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Africa's food market may be worth US$1trillion in 15 years

23 Nov 2016

Africa's agricultural productivity has long lagged behind the rest of the world. Crop yields grew across Asia from 1960 onwards, lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty, but stagnated in Africa where cereal yields stayed largely unchanged for the 30 years of the green revolution.

Africa's food market may be worth US$1trillion in 15 years

As a consequence, many African countries have met increased demand for food through overseas food imports, a wasted opportunity given that the continent boasts 60% of the world’s available arable land. This over-reliance on imports is also a risk, as trade restrictions and price hikes in volatile times leave populations at risk of food insecurity.

If climate change isn’t tackled, Africa will simply never begin to fulfil its potential. It will only make things harder for the continent’s millions of smallholder farmers who rely on farming for their income or livelihood. According to the Adaption of African Agriculture initiative (AAA), the slump in crop yields could reach 20% in 2050, even if global warming is contained under 2°C.

The good news is that we know investment in agriculture works and we have seen encouraging progress.

Read the full article on Agri Africa.