Workshop for the presentation and official launch of digital platforms for resilient agri- food systems in Senegal

On March 30, 2026, the Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT, in collaboration with Jokalante, under the Climate Action Science Program (CASP) Area of Work 2 (AoW2), convened a technical workshop in Dakar, Senegal, to present and officially launch three digital innovation platforms designed to strengthen the resilience of agri-food systems. The workshop brought together approximately sixty participants from government ministries, research institutions, producer organizations, technical and financial partners, agritech companies, and development organizations.

The workshop served five primary functions: the formal launch of innovative and resilient platforms, demonstration of their technical capabilities, identification of systemic constraints to adoption, formulation of actionable recommendations, and consolidation of multi-stakeholder partnerships for scaling. The three platforms presented - FlowAgri (a cooperative management and agricultural supply chain platform integrating AI-powered advisory, group sales coordination, and credit scoring), Xam Xamu Suuf (fertilizer recommendation and water management technologies targeting tools), and the Seasonal Food Calendar (nutrition-market integration) - collectively address key AoW2 priorities, including bundled digital climate information services, early warning systems, climate-resilient water management and nutrition improvement.

Findings from the workshop indicate that while the platforms are technically robust and have undergone field validation in Tambacounda and Sédhiou, several structural constraints persist. These include limited rural connectivity, insufficient availability of localized soil and climate data, low levels of user awareness and digital literacy, and weak interoperability across platforms. The workshop formulated strategic recommendations addressing these constraints, targeting both technical improvements and institutional actions.

The workshop contributes directly to AoW2 High-Level Outcomes 2.1, 2.3, and 2.4; Intermediate Outcomes 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4; and lays the foundation for 2030 Outcomes 1, 2, 3, and 6. Immediate next steps include developing hybrid digital-extension delivery models, formalizing data-sharing agreements with national research institutions, and mobilizing resources for user training and communication campaigns.