2025 World Meeting on Human Fraternity: Alberta Akosa to speak on future of food security
The future of food security will feature prominently at the 2025 World Meeting on Human Fraternity at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Headquarters in the Vatican City, Rome.
The global meeting, to be held on September 12 and 13, would also highlight Africa’s agricultural realities, women’s empowerment, and inclusive food systems transformation.
African voice
The Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, who will be participating in the meeting, will join a high-level roundtable on “The future of food security: A fraternal approach” at the FAO Headquarters.
She will also serve as a witness in the “Thought” section of the programme, on the theme, “Technological and social innovation for the food system”.
Speaking to journalists, Ms Akosa described the invitation as “an extraordinary honour”, noting that it was a milestone not only for herself, but for Ghana and Africa’s agricultural community.
“At the Vatican, I will bring the voices of African farmers, especially women and youth, to a global stage, showing the transformative work we do at Agrihouse Foundation,” she said.
Building fairer food system
Ms Akosa said the event would give her the opportunity to not only share her professional journey, but also reflect on the meaning of building a fairer food system every day.
“I will speak to the deeper meaning of my commitment through Agrihouse Foundation, the challenges of breaking down barriers of gender, access to land, technology, and how innovation can emerge organically from within communities, especially through women,” she explained.
As part of the event, Ms Akosa would also be received by Pope Leo XIV for a special blessing, a symbolic encounter affirming the Vatican’s call for fraternity, solidarity, and justice in tackling hunger and inequality.
Flagship programmes
Ms Akosa, an advocate and strategist, has initiated flagship programmes such as the Women in Food and Agricultural Leadership Forum (WOFAGRIC) and Gold in the Soil Awards, the Pre-Harvest Agribusiness Exhibition and Conference, The Gathering of the Royals, the Agri-Woman Marketplace, and the Agriwatch news portal.
These interventions have directly impacted thousands of farmers, traders, agripreneurs and institutions across the country and Africa.
Her work has earned her both national and international recognition as a change agent shaping inclusive and sustainable food systems.
The Vatican programme will also include the Constituent Assembly of the Human at Campidoglio Palace and a symbolic celebration of global fraternity at St Peter’s Square.
With her participation at the Vatican—combining both high-level discussions and a personal testimony—Ms Akosa is expected to strengthen Africa’s voice in shaping global solutions around food security, sustainability and human development.
International recognitions
The Vatican invitation adds to a growing list of international recognitions that have positioned Ms Akosa as one of Africa’s most influential voices in agriculture and development.
In 2024, for instance, she won the Agrifood Future Prize in Italy for her outstanding contributions to Africa’s agri-food systems.
That same year, she was appointed the first African Ambassador of Brazil’s Mulheres do Agro Rally, and in early 2025, she featured prominently at the FAO Africa Food Systems Forum in Senegal.
She was also a panellist at the Graphic–Stanbic Business Breakfast Meeting in Accra and is scheduled to deliver a keynote at the upcoming International Women’s Congress in Brazil this November.
