By Milliam Murigi
The path for Africa to emerge as a major supplier of food globally will rely not so much on finding new farming technologies but rather on ensuring current advancements reach countless farmers.
It came to light during the World Food Prize Foundation's DialogueNext Africa conference held in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya.
The gathering, which assembled officials, researchers, farmers, agricultural business executives, and support organizations, centered around a shared issue: addressing challenges facing African farming.
"Although there have been years of study and advancement, numerous established technologies are still limited to academic settings as farmers face ongoing challenges such as poor productivity, extreme weather events, and hunger," stated Hon. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, member of the World Food Prize Foundation Council of Advisors.
He believes that Africa isn't short on ideas; rather, it needs the structures required to implement them widely. The region has already created drought-resistant maize, heat-resilient wheat, disease-immune cassava, nutrient-enriched crops, better animal varieties, digital guidance services, and climate-friendly agricultural technologies that can revolutionize food production.
What we require at this moment is growth," stated Dr. Adesina. "This isn't a gathering focused on what needs to be created next. It's a meeting centered around expanding solutions that are already effective.
During the same gathering, Mashal Husain, president of the Foundation, mentioned that the conference was created as a forum for discussions that result in agreements and collaborations aimed at speeding up changes in agriculture.
The World Food Prize Foundation focuses on bringing together discussions that make a difference," Husain stated. "When experts, authorities, agriculturalists, businesspeople, financiers, and journalists come together, concepts develop into collaborations, and these alliances lead to meaningful outcomes.
The DialogueNext initiative builds upon the Foundation's well-known Borlaug Dialogue, which takes place each year in Des Moines, Iowa, yet adopts a distinct method. Rather than requiring international stakeholders to travel to a single venue, the Foundation is bringing the discussion to areas that influenced the heritage of its founding figure, Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Norman Borlaug.
The initial DialogueNext gathering took place in Mexico, where Borlaug initiated his wheat studies that ignited the Green Revolution. The subsequent event occurred in India, where enhanced plant species prevented mass starvation during the 1960s. This year's conference in Nairobi recognized Borlaug's last endeavor to introduce the Green Revolution across Africa.
It took us forty years to hold this discussion on African land," Husain stated. "However, Africa plays a crucial role in the future of worldwide food safety.
Dr. Adesina stated that numerous innovations have shown impressive outcomes in trial phases yet struggle to benefit millions of small-scale farmers due to disjointed distribution networks, insufficient funding, and underdeveloped agricultural support services.
He urged governments, research organizations, and development collaborators to shift their attention from individual achievements toward establishing comprehensive frameworks that can implement technologies nationwide.
As stated by Professor Ruth Oniang’o, even with advances in science, numerous farmers have not encountered or utilized tools developed exclusively for their needs. This occurs because new ideas frequently remain within research institutions due to poor interaction between researchers and agricultural workers.
It is available," she stated. "The issue is that numerous farmers are unaware of its existence or fail to grasp how it could be advantageous to them.
She encouraged reporters to collaborate in advancing agriculture by converting scientific findings into narratives that farmers can comprehend and implement.
Professor Oniang’o also urged journalists to go to agricultural research centers and showcase real-world advancements currently present in Kenya.
The press holds an obligation to clarify scientific concepts," she stated. "Studies must not stay confined within academic publications. They ought to be accessible to farmers.
Regulatory challenges were also seen as an additional hurdle in expanding agricultural innovations. Dr. Adesina pointed out the extended approval procedures that necessitate enhanced crop types to go through multiple tests prior to being introduced in nearby nations, despite similar environmental circumstances.
He asked why technology should be restricted by national boundaries when pests, diseases, and droughts can easily cross the continent. He advocated for unified rules that acknowledge common agricultural ecological regions, enabling effective technologies to be implemented faster in several nations.
"Cutting down on bureaucratic delays could allow farmers to obtain better seed varieties several years sooner than they can now," stated Dr. Adesina.
Another key topic at the conference was climate change. Presenters warned that increasing temperatures, unpredictable rain patterns, and extended dry periods still pose risks to farming activities throughout Africa.
Nevertheless, instead of portraying climate change as a daunting challenge, representatives contended that technological advancements offer numerous solutions to enhance adaptability.
Included as examples were drought-resistant crops, enhanced animal breeding techniques, weather prediction provided via mobile devices, farm insurance, and methods of agriculture adapted to climate conditions.
Although science was central to various conversations, Adesina emphasized that technological advancements alone are insufficient to revolutionize farming without effective political guidance.
He claimed that governments are aware of the necessary policies to update farming practices and combat food scarcity.
He stated, 'The greatest obstacle at present is political determination.'
He called on African governments to focus on farming by boosting funding, enhancing advisory services, upgrading countryside facilities, and implementing regulations that promote business sector involvement.
Husain stated that the anticipated increase in worldwide food consumption, as the global population approaches 10 billion, offers Africa a remarkable chance to evolve into a leading force in global agriculture.
As the global population nears 10 billion, Husain noted that Africa holds a major chance to take center stage in supplying food for the planet.
Recognizing this potential demands shifting from minor trial initiatives toward widespread implementation of technologies that boost efficiency, enhance durability, and raise agricultural earnings.
"DialogueNext aims to serve as a platform for tracking this advancement. Instead of concluding with statements, upcoming gatherings will evaluate whether promises have led to more farmers benefiting from better technology, increased funding for farming, and enhanced collaborations that can speed up Africa's agricultural development," she stated.