Every meal tells a story, of hands that grow, harvest, and nurture.
On this World Food Day, Agriterra celebrates those hands, and the people behind them, farmers, advisors, partners, and cooperatives who believe that when we work together, we can build food systems that truly nourish both people and planet.
Across Africa and Asia, Agriterra colleagues share one vision: a future where no one goes hungry, and every farmer has the opportunity to thrive.
From the fields of Uganda to the markets of Kenya, a shared vision for food security
In Uganda, Gupta Bahadur Banjara, Senior Cooperative Advisor and Project Lead for FORT Uganda, reflects on the urgency of today’s choices.
“The action we take today should aim to eliminate hunger and ensure food security for rural communities across developing countries,” he says.
For Gupta, true impact begins at the roots, by working not only with farmer organisations, but directly with farmers themselves to build systems that endure beyond projects and seasons.
In neighbouring Kenya, Diana Macharia, Cooperative Advisor with FFT Kenya, echoes that connection between farmers and consumers.
“When farmers thrive and consumers are informed, everyone tastes the benefits of better food,” she says, reminding us that awareness and empowerment go hand in hand.
Hope, partnership, and the power of working together
For Meaza Berhanu, Project and Finance Officer with FFT Ethiopia, the goal is simple yet profound:
“I hope that food is never a problem in the future, that nobody goes hungry, anywhere.”
Her words are a quiet reminder that behind every global policy and innovation lies a human dream: that everyone, everywhere, can share in the abundance of the earth.
Building on that vision, Dawit Hailegiorgis, Project Lead for ACRFSE Ethiopia, highlights how partnerships can make this dream real.
He believes that collaboration among development actors, value chain partners, and digital innovators can transform lives, strengthening livelihoods, improving market access, and building climate-resilient communities.
“By 2030, today’s food actions should build climate and economically resilient households and foster sustainable value chains,” Dawit explains.
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A fairer, more inclusive food future
In Kenya, CPA Wilfred Chepkwony, Senior Cooperative Advisor and Project Manager for FFT Kenya, paints a hopeful picture of what lies ahead.
“The future of food is healthier, fairer, sustainable, and inclusive,” he says.
For Wilfred, that future depends on empowering farmer organisations, sharing knowledge, and ensuring that innovation and cooperation grow side by side.
That same spirit thrives in Rwanda, where Jean Sauveur Muganga, Cooperative Advisor with FFT Rwanda, champions unity.
“By strengthening partnerships across farmers, cooperatives, and stakeholders, we can create resilient food systems that deliver nutritious, sustainable food for everyone,” he shares.
And in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dismas Amani Sebatware, Cooperative Advisor, adds:
“Together, public, private, and community actors can build food systems more resilient than any could create alone.”
Each voice adds to the same refrain, that lasting change begins when we work together.
Innovation at the heart of resilience
Innovation and local ownership lie at the heart of food security.
In Kenya, Esther Mwende Kalanza, Cooperative Advisor with Acting Now Kenya, has seen firsthand how empowering cooperatives strengthens communities:
“By strengthening local farmer cooperatives and value chains, we pave the way for nutritious food that is accessible, affordable, and nourishing for every household,” she says.
Meanwhile in Tanzania, Gabriel Bundala, Cooperative Advisor and Project Lead, focuses on practical action:
“By 2030, I want to see people plant vegetables, not flowers, so that every community has reliable access to safe and nutritious food.”
It’s a vision of food systems grounded in local realities, where every seed planted has the potential to feed both families and futures.
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Innovation across continents
In Côte d’Ivoire, Kouma Patrice Kouamé, the Chairman of COPABO knows innovation is not a luxury, it’s a lifeline.
Through Agriterra’s partnership, COPABO has pioneered sustainable cashew processing, biochar fertilisation, and women-led agribusiness initiatives that are transforming livelihoods.
“Innovation is the key to healthy, abundant food systems for future generations,” he shares, speaking from a region that continues to adapt to climate challenges through creativity and collaboration.
Thousands of kilometres away, in Vietnam, Mr. La Quoc Yen, Chairman of the Chau Hung Cooperative, embodies the same spirit.
“For over 20 years, local farmers have built a system where communities live in harmony with nature, producing both organic rice and shrimp,” he explains.
His cooperative proves that sustainability is not only possible, it’s profitable and deeply human.
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