Agenda | Argus Africa Fertilizer

08:00
-
17:00
Networking time

Attendees are welcome to use this time to network with other participants.

Simply navigate to the attendee list on the event platform
Click on the name of the person you would like to connect with
Select "Message" or Schedule a meeting" and begin networking

For more insight take a tour of the virtual environment or contact conferences@argusmedia.com

11:00
-
12:00
Round Table Discussion - The future of fertilizers in Africa Dr. S. K. Srivastava - Head Sales and Marketing, Indorama Fertilizer, Nigeria

Join this interactive session led by Indorama. Meet up to 20 attendees to share experiences, expertise and build your network of contacts in Africa. Discussions will cover:

Growth prospects for fertilizers in sub-Saharan Africa
Addressing challenges that can hamper growth such as uncertainty policy environment, limited access to finance and infrastructural constraints
Opportunities for regional trade cooperation, increased private sector involvement and improved infrastructure and transportation arrangements

13:00
-
14:00
Round table discussion: Financing fertilizer in the value chain, the important role of stakeholders Pierre Brunache - Fertilizer Value Chain Specialist, Africa Development Bank

Participants will gain access to:

Innovative financing models to achieve food security during and post COVID-19
Prospects for private sector investment in Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones
Improving small holder farmers livelihoods with digitalization and appropriate inputs
Risk mitigation with technical service providers and off-takers

10:00
-
10:45
Opening session: Market overview and regional snapshots across Africa David Maher, Editor Fertilizer Africa - Argus

Trade flows, demand centres and market developments
Impact of Covid-19 on the fertilizer sector, and government and industry responses to the crisis
A look at specific challenges in key sub-Saharan Africa markets and roadmaps for the future

10:45
-
11:00
Keynote address Jihane Ajijti - Head of Strategy, Regulatory Watch & Delivery Monitoring, OCP Africa

11:00
-
12:00
Keynote panel: Promoting and implementing a multi-stakeholder approach to food security in Africa (plus live Q&A) - OCP Africa, IFDC, UNECA

Working with key stakeholders across the supply chain to safeguard food production
Public and private-sector initiatives to strengthen market infrastructure and product availability
Optimising all aspects of the value chain to improve access to fertilizers

Moderated by Oliver Hatfield, VP Fertilizers, Argus

Jihane Ajijti, Head of Strategy, Regulatory Watch & Delivery Monitoring, OCP Africa

Rob Groot, Director, Business Development and Partnerships, IFDC
Mahamadou Nassirou Ba, Senior Expert, Agriculture, Food Security and Climate, United Economic Commission for Africa, Africa Climate Policy Centre (UNECA/ACPC)

12:00
-
13:00
Tackling logistical and trade barriers to ensure timely delivery of products to growers (plus live Q&A) - ZFC Limited, IFDC, One Acre Fund and ETG

Bolstering regional trade corridors across Africa and removing logistical constraints
Government investment initiatives to improve port, infrastructure and transportation networks
Ensuring supply to landlocked countries is not hampered by logistical challenges
Assessing and the cost build-up along the supply chain and reducing unnecessary transportation costs

Moderated by: Mike Nash, Senior Editor, Fertilizers, Argus

Panellists:
David Bucharara, Global Sourcing Logistics Manager, One Acre Fund

Sushant Gaggar, Head of Fertilizers, East Africa, ETG
Getrude Mashonganyika, Supplies and Logistics Manager, ZFC Ltd.
Patrice Annequin, Senior Fertilizer Market Specialist, IFDC

13:00
-
14:00
Lunch break and time for meetings

14:00
-
15:00
Adopting a holistic approach to soil health and agricultural productivity in Africa (plus live Q&A) - IITA, IFDC, Carbon Management and Sequestration Center and Indorama

Soil carbon sequestration: The fertilizer sector’s biggest opportunity to mitigate climate change
Maximising farmer ROI with accurate soil analysis and application of tailored fertilizers
Balancing soil fertility and how added-value fertilizers can increase nutrient efficiency
Ensuring crop and site-specific effective fertilizers are available and affordable for farmers

Bernard Vanlauwe, R4D Director, Central Africa and Natural Resource Management, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
Andre Bationo, Chief of Party, SAPEP, IFDC
Rattan Lal, Professor of Soil Science, and Director, Carbon Management and Sequestration Center

Praveen Singh, AVP, Business and Product Development, Indorama

15:00
-
16:00
Exploring financing models for the fertilizer sector to strengthen the supply chain and empower farmers - EBID, IFAD and AGRA

Driving economic development by empowering farmers with better access to finance
Innovative approaches to providing funding across agribusiness value chains
Improving access to finance and mitigating risk for farmers

Panelists include:

Dr. Mabouba Diagne, Vice-President Finance and Corporate Services, ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID)
Frank Rubio, Senior Technical Specialist, Private Sector Advisory and Implementation Unit, IFAD
Hedwig Siewertsen, Head of Inclusive Finance, AGRA

16:00
-
17:00
Closing session: Supporting Agro dealers and farmers in unprecedented times (plus live Q&A) - Agrodealers of Southern Africa, Farmers Hub, AGRA, Yara

Developing robust networks and supply chains to ensure farmers have the right inputs and extension advisory services
Strategies to unlock easier access to finance and safeguard ROI for farmers
Investing in last-mile infrastructure to support local agribusiness networks and smallholder farmers
The role of digital tools and platforms in strengthening input distribution systems

Moderated by: Oliver Hatfield, VP Fertilizers, Argus

Isaac Mando, Managing Director, Farmers Hub Zambia, and Secretary General, Agro-dealers of Southern Africa
Fred Muhhuku, Agribusiness Consultant, AGRA
Danquah Addo-Yobo, Regional Director, West Africa, Yara

17:00
-
17:30
Africa Fertilizer Awards Ceremony - Announcing the winners! - - Sponsored by OCP Africa

The inaugural Argus Africa Fertilizer Awards celebrate achievement, excellence and innovation in the Africa fertilizer sector.

Don't miss the ceremony to hear the announcement of the winners, what made their achievements stand out and why each of the categories recognise the importance of different aspects of the value chain.

The categories are: