"This is a major program for the continent over the next decade," says Calestous Juma, Professor at Harvard Kennedy School and Visiting Professor at MIT (2014-2015).
S3A refers to the science, technology, extension, innovations, policy and social learning that Africa needs to apply in order to meet its evolving agricultural development goals. "The document was developed by FARA and its stakeholders and was approved by African Heads of State at a strategic meeting in Equatorial Guinea a few months ago." Over 570 delegates from around the world convened in Johannesburg for the Celebrate FARA event during 26 - 28 November 2014. "It was an opportune moment as we reached the culmination of this important week, to share the document in detail with the stakeholders who will carry it forward to deliver Africa's future through science-led agricultural transformation," said Prof Juma. "Without the catalytic role of a science agenda, the transformation dream will only be a mirage." No nation has achieved social and economic growth without using the power of science.
Africa needs to use science and technology to leverage more value out of the resources available on the continent and African leaders will have to invest more of their own resources in this area. FARAs principal investments will continue to be in the research and development efforts focused on target populations, themes and production environments.
Getting the S3A operational requires integrating sciences more effectively, connecting science to end-users with greater impact, and strengthening the sciences and their application to agriculture.
The Science Agenda highlights the need to sensitise and align all actions around a common vision and framework. It takes a multi-sector approach to development and is informed by relevant developments in other sectors beyond agriculture, so as to leverage agricultural science and technology even more efficiently.
