relevant CGIAR Programs
- Poster sessions with targeted engagement of young scientists
- A strategy workshop charting future science priorities for the CGIAR Africa 2045 Strategy
- A spouse program featuring the touristic and cultural highlights of Livingstone
Expected outputs
- A special issue of a top journal
- A book of proceedings and a workshop report
- New partnerships between IITA, CGIAR, national systems, and advanced research institutes