By Burnett Munthali
Vice President Dr Michael Usi officially closed a three-day regional summit on food systems transformation held in Lilongwe, reaffirming Malawi’s dedication to food and nutrition security.
Jointly organized by the Government of Malawi and the World Bank, the high-level dialogue gathered delegates from across Eastern and Southern Africa to engage on practical strategies for reshaping the region’s food systems.
Running under the theme “Making Food Systems Transformation a Reality in Eastern and Southern Africa,” the summit provided a timely forum for collaboration, learning, and policy dialogue amid the mounting challenges posed by climate change.
Participants reviewed progress and setbacks within their respective countries while exploring innovative, climate-resilient agricultural solutions and pathways to enhance food accessibility and nutrition.
Key topics included reinforcing agricultural value chains, scaling up climate-smart farming techniques, and ensuring a steady supply of nutritious foods to vulnerable populations.
Malawi’s role as host underscored its regional leadership and ongoing commitment to sustainable food security. The presence of Vice President Usi at the event’s conclusion demonstrated strong political will to back transformative initiatives in the sector.
The gathering ended with a collective appeal for ongoing investment, deeper collaboration, and shared expertise among governments, development agencies, and local communities to ensure enduring improvements in food systems across the region.
