Embracing a sustainable legacy SFSA transition to SAF
The official launch of the Sustainable Agriculture Foundation Bangladesh (SAF Bangladesh), formerly the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA), was successfully held at the Padma Hall of Pan Pacific Sonargaon, Dhaka.
Key figures from the government, donors, NGOs, the private sector, and academia attended this significant event, highlighting Bangladesh's shared commitment to fostering agricultural growth, resilience, and sustainability.
A welcome address from the managing director marked the inauguration. Moshiur Rahman, Chairman of SAF Bangladesh, highlighted the importance of collaboration in driving sustainable agricultural development. Following the inspiring keynote speech titled "SFSA Legacy: Nurturing Growth, Cultivating Sustainability," delivered by Simon Winter, Executive Director of SFSA, Switzerland. He emphasised the importance of sustainable agricultural practices and the legacy of SFSA's decades-long impact in Bangladesh. "Our journey has always been about empowering farmers and communities through sustainable practices. As we transition to SAF Bangladesh, we are reaffirming our mission to cultivate a future where agricultural growth and sustainability go hand in hand," Simon stated.
An address from Md followed the keynote speech. Farhad Zamil, Executive Director of SAF Bangladesh, shared the transformative journey- "SFSA to SAF: Success to Significance." He emphasised the foundation's commitment to building on past achievements to drive greater significance and contribution to the country's agriculture and rural economic development.
A key highlight of the event was the panel discussion, "Accelerating Sustainable Agricultural Transformation in Bangladesh: Bridging Public, Private and Philanthropic Efforts for Lasting Impact," moderated by Prof. M. A. Sattar Mandal, Former Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University, and featuring distinguished panellists from the sector.
The event concluded with closing remarks from Asif Kibria, Vice-Chairman of SAF Bangladesh, who reiterated the foundation's vision of a unified approach to achieving sustainable agricultural transformation in the country.