Sight and Life will be at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda, convening a Breakthrough Event on Fermentation: from Evidence to Scale. This session will explore the potential of fermentation to advance better nutrition, more resilient food systems and stronger livelihoods across Africa.

About the event

The Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) will host its 20th Annual Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, from 31 August to 4 September 2026, under the theme “Investing in Africa’s Agri-Food Systems: Nourishing Nations, Growing Jobs, Building Resilience.”

The Summit will bring together leaders and stakeholders from across Africa’s agri-food sector for plenary sessions, technical discussions, networking and partnership engagement focused on accelerating investment, strengthening resilience and advancing sustainable food systems across the continent.

As part of the Forum, Sight and Life will convene the Breakthrough Event “Fermentation: from Evidence to Scale,” bringing attention to the potential of fermentation as a nutrition-sensitive, climate-smart solution that can strengthen livelihoods and contribute to more resilient food systems.

Building on the momentum of Sight and Life’s Special Report, Fermentation: An Ancient Solution to Modern Challenges, the session will bring together leaders from government, philanthropy, research and the wider food systems community to explore what it will take to move fermented foods from evidence and tradition towards greater scale and impact across Africa.

What the session will explore

Through discussion with leaders and experts across sectors, the Breakthrough Event will:

• Present Sight and Life’s Special Report on Fermentation to a high-level continental audience.

• Position fermentation on the African food systems agenda as a climate-smart, nutrition-sensitive solution that can strengthen our food systems and livelihoods.

• Explore how investment, innovation, partnerships and evidence-informed policy can help unlock the potential of fermented foods across Africa.

 

The session aims to build momentum for scaling fermented foods as a practical solution for better nutrition, resilient food systems and stronger livelihoods.

Join us at AFSF 2026 in Kigali as we explore what it will take to move fermentation from evidence to scale.

Explore our Special Report: Fermentation: An Ancient Solution to Modern Challenges