Five pillars

The ideas behind the table.

The intellectual strength of KFS comes from connecting questions that are too often discussed separately.

Opening 30 November 2026

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HeritageKnowledgeSkillsCuisineHospitalityTourismEnterpriseTradeDiplomacy

African Food Heritage & Identity

What Africa inherited, what communities know, what has survived, what is disappearing and what food tells us about identity.

What does Africa have — and what are we doing with it?

Why it matters: Heritage is a living source of identity, skill and possibility — not a static display of the past.
At the table: Communities, chefs, cultural institutions, researchers, producers and storytellers
Areas of discussion: Ingredients, memory, indigenous knowledge, culinary practice, documentation and protection
KFS journey: Heritage → Knowledge → Skills

From production and processing to packaging, branding, enterprise, procurement, finance, markets, hospitality supply chains and trade.

How does heritage become a product, an enterprise and a market?

Why it matters: Value grows when knowledge is translated into responsible products, credible brands and connected markets.
At the table: Entrepreneurs, MSMEs, producers, buyers, investors, hospitality and trade professionals
Areas of discussion: Processing, packaging, branding, finance, procurement, distribution and market access
KFS journey: Heritage → Product → Marketplace → Enterprise → Trade

Exploring how food moves from cuisine to experience, and from experience to destination.

When does food stop being simply a meal and become a destination experience?

Why it matters: Cuisine gives a destination texture, memory and meaning — and creates opportunities across a visitor economy.
At the table: Chefs, hotels, restaurants, tourism bodies, cultural institutions and destination leaders
Areas of discussion: Guest experience, place-making, culinary routes, hospitality skills and destination storytelling
KFS journey: Cuisine → Hospitality → Tourism → Enterprise

Indigenous and underutilised foods, nutrition, climate resilience, sustainability, science, technology, innovation and future skills.

How can African knowledge and modern tools build resilient food futures?

Why it matters: Africa's food future can draw strength from indigenous foods while using science and technology with purpose.
At the table: Farmers, scientists, technologists, nutrition leaders, educators, innovators and young people
Areas of discussion: Resilience, nutrition, sustainability, food systems, technology and future skills
KFS journey: Knowledge → Skills → Innovation → Enterprise

Connecting chefs, countries, cultural institutions, tourism organisations, enterprises, researchers and international partners through food.

No one comes simply to teach. Everyone comes to exchange.

Why it matters: A shared table creates room for cultural understanding, professional exchange and new relationships.
At the table: Chefs, embassies, cultural institutions, tourism organisations, researchers and trade partners
Areas of discussion: Culinary exchange, cultural dialogue, tourism promotion, knowledge relationships and trade connections
KFS journey: Cuisine → Hospitality → Trade → Diplomacy