FoodAfrica

Sustainable food production through research and capacity building

Agriculture has a vital significance for sub-Saharan African countries, as it is the biggest economic sector throughout the area, and a majority of the population gains livelihood through farming. A great potential for economical development and better well being of people lies in agriculture.

Africa holds a rich and varied biodiversity. For example, it has been estimated that approximate 1000 different vegetables grow in the continent. Africa’s wildlife and especially big mammals are well known but the continent is also rich in livestock: According to Livestock Data in Africa 25 percent of the world’s sheep and 16 percent of the cattle live in Africa.

The other side of the coin however shows poverty and problems in food security caused by lack of investment in agricultural development, erosion, effects of climate change, population growth, and increased food prices. Major part of agriculture is subsistence farming.

Several studies show that investing in agricultural research in developing countries is one of the most cost effective ways to increase sustainable food production. Research based knowledge enables detection of methods for enhancing food production, access to food, food safety and nutrition.

This is exactly what the FoodAfrica Programme aims to achieve.

The overall objective of FoodAfrica is to reduce poverty and improve food security in Western and East Africa. This is done by enhancing the capacity of local researchers and research institutes and by producing new knowledge and tools for researchers, decision makers and farmers to improve local food security.

The emphasis is on high quality research that produces concrete outcomes to benefit a wide range of beneficiaries in the food supply chain and other relevant stakeholders.

Work continues

FoodAfrica Programme started in 2012 and is running continuously until 2018. See below the presentation of the FoodAfrica first phase.