Africa’s agriculture and agribusiness future is at the top of the world’s food and economic growth agendas, so it is appropriate that the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) will hold its annual Symposium and World Forum in Cape Town this year.

“We’re really looking to highlight the needs for agribusiness development and education and careers throughout the African context,” said IFAMA president Thad Simons, who is also president and CEO of Novus International.

The World Forum will have three main themes – The Talent Factor, Feeding the World, and Africa Agribusiness Age of Opportunity. The Symposium portion of the conference features two days of research presentations on topics addressing the global food system that will form the foundation for discussions during the forum. “These are people doing research with regard to economics, marketing, all the parts of agribusiness that are important to understand how we are linking the farmer to the consumer,” Thad told me during an interview at the International Production and Processing Expo last week.

IFAMA is also helping to promote the 40 Chances Fellows program, which was announced at the 2013 World Food Prize. “There’s an open submission process happening right now through the end of May,” Thad explained. “We’re just trying to make sure as many people are putting forth their submissions so we get four really great candidates.”

The fellowships will fund four applicants under the age of 40 submitting a social enterprises plan that addresses issues of hunger, conflict, or poverty in Rwanda, Liberia, Sierra Leone, or Malawi.

Find out more in this interview with Thad – Interview with IFAMA president Thad Simons

International Production and Processing Expo Photos