Why a science-based strategy is key in Africa’s agricultural transformation

Why a Science-Based Strategy is Key in Africa’s Agricultural Transformation

Introduction

This article discusses the urgent need for Africa to adopt a science-based agricultural strategy in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. It highlights the challenges and opportunities in agricultural development on the continent and emphasizes the importance of soil restoration, targeted investments in research and technology, and tailored fertilizer formulations. By implementing these strategies, Africa can enhance agricultural productivity, reduce poverty, and ensure food security for future generations.

Africa: Challenges and Opportunities in Agricultural Development

• Africa is significantly off-track in achieving the SDGs, particularly in reducing hunger and poverty.
• Agriculture contributes nearly one third of Africa’s GDP and employs over 60% of the workforce.
• Africa has abundant resources, favorable climate conditions, unused arable land, and a young population.
• Rapid population growth poses a challenge, with projections of 1.7 billion people by 2030 and 2.4 billion by 2050.

Addressing Challenges through Science-Based Strategies

• Africa currently imports $55 billion of food annually, which is projected to double by 2030 without improvements in agricultural productivity.
• Deforestation, water scarcity, soil degradation, and rising temperatures threaten agricultural productivity in Africa.
• A science-based agricultural strategy involves leveraging scientific research and technologies to optimize crop yields while minimizing environmental impact.

Soil, Fertilizer, and Research: Science-Based Strategies in Action

• Restoring soil fertility is critical for enhancing agricultural productivity in Africa.
• Africa’s soil degradation rates are up to 100 times higher than the natural regeneration rate, leading to a widening crop yield gap.
• Tailored fertilizer formulations and investments in soil health management practices can mitigate the effects of soil degradation and boost long-term agricultural productivity.

Science-Based Strategies Already Underway Across Africa

• Proven interventions, such as targeted investments in research, technology, and extension services, have demonstrated transformative potential in countries like Ethiopia, Ghana, and Tanzania.
• These interventions have led to increased crop production and have the potential to close the yield gap in Africa.

Collaborative Efforts for Accelerated Growth

• South-south cooperation is crucial for knowledge-sharing and driving the adoption of innovative technologies in Africa’s agricultural transformation.
• Full participation from governments, the private sector, development partners, and the scientific community is essential for success.

Conclusion

By adopting a science-based agricultural strategy, Africa can overcome its challenges and unlock its agricultural potential. This will not only ensure food security and reduce poverty but also contribute to global food security and economic prosperity. Collaborative efforts and investments in research, technology, and tailored solutions are key to achieving accelerated growth and sustainable development in Africa’s agricultural sector.

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Relevant to the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 1.1: By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere.
• SDG 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round.
• SDG 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers.
• SDG 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading, and innovation.
• SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
• SDG 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land, and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 1.1.1: Proportion of population below the international poverty line, by sex, age, employment status, and geographical location.
• Indicator 2.1.1: Prevalence of undernourishment in the population, based on the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) methodology.
• Indicator 2.3.1: Volume of production per labor unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size.
• Indicator 8.2.1: Annual growth rate of real GDP per employed person.
• Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.
• Indicator 15.3.1: Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

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Fuente: europeansting.com

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