State of Agriculture in Africa 2021 report unveiled at AGRF summit in Kenya

The State of Agriculture in Africa 2021 Report (AASR21) was launched today at the AGRF Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.

The report discusses the challenges and opportunities in creating sustainable and resilient agrifood systems in Africa.

It explores what building resilient and sustainable food systems in Africa involves, and calls for necessary actions from governments, pan-African organizations, bilateral and multilateral development partners and the private sector.

“This year’s AASR21 details the practical steps that all stakeholders, from governments and regional organizations to the private sector, must take to rebuild and improve African food systems,” said Dr Agnes Kalibata, President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

He continued, “The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that despite the progress we have made over the past decade, African food systems remain fragile in the face of external shocks.

“We must seize the opportunity we have to rebuild ourselves after the pandemic, to make our food systems more resilient without putting additional pressure on the environment.”

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has recorded the fastest rate of agricultural production growth since 2000 of any region in the world.

However, three quarters of this growth is due to the expansion of cultivated land, beyond increases in yield. With Africa’s population set to double to nearly 2.5 billion by 2050, now is the time for stakeholders to put in place the necessary measures to increase production. without compromising the continent’s natural resources.

“Increasing yields and productivity on existing agricultural land is one of the most important ways to make African food systems more resilient and sustainable. Increasing productivity on existing farmland will reduce pressures for continued expansion of cropland and preserve the valuable forest and grass ecosystems and the biodiversity they provide, ”said Andrew Cox, Chief of Staff and Strategy from AGRA.

The report outlines the priorities and next steps that must be taken by all stakeholders to achieve the transformation that will lead to sustainable and resilient agrifood systems.

“The AASR21 should serve as a wake-up call on the need for urgent action to support the creation of resilient food systems and reverse or mitigate the impact we have seen on the environment,” said Dr Thom Jayne from Michigan State University, and lead author of the report.

“One of the first steps is to significantly increase public investment in agricultural research, development and extension. While agricultural R&D spending has increased over the years, in SSA, public investment represents less than 1% of agricultural GDP in most countries, ”added Dr Jayne.

The report further builds on the call to action made to African governments at the United Nations Food Systems Summit, recognizing the urgent need during the last decade of the global effort to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The AASR21 was launched during the 11th edition of the AGRF Summit, an annual gathering that brings together heads of state and government, ministers of agriculture, members of civil society, leaders of the sector private, scientists and farmers in discussions that define the future of food in Africa. systems.

Under the theme Pathways to Recovery and Resilient Food Systems, this year’s AGRF Summit will explore the pathways and actions needed to steer the continent towards food systems that provide sufficient and nutritious food, protect the environment and create jobs. sustainable.