Professor Sir Gordon Conway writes:
“Growing more, growing better for Africa’s food security”
The combination of population growth, urbanisation, climate change, and – in some countries –conflict, is placing increasing pressure on Africa’s food systems. By 2050, Africa’s population will top 2.5 billion, 55% of whom will be in urban areas. To feed and nourish its people, the continent desperately needs to increase agricultural productivity. Currently African countries import over €32 billion worth of food a year. Farm yields are low – maize production is little more than 1 t/ha on average – while levels of child undernutrition remain high. So, the continent also needs to diversify its production to provide easier access to more nutrient-rich crops to help reduce all forms of malnutrition. If we are to meet Sustainable Development Goal 2 to end hunger, agricultural policies and development initiatives need to reach beyond just simply increasing levels of production to improving the actual quality and diversity of diets. Read more