ISF’s Rose Souza Richards, Phytosanitary Affairs Manager, and Ben Rivoire, Sustainability and Crop Value Chain Manager, participated in discussions on food security, innovation, and trade at the International Grains Conference 2025 held in London, UK, on 10-11 June 2025.
Rose spoke on a panel addressing Africa’s food system, where she highlighted the potential of digital trade solutions, such as ePhyto, to modernize and unify the intra-African seed trade.
“Digital trade systems like ePhyto are not just about compliance—they’re about building a more resilient, inclusive, and future-ready agricultural economy,” said Rose.
With Africa’s population set to double by 2050, and urbanization and economic development accelerating, the continent’s food system is at a pivotal moment. The panel discussed how changing dietary preferences, nutrition security, and logistics modernization are reshaping demand, and how private sector innovation is essential to meet these needs sustainably.#
