AFSF 2026: Odile Mukeshimana believes that investing in food systems must include reducing post-harvest losses

1. Why is this year’s AFSF important to your work?

This year’s AFSF theme connects strongly with my work. Investing in Africa’s agrifood systems is not only about increasing production. We also need to reduce food loss, strengthen value addition, improve access to cooling and markets, create jobs and ensure that women and young people can participate and benefit. I am particularly interested in sessions on food loss and waste, women in food systems, infrastructure, value chains, markets and trade, investment and policy implementation.

2. How are you looking forward to contributing your skills and expertise at AFSF?

I look forward to sharing perspectives from my work in agrifood systems, postharvest management, sustainable cooling and cold chains, GESI, research and policy. I will have the opportunity to showcase my Policy Innovation Project, which focuses on strengthening gender responsive implementation of cold chain policy and improving women’s access to and participation in cold chain infrastructure within horticulture value chains. I also hope to bring the systems thinking perspective strengthened through the Africa Food Fellowship and learn from others working across different parts of the food system.

3. What are the most important outcomes you hope will come out of AFSF?

One important outcome for me would be stronger connections between research, policy and practice. Africa has strong research, innovation and policy initiatives. The opportunity is to strengthen how evidence informs policy, how policy translates into action, and how lessons from implementation inform future research and decision making.

I also hope to build meaningful connections and identify opportunities for collaboration that can help reduce food loss, strengthen value chains, expand inclusive opportunities and build more resilient food systems.

4. Who are you most looking forward to meeting or hearing from at AFSF, and why?

I am particularly looking forward to meeting researchers, policymakers, practitioners, investors, private sector actors and food systems leaders interested in bridging research, policy and practice.

As Africa Food Fellows, systems thinking is an important lens we bring to food systems work. I look forward to conversations that connect different actors and ideas and help identify where collaboration can create greater impact.

I am also looking forward to reconnecting with Africa Food Fellows from Rwanda and across the continent, learning from their work and exploring opportunities to collaborate.