the first annual agricultural transformation summit

Recognizing that the Foundation’s mission entails an accelerated decline in global tobacco demand, the Foundation’s Malawi-based Agricultural Transformation Initiative (ATI) supported efforts to develop and diversify Malawi’s tobacco-dominated economy, lessening traditional reliance on the tobacco sector.

The ATI’s first annual Summit convened key private sector actors to engage in developing commercially viable agricultural value chains in Malawi. It catalyzed new partnerships and initiatives that will support smallholder farmers in diversifying crop production and improve economic opportunity, thus leading to sustainable change.

In Lilongwe, Malawi, on December 4-5, 2018, we engaged the private sector to chart an action-oriented way forward to transform Malawi’s agricultural sector into a more profitable and equitable landscape.

We also announced several new Malawi initiatives, including:

• The Center for Agricultural Transformation
  After an extremely competitive selection process, the ATI announced the winning consortium with whom we will partner to establish an Agricultural Center of Excellence in Malawi, focused on science, technology, and innovation, as well as business incubation and commercialization.
• Digital Financial Services (DFS) for Smallholders’ Challenge Fund
  We announced a Digitization of the Agricultural Sector Challenge Fund RFP focused on incentivizing the fintech sector to test innovative models of reaching smallholder farmers.
• LUANAR Scholarship Announcements
  We announced a brand new LUANAR scholarship fund for exceptional students with a future in innovative agriculture, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Lilongwe. These students would receive full tuition and other living expenses to study at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
• The 2nd Round of the Agricultural Transformation RFPs
  We continued to promote our active multimillion-dollar grant facility for commercially driven concepts that have the potential to transform smallholder farmers’ livelihoods. This grant can be found on our website here.