WORLD FOOD DAY
WEBINAR
The 2020 World Food Day Celebration Webinar hosted by the Network of Organic Agriculture Researchers in Africa (NOARA) on the 16th of October, 2020 started about 9:02 GMT with an opening address by Prof. Nkiru T Meludu, NOARA Board of Trustees Chairperson. She welcomed all members and admonished members to eat healthy and make use of food as medicine and not otherwise. A brief introduction about NOARA and purpose of the program was presented by NOARA Program Officer, Oluwatoyin Ologundudu after which the Introduction of Guest Speakers and NOARA Board Members was done by Dr Irene Kadzere of Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Switzerland. The first presentation on Understanding Organic Agriculture (OA) Principles and Practices was done by NOARA Coordinator, Dr. Olugbenga O. AdeOluwa where he emphasized research as the bedrock of knowledge and the development of OA globally and in Africa. He thereafter reiterated the definition, principles, components, and peculiarities of OA.
The second presentation on Understanding Organic Agriculture Research was done by Prof. Dr. Gerold Rahmann, President of International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR). He emphasized on organic agriculture research in Germany and Africa, characteristics of an ideal organic farm as well as the relevance of organic research and way forward. The Question and Answer segment was anchored by Dr Irene Kadzere who read some of the questions posted on the chat segment and also encouraged some other participants to direct their questions to the presenters which were simultaneously responded to. The presenters were applauded for the brilliant and insightful presentations and announcements were read by Dr. Tene Tayo from Cameroon while the vote of thanks was done by Oluwatoyin Ologundudu of NOARA Secretariat, Nigeria. The secretariat assured participants that the presentations will be sent to their email addresses for documentation. The meeting ended at about 11:45GMT and was also streamed live on Noara Afrika facebook page where members can still have access to watch and listen after the event. The virtual meeting was attended by thirty participants across seven (7) African countries and one Non-African country.
