Brylyne Chitsunge Champions Six-Point Action Plan for African Food Security at TABEF 2025

Istanbul, Turkey – At the 5th Türkiye–Africa Business and Economy Forum (TABEF 2025), Dr. Brylyne Chitsunge stood out as a unifying force, rallying Africa and Türkiye around a shared mission: secure Africa’s food future. As the Pan-African Ambassador for Food Security and CEO of Elpasso Farms, Dr. Chitsunge moderated the high-profile panel on “Food Security and Sustainable Food Production,” where leaders from both continents gathered to tackle hunger and build sustainable agriculturetabef.org. The forum itself, themed “Leveraging Türkiye–Africa Relations for Mutual Gains,” underscored agriculture as a priority sector, reflecting the urgency of food security on the agendaaa.com.tr. In the bustling halls of the Istanbul Congress Center, Dr. Chitsunge’s passionate voice and visionary ideas exemplified the inspirational leadership needed to transform African food security challenges into opportunities for collaborative growth.

Dr. Chitsunge’s Six-Point Action Plan for Africa–Türkiye Cooperation

In her closing remarks at TABEF 2025, Dr. Chitsunge proposed a bold six-point action plan to advance Africa–Türkiye collaboration on food security and sustainable food production. Each action item is a pillar supporting a comprehensive strategy to strengthen Türkiye–Africa agriculture ties and ensure resilient, Pan-African food systems:

1. Establish a Strategic Hub: Create an Africa–Türkiye Agricultural Strategic Hub to coordinate knowledge, resources, and policy efforts. This hub would serve as a central platform for aligning initiatives, monitoring progress, and facilitating partnerships across borders. It’s essentially a coordination center where both sides can strategize and respond swiftly to food security needs.
2. Develop a Roadmap for Action: Formulate a joint roadmap with clear targets and timelines for food security interventions. Dr. Chitsunge emphasized the importance of a concrete action plan – a detailed blueprint to guide collaborative projects in areas like crop productivity, climate-smart farming, and value chain development. This roadmap would hold stakeholders accountable and keep momentum beyond the forum.
3. Enable Trade and Investment: Remove barriers and create incentives to boost agricultural trade and investment between Africa and Türkiye. Simplifying trade protocols, improving market access for African produce in Türkiye (and vice versa), and encouraging investments in agribusiness were highlighted as critical steps. “We need enabling environments where a farmer in Africa can easily export to Türkiye, and Turkish investors feel confident investing in Africa’s agriculture,” Dr. Chitsunge noted, underscoring that true partnership thrives on open markets and mutual growth.
4. Promote Technology and Knowledge Exchange: Launch robust technology transfer and knowledge-sharing programs. Dr. Chitsunge advocates for exchanging best practices in farming techniques, irrigation tech, and agro-processing between African nations and Türkiye. From Turkish advances in farm mechanization to African innovations in drought-resistant crops, leveraging each other’s expertise can accelerate sustainable production. Joint research initiatives, training workshops, and demonstration farms would anchor this exchange.
5. Strengthen Investment Frameworks: Improve the financial and policy frameworks that underpin agricultural investment. This includes enhancing legal protections for investors, offering risk guarantees or insurance for agricultural projects, and developing financing instruments tailored to farmers and agri-entrepreneurs. By fortifying these frameworks, both large-scale agribusiness projects and smallholder farmers can attract the capital needed for expansion.
6. Embrace Digital Innovation and AI: Integrate digital technology and artificial intelligence in agriculture on a wider scale. Dr. Chitsunge’s plan calls for embracing agri-tech solutions – from AI-driven climate forecasting and smart farming apps to e-commerce platforms linking farmers to markets. Such innovation can optimize resource use, reduce waste, and increase yields. It also appeals to youth, aligning with her long-held belief that agriculture should be made attractive to the next generation.

Central to Dr. Chitsunge’s proposal was also the formation of an Africa–Türkiye Inter-Ministerial Committee on Food Security and Sustainable Food Systems. She urged that ministers from relevant sectors (agriculture, trade, finance, technology, etc.) in African governments and Türkiye work hand-in-hand through a high-level committee. This body would oversee the implementation of the six-point plan, harmonize policies, and swiftly address any roadblocks. In Dr. Chitsunge’s view, such sustained political will and institutional coordination are “the glue that will hold this partnership together” – ensuring that summit ideas translate into on-the-ground impact long after TABEF 2025.

Voices of Collaboration: Panel Insights from Türkiye and Africa

Throughout the forum’s panel discussion, Dr. Chitsunge was joined by expert panelists whose insights and experiences reinforced her action plan’s themes. Their perspectives painted a rich picture of how innovation, education, and finance must converge to achieve sustainable food production in Africa:

• Innovation & Tech R&D – Ms. Yıldız Güven (Türkiye): Yıldız Güven, Chairperson of Güven Global Agriculture and a leader in Turkey’s agricultural diplomacy, highlighted the pivotal role of innovation policy and research & development in farming. “We need to innovate our way out of food insecurity,” she observed, noting that strong R&D collaboration can yield climate-smart technologies and improved seed varieties. Güven argued that when governments prioritize innovation – from smart irrigation systems to biotech – farmers get the tools to boost productivity and withstand climate shocks. Her call for joint Africa–Türkiye innovation programs underscored how tech partnerships could drive the next Green Revolution.
• Nutrition & Entrepreneurship – Prof. William Kyamuhangire (Uganda): Prof. William Kyamuhangire, an academic and agribusiness expert from Uganda, zeroed in on food fortification and incubation hubs. He stressed that combating malnutrition in Africa requires fortifying staple foods with essential nutrients, a practice where Türkiye’s food industry expertise could assist African nations. Equally, “establishing agribusiness incubation centers will cultivate homegrown entrepreneurs,” Kyamuhangire noted. These centers would nurture startups in food processing and value addition, turning youthful ideas into viable businesses. By linking fortification initiatives with entrepreneur support, he painted a vision of healthier populations and vibrant rural economies.
• Education & Research Linkage – Prof. Fatma Handan Giray (Türkiye): Prof. Fatma Handan Giray, from Eskişehir Osmangazi University in Türkiye, emphasized strengthening rural education and bridging the gap between research and practice. “A breakthrough in the lab means little if it never reaches the field,” Giray remarked. She advocated for closer ties between universities and farming communities – such as agricultural extension programs, farmer field schools, and student exchange projects with African institutions. By improving education and ensuring that proven research (from soil health to pest control) is translated into local languages and training for farmers, Giray argued that productivity and sustainability can vastly improve in Africa’s rural heartlands.
• Financing & Risk Management – Dr. Nixon Bugo (Kenya/AfDB): Dr. Nixon Bugo, a senior advisor at the African Development Bank, brought a financial lens to the discussion. He highlighted the need for blended finance models and de-risking instruments to unlock investment in African agriculture. “We must make agriculture attractive for investors by creatively sharing and reducing risk,” Bugo explained. Blended finance – combining public funds, private capital, and development finance – can kickstart projects that purely commercial lenders might shy away from. Moreover, tools like credit guarantees, political risk insurance, or disaster insurance can give investors confidence that their funds are secure. Bugo’s point complemented Dr. Chitsunge’s action plan: without innovative financing and risk mitigation, even the best ideas may never get off the ground.

Together, these voices from Türkiye and Africa wove a narrative of hope and pragmatism. They showed that achieving African food security will require simultaneous movement on multiple fronts – policy innovation, knowledge exchange, human capital development, and smart financing – exactly the multi-pronged approach Dr. Chitsunge has championed.

Towards Sustainable Pan-African Food Systems

Dr. Brylyne Chitsunge’s leadership at TABEF 2025 has set the stage for a new chapter in Türkiye–Africa agriculture cooperation. Her six-point action plan is more than a policy proposal; it’s a rallying cry for tangible action and a framework for tracking progress. By insisting on structures like an inter-ministerial committee and a strategic hub, she is effectively laying the institutional foundation to carry this partnership forward. The presence of high-level political will – from Turkish ministers to African Union officials – at the forum suggests that her call has resonated widely.

The inspirational tone of Dr. Chitsunge’s op-ed-style appeal lies in her unwavering belief that Africa’s destiny is to not only feed itself but to become a breadbasket for the world. She has long argued that agriculture is “the cornerstone of our health, our economy, and our sovereignty,” and that it must be made a pillar of pride and prosperity for African peoplespikedmedia.co.zw. Her focus on women and youth throughout her career is woven into this latest initiative too. A joint Africa–Türkiye effort on food security, in her view, must empower women farmers and young agripreneurs, who are crucial to unlocking innovation on the ground.

As the forum concluded, the momentum did not dissipate. Instead, it carried forward in the form of draft agreements, new business partnerships, and commitments to follow-up meetings. There is a sense that the dialogues in Istanbul will translate into projects in African villages and Turkish research labs alike. Observers noted that Dr. Chitsunge’s six points align closely with Africa’s own strategic frameworks like the AU’s CAADP and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area’s goals, but with the added strength of Türkiye’s partnership and investment. This synergy bodes well for the ambitious vision she articulated.

Ultimately, Dr. Brylyne Chitsunge’s message at TABEF 2025 is a clarion call to action – a reminder that securing Africa’s food future is a collective responsibility that transcends borders. Her voice, ever confident and compassionate, echoes a simple truth: “Africa must feed itself, and women and youth must lead the way.”spikedmedia.co.zw By championing collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity, she is helping shape a pan-African food system that is sustainable, sovereign, and thriving. In the partnership between Africa and Türkiye, nurtured by leaders like Dr. Chitsunge, lies the promise of a food-secure Africa – an Africa that not only survives the challenges of hunger and climate, but triumphantly thrives.

Sources: Dr. Brylyne Chitsunge’s remarks and panel discussion insights were reported from TABEF 2025 proceedings and media coveragetabef.orgaa.com.tr, with additional context on Dr. Chitsunge’s advocacy for African food securityspikedmedia.co.zwspikedmedia.co.zw. The collaborative perspectives of panelists (Ms. Güven, Prof. Kyamuhangire, Prof. Giray, and Dr. Bugo) underscore the multi-dimensional approach needed to achieve food security and sustainable food production in Africa. The six-point plan and the call for an Africa–Türkiye Inter-Ministerial Committee reflect a strategic roadmap aiming to transform dialogue into deliverables – ensuring that the seeds planted at TABEF 2025 will bear fruit for years to come.