Webinar Series / 2025
Colorful Revolution
A Global Webinar Series on Fruit & Vegetable Investment
This five-part series highlights key areas where targeted, high-impact investment can strengthen horticulture systems, improve nutrition outcomes, and support more inclusive market participation. Each webinar brings together research insights and expert perspectives to explore practical strategies for advancing resilient fruit and vegetable value chains.
Join Our Five-Part Webinar Series
Catalyzing High-Impact Investment in F&Vs
This five-part webinar series explores priority investment areas through focused sessions that combine research findings with expert-led panel discussions. Speakers share real-world examples, policy insights, and implementation lessons from diverse contexts.
Participants will hear directly from researchers and practitioners working to strengthen fruit and vegetable systems through innovation, investment, and inclusive approaches.
Series Dates: August 13 – September 17, 2025
Format: Live webinars with recordings available
Cost: Free and open to all
This webinar series focuses on five interconnected investment priorities identified through research and expert dialogue:
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Addressing postharvest losses and strengthening value chains
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Enhancing extension through capacity building and digital innovation
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Strengthening seed systems and research infrastructure
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Elevating nutrition and consumer demand for fruits and vegetables
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Improving market access for women through policy instruments
Webinar 1
Addressing Postharvest Losses and Building Value Chains
August 13, 2025 | 6:00–7:30 AM PST
Postharvest losses of 40–50%, as reported in Kenya and Tanzania, undermine farmer incomes, reduce food availability, and drive up consumer prices. Strategic investments in cold chain infrastructure, improved packaging, processing technologies, and aggregation centers can significantly reduce waste while creating new economic opportunities. These interventions strengthen entire value chains, particularly in peri-urban and regional trade hubs.
Learn from our guest panelists through exploring postharvest innovations that are ready to scale and offer fast, tangible results.
Guest Panelist
Dr. Jane Ambuko Lukachi
Professor of Horticulture
Dr. Peninah Yumbya
Nutrition and Food Systems Researcher at International Center for Evaluation and Development (ICED)
Dr. Gloria Essilfie
Senior Lecturer
University of Ghana
Webinar 2
Enhancing Extension through Capacity Building and Digital Innovation
August 20, 2025 | 7:00–8:30 AM PST
Robust extension systems are critical for translating innovation into impact. In countries such as Tanzania, Nepal, and Honduras, gaps in technical knowledge, service coverage, and integration across stakeholders limit technology uptake. Targeted investments in youth and women-led training programs, digital advisory platforms, and multi-actor collaboration can build a skilled horticulture workforce and improve farmer outcomes.
Learn from our guest panelists through exploring how investments in timely, tailored information and strengthened local networks can deliver higher yields, improved resilience, and more inclusive participation in F&V value chains.
Guest Panelist
Rikin Gandhi
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer | Digital Green
Dr. Ranjana Rawal
Scientist | National Horticultural Research Center | Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC)
Julio López Montes
Associate Professor & Plant Protection Specialist | Zamorano University
Webinar 3
Strengthening Seed Systems and Research Infrastructure
September 3, 2025 | 6:00–7:30 AM PST
Limited access to quality, climate-resilient seeds constrains fruit and vegetable productivity across regions. Strengthening breeding programs, propagation systems, and research–farmer linkages is essential for accelerating varietal development and adoption.
This session highlights seed system partnerships and research investments that support locally adapted, high-impact solutions.
Guest Panelist
Dr. Allen Van Deynze
Director | Seed Biotechnology Center | University of California, Davis
Dr. Mathieu Ayenan
Associate Scientist – Vegetable Breeder | World Vegetable Center
Dr. Mary Ann Sayoc
Partnerships & Alliances Lead | East-West Seed International
Dr. Naalamle Amissah
Senior Lecturer | University of Ghana
Webinar 4
Elevating Nutrition and Consumer Demand for Fruits and Vegetables
September 10, 2025 | 6:00–7:30 AM PST
Increasing demand for nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables is essential for improving diets and supporting inclusive market growth. Demand-side interventions can shape consumption patterns while strengthening incentives for producers.
This session explores nutrition-focused strategies that connect food systems, public health, and consumer behavior to sustain long-term impact.
Guest Panelist
Dr. Ahmed Kablan
Executive President | WICE Consulting Collective
Dr. Imelda Agdeppa
Director, Department of Science and Technology | Food and Nutrition Research Institute
Dr. Eva Monterrosa
Programme Lead, Consumer Demand Generation | Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
Webinar 5
Improving Market Access for Women through Policy Instruments
September 17, 2025 | 6:00–7:30 AM PST
Women face persistent barriers to market participation, including limited mobility, time constraints, and exclusion from formal systems. Policy and investment approaches that respond to these barriers can unlock women’s economic potential across fruit and vegetable value chains.
This session examines policy instruments and market innovations that have been shown to increase women’s participation, profitability, and leadership.
Guest Panelist
Olivia Nyaidho
Executive Director | Development in Gardening Kenya
Dr. Freda Asem
Senior Lecturer, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness | University of Ghana
Dr. Janelle Larson
Associate Professor, Agricultural Economics | Pennsylvania State University
Carla Legros
Consultant | CGAP, World Bank
