Internationally acclaimed Food Science and Technology expert, Prof. Lateef Sanni has achieved another global feat following his nomination into the Board of World Agriculture Forum(WAF)
Prof. Sanni, who is the Executive Director, Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, will join experts and global leaders to address pressing challenges and opportunities in the agricultural sector.
The World Agriculture Forum (WAF) was conceived during the Global Agriculture Summit in 2017 in New Delhi and later discussed at the World Food Summit in Des Moines in 2019, as a neutral, global platform for nations, industries, experts, and institutions to converge, collaborate, and catalyze sustainable agricultural development.
The body, in addition, targets fostering a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and collective problem-solving across the sector in different countries.
Following extensive and in-depth consultations with experts and global leaders, a consensus was reached to establish the World Agriculture Forum, modeled on the pattern of World Economic Forum, to address the pressing needs and opportunities in the agricultural sector.
The WAF works on setting broad global agenda and development pathways for agriculture sector, and lobby for policies that can direct world agriculture towards sustainability and sufficiency.
This non-profit venture stands sovereign and unbiased with its interest incumbent upon the betterment of agriculture. WAF brings the Governments, industry and development institutions closer and increase the flow of innovations, technologies and success models, that most often is skewed due to lack of opportunity, policies or geographical barriers, in reaching intended beneficiaries.
WAF is an important global platform to discuss the constraints and opportunities for a global momentum towards making agriculture high-tech, market linked and value added for best returns to farmers and to all stake- holders across the food value chain.
The Forum brings together eminent personalities of global agriculture to one platform towards addressing the global challenges and expanding the opportunities with shared vision and collective actions.
The World Agriculture Forum envisions a transformative future where global agriculture is defined by boundless innovation, dynamic growth, unparalleled productivity, and unwavering sustainability.
This aspirational vision is rooted in the conviction that agriculture must harmoniously balance the escalating needs of a growing global population, environmental stewardship, and economic prosperity for all, thereby ensuring a resilient, regenerative, and thriving food system that benefits both present and future generations.
The mission of the World Agriculture Forum is to power sustainable agriculture development through agenda and advocacy, innovations and collaborations, and to formulate effective actionable plans to meet the world’s growing need for food, fiber, fuel, and water by promoting trade, technology and investments, and fostering collaborations among diverse stakeholders.
WAF Board shall be comprised of 30 prominent persons from around the world, representing diverse fields in agriculture, including policy making, businesses, technology, finance, development or diplomacy.
The major responsibilities of the Board members shall be; setting broad agenda and direction for working of the Forum, providing strategic support and guidance to the Forum, deliberating the Board agenda and overseeing financial and administrative matters, finalizing and approving Board meeting agenda and other important matters concerning the Forum.
Prof. Lateef Oladimeji SANNI graduated from the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta with Bachelor of Science degree; Second Class Upper Division in the Department of Food Science and Technology in 1990.
He later obtained Master and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degrees at the Department of Food Technology, University of Ibadan in 1993 and 1999 respectively.
He joined the then University of Agriculture, Abeokuta(UNAAB, now FUNAAB) in 1993 as Assistant Lecturer and became Professor of Food Science and Technology in 2008. I have published 72 Technical Journal articles; 25 Books, and 26 Conference proceedings.
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Prof Sanni was Principal Investigator, Food Developers Initiative sponsored by Association of African Universities in Nigeria, Benin and Sierra Leone since 2008-2010 and Food Science and Nutrition Network in West Africa, March 2010-Aug 2011 under the sponsorship of Association of African Universities/UK DFID.
He also served as Country Manager for Nigeria in a five-Country project; Cassava: Adding Value for Africa (C: AVA), from May 2008 till date; European union-African Caribbean Pacific (EU-ACP) Science Technology Capacity Building Project, Nov 2009 till October, 2012 in collaboration with the Greenwich University/Natural Resources Institute, Chatham and Project Coordinator, Cassava Value Chain Development project in West Africa, covering Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Benin Republic; a three-year project, sponsored by the Common Fund for Commodities from August 2008 – March, 2012 and implemented by the , Ibadan. Nigeria.
He is also till date the President, International Society of Tropical Root Crops.
