Nations in Africa face a complex array of threats to food security, including the historically severe El Niño drought, rising import dependence, weakening currencies, high agricultural commodity prices, and restrictive trade practices. These issues, combined with an increasing population and low agricultural productivity, severely impact the continent's self-sufficiency. Agriculture, which employs more people in Africa than any other sector and significantly contributes to GDP, is particularly affected by climate change, weak institutions, and inadequate infrastructure.
However, there is hope. Agricultural technology and AI have shown promise in alleviating food insecurity, increasing productivity and accessible pricing to help reduce the numbers of citizens facing undernourishment and malnutrition.
Political leaders often struggle with under-resourced governments facing these multifaceted challenges. Yet, innovative technologies offer advancements in crop monitoring, weather prediction, market analysis, and more. By integrating cost-effective technologies and aligning country-level plans with regional and continental strategies, countries can unlock new potential for productivity and development.
Rishon Chimboza, Ronald Osumba, Grant Merrick, Hermione Dace and Ritah Mwangi explore how these transformative solutions can drive sustainable growth and bolster food security across Africa, reshaping agriculture and build resilience to the threats of the future: https://bit.ly/3Xcc2J7