Alexandros Gasparatos was one of the co-organisers of the 6th International Conference on Sustainability Science (ICSS2016) in Stellenbosch, South Africa (2-3 March 2016). The event explored how Sustainability Science can help solve the challenges that Africa is currently facing. Alex co-organised with Frans Swanepoel (University of the Western Cape) a special session on “Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security”. Speakers discussed key challenges related to food security in Africa, how agriculture has been driving economic development across the continent and the role of gender in ensuring a competitive agricultural sector in Africa.