HarvestPlus joined over 60 participants from governments, development partners, and the World Bank for the Regional Dialogue on Food Systems Transformation held in Lilongwe, Malawi. The three-day workshop, co-convened by the Government of Malawi, the World Bank, and the Irish Government, brought together delegates from 11 countries across East and Southern Africa to accelerate efforts toward more resilient, inclusive, and nutrition-sensitive food systems.

HarvestPlus participated in the Nutritious School Meals Exhibition, showcasing how integrating nutrient-dense crops into school feeding programs can transform national food systems. This powerful approach highlights the potential for sustainable nutrition solutions. These biofortified crops—rich in vitamin A, iron, and zinc—not only improve children’s health and learning outcomes but also create market opportunities for smallholder farmers and drive demand for climate-smart, nutrition-rich agriculture.

The closing session was marked by compelling remarks and renewed commitments from national leaders and partners. Honorable Dr. Michael Bizwick Usi, Vice President of the Republic of Malawi, and Hon. Sam Kawale, Minister of Agriculture, urged stakeholders to repurpose limited resources toward high-impact innovations that can meaningfully shift food systems toward better health, sustainability, and equity.

Key priorities highlighted included:

• Strengthening seed systems for climate-smart and nutrient-rich crops.
• Engaging the private sector and SMEs in value addition to reduce post-harvest losses, create jobs, and improve trade.
• Transitioning from blanket subsidy programs to targeted input subsidies that promote nutritious and climate-resilient crops, regenerative agricultural practices through organic fertilizers, access to extension services, and inclusion of legumes as an essential part of subsidy schemes to enhance soil health and dietary diversity.
• Emphasis was also placed on market access for smallholder farmers—a crucial step in ensuring sustainable adoption of improved crops and enhancing livelihoods.

These high-level commitment statements aim to provide momentum and clear direction for countries implementing the CAADP Kampala Declaration on food systems transformation. For HarvestPlus, the dialogue reaffirmed the growing recognition that nutrition-smart agriculture—including the use of biofortified crops—is not just a health intervention but a strategic pathway for system-wide transformation.

As regional and national actors align priorities, we stand ready to support governments, partners, and communities to deliver on the promise of nutritious, inclusive, and resilient food systems.