Africa Paving the Way for Food Security

nemethal

Agriculture

African innovations across the food industry are fundamentally changing the world we live in and have substantial effects on global food security, health, and nutrition. However, the stories of people who are making these strides often go untold. This is one of the key areas that Keegan Kautzky of the World Food Prize illuminated during his seminar at the U.S. Embassy in Asmara, Eritrea, for an audience of professionals from various industries in Africa.

Kautzky discussed strides African policymakers, scientists and other experts have made in the field of food security, and he offered insight into how those in the agricultural sector can continue to make progress despite the challenges they face. Kautzky specifically mentioned the achievements of notable African scientists, such as Dr. Robert Mwanga and Dr. Maria Andrade, whose improvement of the nutritional qualities of sweet potatoes has paved the way for the development of other fortified foods, such as rice and beans, so consumers in East and Southern Africa have access to the nutrients they need. He also highlighted the achievements of Dr. Gebisa Ejeta, an Ethiopian scientist who discovered a way to make sorghum plants resistant to the parasitic Striga weed, and discussed the work of Monty Jones, the first person to develop disease-resistant, drought-tolerant rice varieties, ultimately bringing billions of dollars into the African economy.

The Unsung Heroes Who Are Changing the Food Industry
People often make the mistake of not valuing food and agriculture as powerful tools of change, even though they are the two powerful areas where most of the major issues we face today are being addressed. Many major challenges, such as climate change, drought, and emerging plant, animal and human diseases are all related to nutrition, health and our food supply. That is why it is important to talk about food and agriculture in this larger, global context so people can truly understand their importance. In talking about food, it is easy to focus on the negative aspects of food security, such as food scarcity, hunger, and malnutrition, but it would be more beneficial to talk about the positive aspects of food and agriculture, like the innovations that have been made by those scientists in Africa, so their mission can be supported. Over 80 developing countries have reduced the prevalence of hunger by at least 50 percent since 1990, which means that efforts to combat hunger have worked. We still have a lot more work to do, but we are headed in the right direction. By focusing on positive statistics like this and the possibility of change, we can gain the political and economic support that is needed to win the fight against hunger.

Obtaining Resources for Innovating in Agriculture
Innovations in agriculture rely heavily on technical support, improving community education and training programs, and making sure that every farmer, entrepreneur, and business owner has access to credit and an environment to work in that allows them to be successful. For them to be successful, the environment must be one that respects farmers and agriculturalists as the businesspeople that they are. If farmers are only able to produce enough for themselves, that says less about them and more about the environment they are working in. If they are not able to be successful, it has very little to do with their work ethic and almost everything to do with their working conditions. Governments must consider how they can reform their agricultural sector to give their farmers the tools they need to be successful. Kautzky mentioned Ghana as a good example of positive government influence. John Kufuor, a former president of Ghana, made reducing hunger a priority during his two terms in office. Because of the importance he placed on this goal and the initiatives and reforms he later put forward, Ghana became the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to decrease hunger by 50 percent. If you want to learn what policies work best, look at regions of the world that have cut hunger in half since the 1990s and examine their programs. Learn from the success of these areas and try to implement a similar program in your country, in the hopes that it will have a similar effect.

Protecting Agricultural Lands
The duty of protecting land falls upon all people in a community. Land use is especially hard to regulate due to the free movement of people to cities and urban areas. Some countries, such as the Netherlands, for example, have made the decision to limit land development and have chosen to build their cities up rather than out. Planning proposals such as this are part of the conversation that must take place within countries to determine ways to better protect the land. Whether it be forest land for ecosystems or agricultural land for production, it is necessary to engage all members of a community in these conversations. This means bringing together business leaders with policymakers in the government to develop the best strategy for land conservation.