AfDB launches transformation strategy to guarantee food for Africa

The African Development bank (AfDB) has launched a new initiative, called the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) that would guarantee additional 513million tons of food for African countries.

The knowledge and innovation-based programme is in response to recognised need of scaling up proven technologies across Africa.

The programme would also support AfDB’s Feed Africa Strategy for the continent to eliminate current massive importation of food, as well as transform its economies by targeting agriculture as a major source of economic diversification and wealth and a powerful engine for job creation.

AfDB President, Akinwumi Adesina at a TAAT side event during the 2017 World Food Prize in Des Moines, Iowa, said TAAT was born out of major consultation bringing together global players in agriculture.

He explained that TAAT would help break down decades of national boundary-focused seed release systems.