Officials from the United Nations and the African Union have called on African countries to intensify the use of science and technology in the agricultural sector. The goal of these measures is to increase productivity, strengthen food reserves, and enhance the resilience of agri-food systems.
This call was made during the opening of the Africa Science and Innovation Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The event gathered stakeholders to discuss how innovation can contribute to the transformation of the continent's agri-food systems.
Abebe Hailu Gabriel, Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN and its Regional Representative for Africa, noted that technologies such as artificial intelligence can help farmers improve yields by converting complex agricultural information into timely and practical solutions.
He warned that the growing innovation gap leads to increased production costs and reduced product quality, jeopardizing food security, processing, and farmers' ability to meet market demands. Furthermore, it weakens the sector's potential to withstand climate shocks.
Hailu Gabriel strongly recommended that African governments reinforce their commitments to transforming agri-food systems with consistent funding, clear division of responsibilities, and measurable goals, warning that declarations will be ineffective without concrete actions and accountability.
Moses Vilakati, the African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, stated that the priority is ensuring that proven innovations can be implemented on a wide scale with the support of sustainable financing.
Vilakati emphasized: 'The problem before us is no longer about commitments, but about implementation,' urging the transformation of ambitions into actions, and plans into tangible improvements in people's lives through the use of science, technology, and innovation to strengthen food supply.
The three-day forum is expected to examine how science, technology, and innovation can create more productive, sustainable, inclusive, and viable agri-food systems, and to develop a regional roadmap for implementing existing commitments.
