As the climate crisis intensifies, the world’s water systems – from rainfall and rivers to oceans and underground aquifers – are under growing strain. Droughts, floods, pollution, and overuse are reshaping how water moves through every part of the food system. What happens to our food when rivers dry, rain becomes unpredictable, or oceans warm? And how can we reimagine our relationship with water to build a more sustainable and just food future?
In 2026, the Food Indaba will explore these vital questions through the theme: Food Systems and Water Systems – Rivers, Oceans, Aquifers and Rainfall (ROAR). From 20 July to 2 August 2026, the two-week event programme will bring together food growers, water experts, policymakers, researchers, chefs, activists, and citizens to examine how water shapes our food systems and what this means for people and the planet.
The 2026 Food Indaba will centre the people whose lives and livelihoods flow with Africa’s waters. Key areas of focus include:
- People Building Water Resilience: Farmers, growers, and communities adapting to changing rainfall and securing local water for food and livelihoods.
- Restoring the Lifelines: Riverine and catchment communities reviving ecosystems that sustain harvests, health, and biodiversity.
- People of the Water: Fishers, traders, and aquaculture innovators shaping a fair and sustainable blue food economy.
- Cities Creating Circular Futures: Urban residents reimagining water and food flows through reuse, recycling, and innovation.
- Water Justice and the Right to Food: Ensuring equitable access to water and food as interconnected human rights across Africa.
“Water runs through every meal, every harvest, and every life on this continent. As climate pressures grow, how we manage and share our water will define the future of Africa’s food systems,” says South African Urban Food and Farming Trust CEO Kurt Ackermann, ”The 2026 Food Indaba invites everyone, from children to seniors, farmers and fishers, researchers and policymakers, entrepreneurs and artists to take part.”
Building on the success of the 2025 Food Indaba – which hosted 26 events across 14 days, drew nearly 600 attendees, and reached over 120 million people through media coverage – the 2026 edition will continue to grow collaborations and deepen public engagement around the intersection of food, water, and climate. The programme will feature events for all ages and interests – from children to seniors – with a mix of in-person and virtual sessions, and a strong pan-African element connecting conversations and experiences across the continent.
This year, new partnerships will expand the conversation beyond land-based food systems. ABALOBI, a social enterprise working to empower small-scale fishers through technology and fair seafood markets, brings expertise in community-led traceability, working towards a future of self-sustainable fisheries. The Two Oceans Aquarium joins as a key partner, contributing its experience in marine conservation, environmental education, and public engagement to inspire action for the future well-being of the ocean. Together, these partners will highlight the essential “links between ocean health, water management, and a resilient food future.
Save the date: 20 July – 2 August 2026. More details on venues, speakers, and activities will be shared in the coming months. Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates and announcements as the programme unfolds.
About Food Indaba
The Food Indaba is hosted by the SA Urban Food & Farming Trust, with co-host and sponsor SOLVE@Waterfront. It is co-sponsored by the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security . Event partners for 2026 include ABALOBI and the Two Oceans Aquarium, Makers Landing, Cape Town Science Centre, UNESCO Chair in Science and Education for African Food Systems, Daily Maverick: Food Justice and Cape Town TV.
About the SA Urban Food & Farming Trust
Founded in 2014, the SA Urban Food & Farming Trust is a non-profit public benefit organisation that works through food and farming to strengthen South Africa’s urban communities and the ecosystems that sustain them. Learn more at fairfood.org.za.