Conferences and summits: InfoPoint conference: Challenges and opportunities for local production of Formulated Complementary Foods (FCF) in Africa

InfoPoint Conference: Challenges and Opportunities for Local Production of Formulated Complementary Foods (FCF) in Africa

The European Commission (EC) is committed to addressing all forms of malnutrition, with a particular focus on young children’s nutrition. Formulated Complementary Foods (FCF) are foods for children from 6 to 24 months old that are specifically formulated to meet their nutritional needs.

Making FCF available, affordable, and accessible to the most vulnerable contributes to reducing young children’s malnutrition, preventing irreversible long-term consequences on cognition, health, and educational performance.

Together with the African Union, and thanks to an analysis conducted by the International Trade Centre (ITC), the EC has identified Formulated Complementary Foods as one of the priority Regional Value Chains (RVC) with the most potential for development in Africa. Investing in local production of FCF in Africa is a priority for the EC.

Local producers of FCF are facing multiple challenges, but there are also plenty of opportunities for all stakeholders in these value chains to come together and improve the accessibility, availability, and affordability of safe and nutritious foods for young children who need it the most.

Conference Details

Date: Tuesday 18 February 2025

Time: 14:00 - 15:30 (CET)

Location: InfoPoint, Brussels, Belgium

Languages: English

Objectives of the Conference

• Discuss the challenges that African local producers of Formulated Complementary Foods (FCF) are facing, such as raw material sourcing, regulatory constraints, high production costs, and challenges in accessing finance.
• Identify areas where they need support to boost their production and make FCF more accessible and available for the children who need it the most.
• Identify priority actions for support to enhance FCF production, ensuring improved availability and affordability for the children who need it most.
• Share information on EC’s work with ITC on Regional Value Chains and provide an update on current progress.
• Discuss how financial institutions can support these initiatives.