Commercial capital, others key to sustainable food future

In the face of deteriorating food security in Africa, leading experts, scientists, policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs in sustainable food systems, have highlighted the need to mobilise commercial capital and empower Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to provide essential services like seed distribution and storage to strengthen the continent’s agricultural resilience.

The experts disclosed this during the Food+ Forum organised by Foreign Policy at the just concluded 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79) in New York, which brought together experts to discuss sustainable food systems and advancements in crop science and regenerative agriculture.

The forum brought together leading experts, scientists, policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs who are building more sustainable food systems through advancing crop science and regenerative agriculture, enhancing soil sustainability and nutrient density, and providing innovative financing and safety nets to bolster food system resilience.

They raised concern that food security is deteriorating amid a range of complex and intersecting threats, including climate change, fragmented supply chains, and regional conflicts, noting that the factors are only increasing pressures on food systems, but also destabilising economies, contributing to migration, and risking famine in countries.

The experts claimed that with the complex challenges, innovative solutions are being developed, deployed, and scaled by a range of partners around the world. During a session titled: “Farming the Future: Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Africa’s Agricultural Sector,” the Senior Vice President of Africa Programs at Heifer International, Adesuwa Ifedi, discussed the evolving role of youth in agriculture.

She noted that young Africans are increasingly leveraging technology and data in the post-COVID era, emphasising the need for visibility and ecosystems that facilitate connections among young innovators.

The Federal Government announced a partnership with Mastercard aimed at supporting one million African farmers to enhance yields and productivity. This partnership was finalised during a meeting between Vice President Kashim Shettima and Mastercard executives. The project will focus on improving financial inclusion and digital access across Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania, with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB).

During the Unstoppable Africa forum, organised by the Global Business Africa Initiative, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres emphasised the need for collective action to achieve sustainable development across Africa.

The President of AGRA, Dr. Agnes Kalibata, highlighted the vital role of African farmers, who produce 1.2 billion tons of food primarily for urban populations. She also discussed the importance of public-private partnerships to enhance agricultural value addition in the continent.

A World Food Prize laureate, Dr. Cary Fowler, spoke about the historical link between food security and national security, tracing it back to ancient civilisations. He underscored how current global conflicts, particularly the war in Ukraine, have disrupted essential food exports, such as wheat and maize, significantly impacting food access for vulnerable populations in Africa and the Middle East.