Amanda Namayi

Working from Mombasa with my parents in the house has got to be one of the sweetest but most disruptive thing I have to do. I think home is now purely a place for vacation and working-from-home is becoming increasingly… “tricky”. Laced with good intentions, my parents interrupt me every so often to check in on me, bring me fruits, want me to watch news with them, ask me when I would be taking a break from my laptop or whether we could go to the market together. At times their interruptions come when I am smack in the middle of a virtual meeting! I wouldn’t trade that for anything though. ❤ I know they mean well, plus I enjoy spending my time with them. The absolute sweetest thing about being home is that I will always be a little girl in the eyes of my mama and papa.

I am what you call a “pension baby” and so my parents are quite advanced in age right now, and I am soaking in every single moment I have with them.

Sequel to my Christmas Edition last week, this New Years Eve edition will neatly wrap my 2024 reflections with a bow. I covered the first half of the year in my previous article and now, I am coming full circle with the second half the year.

June: Cultivating the Future at the Regenerative Agriculture Conference

June took me deeper into sustainable farming at the Regenerative Agriculture Conference. It was a chance to learn about practices that restore soil health, boost biodiversity, and build stronger food systems. I’m inspired by how my father transformed soil once deemed unfit for farming into healthy, fertile land using conventional methods now known as agroecology or regenerative agriculture. The conversations emphasized the importance of moving beyond extractive practices to systems that replenish and thrive—proof that agriculture can be a solution to the climate crisis when approached thoughtfully.

July and August: Energized by the Power of the Youth

I visited a number of farms owned or run by youth agripreneurs and had I stayed on a particular farm much longer, I would be going by the name Mrs. Sweet Bananas by now.

Outside the farm, July and August brought an exciting opportunity to connect directly with young people worldwide. I participated in and curated a number of virtual discussions – particularly X spaces and webinars – focusing on the power of youth in driving solutions for global challenges with a focus on food systems.

These virtual conversations were dynamic and inspiring, with participants sharing ideas and stories from different corners of the world. It was a reminder of the incredible potential of digital spaces to foster connection and spark action and harness the passion and creativity that young people bring to the table – pun intended.

September to Remember: Transforming Narratives at the Africa Food Systems Summit

The Africa Food Systems Summit (AFSS) is the apex convening in addressing food security and sustainability challenges in Africa. This year, it was held in Kigali, Rwanda and the amongst the key themes included the vital role of youth in driving innovation and advocating for inclusive policies, the urgency of adopting climate-resilient agricultural practices, and the potential of technology to revolutionize farming through digital agriculture. These themes were encapsulated under three pillars: Accelerate. Scale. Innovate.

I was particularly enthused by the youth who are at the frontline in churning innovations that would ensure a food-secure future for Africa.

Rwanda’s leadership and initiatives in sustainable farming and agro-processing were celebrated as a blueprint for other African nations. More than an event, the AFSS embodied a movement to catalyze the transformation of Africa’s food systems, emphasizing collaboration and shared responsibility among all stakeholders.

October: The Italian Odyssey

October was an exciting month spent in Italy. I had the honor of serving as the global moderator for the World Food Forum.

This role was a career highlight, as it allowed me to lead the Youth Startup Innovation Awards, moderate the opening and closing plenary sessions, the Culture and Gastronomy on Japanese Washoku, and host Private Sector Roundtable discussions.

Sharing the stage simultaneously with the former and current Director Generals of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Jose Graziano da Silva and Qu Dongyu respectively, remains one of my top memories of 2024.

The forum was a melting pot of ideas, energy, and hope; driven by young leaders in food systems from across the globe.

Immediately after the World Food Forum, I participated in the 52nd edition of the Committee on World Food Security (#CFS52), also held at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. This event was a more formal yet equally critical platform, bringing together policymakers, advocates, and stakeholders to address global food security. The conversations were rigorous, and while perspectives sometimes diverged, the shared commitment to progress was undeniable.

I first attended the CFS six years ago, during #CFS45. I had made voluntary contributions to the Multi-Year Program of Work (MyPoW) under the Youth Engagement in Agriculture pillar, and I had been invited to make my presentation in person. My participation was supported by the Private Sector Mechanism of the CFS.

The following year, I was invited to #CFS46 directly by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), alongside four other youth from different continents and together, we convened the first-ever, youth led plenary session at the CFS. The event focused on how achieving zero hunger will require direct youth engagement and involvement in policy-making at local and global levels. The detailed event report is available here and the special highlights were captured in the CFS46 full week report. What a proud moment!

After the intensity of the events in Rome, the farms were beckoning me once again, and who was I to resist their call? After #CFS52, I went to the fattorie (Italian for farms) in Southern Italy. I was in awe! Rows upon rows of perfectly coiffed vines and olive trees left my mouth agape. I learnt that some olive trees could be as old as four centuries!

The farmlands and vineyards provided a beautiful backdrop, rich in vibrant greens and golden hues, as the sun cast a warm glow over the landscape. The rolling hills seemed to stretch endlessly. Each vine and each olive tree whispered stories of the land, creating a perfect setting for capturing memories that will definitely last a lifetime.

Speaking of my experience at the rural farms of Italy would be incomplete without mentioning the up and coming Rural Hack. Rural Hack is the task force of SocietingLAB, a laboratory dedicated to digital social innovation. Their mission is to spread the culture of sustainability for a quality food system, drawing inspiration from the values ​​of the Mediterranean Diet and supporting agritech projects with a positive impact. Speaking of diets, time fails me to talk about my culinary indulgences in Southern Italy, but thankfully, there’s a whole article about it. 🙂

There’s something magical about the way food unites people. In the words of my namesake, Amanda Mcnamara, “Food is more than just sustenance; it is a language that speaks to our senses and brings people together.”

November: Women in the Ag. Frontlines and The Urgency of Climate Action

The first day of November kicked off with the first-ever Women in Agribusiness Summit in Kenya, a significant event that highlighted the vital roles women play in the country’s agricultural sector. Despite having arrived in Nairobi from Rome the previous day, I could not miss this auspicious moment shared by one of the #WomenInAg I deeply admire, Ms. Wangari Kuria, more popularly known as Farmer on Fire.

Wangari’s innovative approach to sustainable farming and her dedication to empowering other women have inspired countless individuals, and being present at this summit offered a unique opportunity to learn from her and connect with like-minded professionals committed to driving change in agribusiness.

The atmosphere was electric, with discussions centered around the future of agriculture, climate resilience, and the importance of supporting female entrepreneurs in the field, making it an unforgettable experience. The event was graced by Honourable Martha Karua, Kenya’s political iron lady. Well done Farmer on Fire!

I first wrote about Farmer on Fire four years ago, after getting to know her about a year or two prior, and look and what we have today! Isn’t growth beautiful?

Shortly after, I traveled to Azerbaijan for COP29, where I participated in several key events. These included discussions on nature-based solutions for climate action and sessions examining urbanization, transportation, and tourism within the context of food systems.

One of the standout sessions was “Enabling Climate Finance for Improved Nutrition and Resilient Food Systems in Bangladesh,” organized by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) of the Government of Bangladesh and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). This session underscored the critical need for integrated solutions that leverage climate finance to address malnutrition and strengthen food system resilience.

COP29 was termed the “COP of Finance” but the outcomes left a sour aftertaste in the mouths of the countries from the global south. I will get into that in a separate article.

Back Home: Inspiration in Everyday Moments

As I reflect on 2024 from my hometown of Mombasa, I’m filled with gratitude for the experiences, the people and the lessons that have shaped this year. From the cornfields of the United States of America, the farm visits in Kenya and Southern Italy, to the vibrant discussions in Accra, Rome, Kigali, Baku-Azerbaijan and back home again; every step of this journey has reinforced the importance of collaboration. These moments remind me that food systems aren’t just about global policies or grand summits—they’re about people, their livelihoods, and the shared humanity we find in the act of growing, sharing, and consuming food.

Here’s to 2025—a year of continued growth, connection, and impact. Together, let’s continue building sustainable and equitable food systems.

Happy New Year!

God bless you.

Amanda Namayi