We are delighted to extend our warmest welcome to the African Conference on Agricultural Technology! The conference will be held from 30th October – 3rd November 2023 at the Safari Park hotel, Nairobi, Kenya situated along the Thika Superhighway. The ACAT organizing committee is committed to ensuring a smooth and productive experience for all conference attendees. We are confident that the ACAT 2023 will be a rewarding experience for all participants. Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our dedicated support team at +254 20 422 3706.
Meeting Venue: The African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT) will take place at the Safari Park Hotel along Thika Road.
Event programme: You can download the conference programme here
Important to note: On Tuesday, October 31, 2023, the programme begins early. All speakers and attendees are to arrive early at the meeting venue, and take their seats at the Plenary Hall by 8:00 am.
Accommodation: Group reservations have been made at the Safari Park Hotel along Thika Road, for the sponsored speakers and delegates. The hotel will also serve as the meeting venue. During check-in at the Hotel, please identify yourself as an ACAT participant and re–confirm your check–out date with the hotel.
AATF will pay for accommodation (deluxe room, bed & breakfast) for the sponsored participants. Any extras e.g. additional nights, drinks, room service, telephone, laundry, etc., will be charged to the guest directly. Payment for extras can be made by cash or Visa.
Nairobi is Kenya’s capital city, located in the south-central part of the country. The city originated in the late 1890s as a colonial railway settlement with its name derived from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nairobi, which translates to ‘place of cool waters’, a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city., With an estimated population of 4 million people, Nairobi occupies 684 square kilometers and is currently the 13th largest city in Africa. It is an established hub for business and culture and is home to many companies and organizations, including the United Nations Environment Programme and the UN Office in Africa.
It is the only capital city in the world with a national park making it a prime tourist destination, which also includes several other attractions.
Nairobi has a diverse and multicultural composition with many activities and experiences for both business and pleasure. There are a number of churches, mosques, temples, and gurdwaras within the city. The city is home to several museums, sites, and monuments, plus spectacular five-star hotels to cater for all categories of travelers.
Nairobi has a subtropical highland climate. At 1,795 metres (5,889 ft.) above sea level, evenings may be cool, especially in the June/July season, when the temperature can drop to 5°C (41°F). The sunniest and warmest part of the year is from December to March, when temperatures average in the highs of 20°C during the day. The mean maximum temperature for this period is 28°C (82°F).
Nairobi experiences rainy seasons with moderate rainfall. As Nairobi is situated close to the equator, the differences between the seasons are minimal. The seasons are referred to as the wet season and dry season. The timing of sunrise and sunset varies little throughout the year for the same reason.
For more information about Nairobi:
Safari Park Hotel & Casino is a well-known luxury and conferencing hotel located in Nairobi, Kenya. It is situated along Thika Road, about 15 kilometers from Nairobi’s city center and 27km away from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The hotel is set on 50 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and offers a serene and tranquil atmosphere and is renowned for its African-inspired architecture, elegant decor, and warm hospitality. It features a range of accommodation options, including spacious rooms and suites, all designed to provide guests with a comfortable and enjoyable stay. The rooms are well-appointed with modern amenities and offer views of the hotel’s gardens or the surrounding Nairobi landscape. The hotel boasts an array of facilities and activities to cater to its guests. There are several restaurants and bars on-site, offering a variety of culinary experiences, including international, African, and Asian cuisines. The hotel’s Nyama Choma Ranch is particularly popular, serving delicious grilled meats in a traditional African setting.
To book your accommodation with Safari Park Hotel, click on the link below:
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All conference participants are encouraged to book their accommodation at the venue in Safari Park Hotel & Casino or at the nearby hotels for the duration of the conference. The following hotels are highly recommended.
Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club
Location: Kigwa Lane, Ridgeways, Off Kiambu Road, Nairobi
Contacts: +254 20 8647000, +254 722 203361/2/3/4, +254 733 333217/8
Distance from conference venue: 9.3km – 19 minutes’ drive
Distance from Nairobi CBD: 14.1 km – 30 minutes’ drive
La-Mada
Hotel
Location: Pipeline Estate Road Nairobi
Contacts: +254 789 994026
Distance from conference venue: 8.4km – 11 minutes’ drive
Distance from Nairobi CBD: 8.4km – 13 minutes’ drive
Sports View Hotel
Kasarani
Location: Icipe Road, Off Thika Road
Contacts: +254111024700/ +254111024704
Distance from conference venue: 2.9km – 8 minutes’ drive
Distance from Nairobi CBD: 14km – 25 minutes’ drive
Duduville International Guest Centre at ICIPE
Location: Icipe campus, Kasarani, Off Nairobi-Thika superhighway
Contacts: +254 20 8632000
Distance from conference venue: 2.4km, 6 minutes’ drive
Distance from Nairobi CBD: 12.2km, 16 minutes’ drive
Sustar
Hotel
Location: Along Garden Estate Road, Exit 7, Thika Road, Nairobi
Contacts: 0114 620 310 or 0738 314 165
Distance from conference venue: 5km – 9 minutes’ drive
Distance from Nairobi CBD: 9.3km – 13 minutes’ drive
St. Luke Hotel
Nairobi
Location: Garden Estate Road, Exit 7, Thika Road, Nairobi
Contacts: 0712 755 755/ 0708 383838 / 0700 878 787
Distance from conference venue: 4.6km – 8 minutes’ drive
Distance from Nairobi CBD: 8.8km – 12 minutes’ drive
Oak Place Hotel
Location: Kigwa Road, Nairobi
Contacts: +254727 959026 /+254 733 136363
Distance from conference venue: 7.2km – 14 minutes’ drive
Distance from Nairobi CBD: 11.1km – 16 minutes’ drive
The African Conference on Agricultural Technology (ACAT) 2023 themed, “Agricultural Resilience through Innovation” focuses on the centrality of science, technology, and innovation (STI) in fostering agricultural transformation on the continent. Join us from 30th October – 3rd November 2023 at the Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya.
+254 20 422 3706
ACATDelegates@aatf-africa.org
© 2023 African Conference of Agricultural Technology. All rights reserved
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H.E. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan Former President Federal Republic of Nigeria has confirmed attendance as a Keynote Speaker for the 1st African Conference of Agricultural Technology (ACAT) which we will be hosting in Nairobi from October 30 to November 2, 2023.
A trained biologist and a proponent for agricultural technologies, he has firmly stood by his word that Africa needs technologies to improve agricultural productivity.
His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is the former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015. He began his political career in 1999 when he was first elected Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State and was decorated with the Best Performing Deputy Governor Award by the Institute of Public Administrators of Nigeria in 2002. He later became the Governor of Bayelsa State and subsequently became the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria before winning the Presidential elections on May 6, 2010.
As President he worked with other heads of states in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to resolve political crises and stabilize democracies in countries like Cote d’Ivoire, Niger, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, and Togo. His commitment towards bringing peace and stability to Africa during his tenure gave the country more recognition in the United Nations Security Council.
Former President Jonathan made history by becoming the first Sub-Saharan African leader to be appointed to the International Advisory Board of the European Corporate Council on Africa and the Middle East.
Since leaving office in 2015, Dr. Jonathan has remained committed to promoting democracy, peace, and respect for the rule of law in Africa. He is the Chairman of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation- an organization founded to promote best practices in democracy and peace building in Africa. He is also the Convener of the West African Elders Forum, a peacebuilding and mediation platform comprising of former presidents and eminent leaders from the region to address election-related violence and other socio-political crises. In addition, He has led several International Election Observation Missions between 2015 and 2023 to Tanzania, Zambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Mozambique, The Gambia, Kenya Sierra Leone, Cambodia, and Zimbabwe
In 2019, he emerged Chairperson of the African Chapter of the International Summit Council for Peace, an association of serving and former Presidents who are jointly working to bring peace, stability, and economic prosperity to the world.
In May and July 2020, he was appointed as a Member of the Kofi Annan Foundation Electoral Integrity Initiative Senior Panel and as the ECOWAS Special Envoy to head its mediation mission to resolve the socio-political crisis in Mali, respectively. In 2021 ECOWAS appointed Dr. Jonathan as Chair of the Council of the Wise.
An avid farmer, Dr. Jonathan is a Life Patron and Fellow of various societies including the Nigerian Environmental Society, the Fisheries Society of Nigeria, Public Administrators of Nigeria, International Association of Impact Assessment, Institute of Corporate Affairs Management as well as Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International.
Dr. Jonathan holds Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Zoology, Hydrobiology and Fisheries Biology, respectively, all from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Welcome to ACAT.
Board Chair, AATF
Agriculture continues to play a pivotal role in meeting the food needs of a growing global African population that is estimated to reach 1.8 billion by 2035.
African countries are making remarkable progress in the adoption of improved agricultural technologies that are bolstering the food and nutrition security resolve and overcoming farm productivity constraints with smallholder farmers’ livelihoods being transformed through agricultural innovations.
Despite such progress, agriculture in Africa is characterized by low productivity, with increasing vulnerability to climate change, accelerated land degradation, and global market shocks exposing farmers to food insecurity. Farmers’ vulnerability is exacerbated by a lack of enabling environments, limited extension services, poor market access, and limited financial support among others, and, crucially, low adoption and use of improved agricultural technologies.
The adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, such as the use of drought-tolerant crops and conservation farming techniques, will help farmers to adapt to changing climatic conditions and reduce their vulnerability to climate-related risks. Precision agriculture technologies such as drones, Global Positioning System mapping, and sensors can assist farmers in optimizing their use of resources, such as water, fertilizer, and pesticides, thus reducing waste and improving efficiency.
NextGen technologies have demonstrated the potential to deliver a transformative agriculture to the continent. They not only improve crop yields, reduce the risk of crop failure, and result in an increase in farmer incomes, but also create new opportunities for farmers due to their robustness to adapt to different agroecological zones.
As delegates gather for the premier African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT), it is my hope that the gathering will intensify the conversation on diversification of agricultural technologies and expanding frontiers for NextGen products in Africa, acceleration of commercialization and scaling of agricultural technologies, and promotion of a functional enabling environment for increased uptake of agricultural technologies and efficient markets while transforming economies.
Diversifying agricultural technologies and expanding frontiers for next-gen products in African technology access and delivery requires a functional enabling environment. This can be amplified through creating awareness, capacity strengthening, information sharing, and collaboration, and gatherings like ACAT are positioning themselves to do just that.
A prosperous, resilient, food and nutrition-secure Africa is possible through innovative agricultural technologies. Let us work together to actualize this resolve.
Welcome to ACAT.
Executive Director, AATF
On behalf of AATF, I would like to invite you to participate in the 1st African Conference of Agricultural Technology (ACAT) which we will be hosting in Nairobi from October 30 to November 2, 2023. This is AATF’s flagship platform and through it, we are looking to provide an opportunity for stakeholders, who are keen on progressing the continent’s socio-economic development, food and nutrition security through the development and commercialization of innovative agriculture technologies, to convene, deliberate and come up with solutions to the challenges they face.
AATF is at the forefront of facilitating access, development, and commercialization of agricultural technologies that help to address the multiple stressors facing farmers in Africa. These stressors include population expansion, climate change, and the resistance to crop pests and diseases. It is important to highlight that technology development has steadily grown but diffusion of products by beneficiaries is still an area that needs attention if investments in the sector are to bear fruit. We recognize that public participation and an enabling and sustainable policy environment are important to enable decision-makers and government institutions across the continent to make informed choices regarding the use of agricultural technology which is critical not only for food security but also for intra-country and cross-border value chain optimization and commerce.
AATF facilitates the creation of a responsive, receptive, science-based, legal, regulatory, and commercial environment that delivers safe and effective technologies to market while protecting human health and the environment and this new conference provides an opportunity to discuss how to scale and enhance the impact of agricultural technologies with an aim of transforming the sector. Adoption of these innovative cutting-edge agricultural technologies in Africa that contribute to addressing the multiple emerging and recurrent production challenges is paramount. These new technologies also enhance productivity and bolster the African economy by empowering farmers to transform their livelihoods.
We look forward to your participation in this inaugural event as we seek to transform Africa’s agriculture.
See you at ACAT in October!
Cabinet Secretary
We welcome you to Nairobi for the African Conference of Agricultural Technology (ACAT), to be held from 30th October – 3rd November 2023 here in Nairobi, Kenya themed Agricultural Resilience through Innovation. We consider it an honour and privilege to have been selected to host this inaugural Conference and look forward to warmly welcoming the delegates from around the world. Come prepared to enjoy a taste of the globally acclaimed Kenyan hospitality!
The conference themes will revolve around areas that will make a contribution to the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and continental agendas, such as the Africa Union Agenda 2063 and in particular the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP). All these aim to end hunger and reduce poverty by spurring economic growth through agriculture-led development and encourage increased national budget allocation to the agriculture sector.
The Conference will also provide a platform to discuss the state of science, technology, and innovation (STI) in Africa, including policy, practice, and opportunity, as well as the sharing of upto date information and lessons on cutting-edge agricultural technology, notably biotechnology. It will also put a spotlight on projects and opportunities that can be initiated to advance Africa’s economic growth and prosperity. These will also be the subject of talks in deal rooms between AATF, African government representatives, research partners, donors, and technology owners.
We look forward to hosting our regional and international guests in Nairobi for this four-day conference as we deliberate and chart the way forward to develop and facilitate the adoption of innovative solutions to address emerging and recurrent challenges in agricultural technology.
Karibuni Nairobi!