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The complexity of food systems goes far beyond supply chains and is deeply entwined with other systems, such as energy and water. Photo: Supplied/Brand SA

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    The Malawian government chose sub-national triggering risk transfer to manage localised drought episodes and insured a total of four cluster policies that covered various parts of the nation. Photo: Pixabay

    Weather payouts keep Malawian households ticking over

    The UN’s concept of water security encompasses various needs and conditions. These include: water for drinking, economic activity, ecosystems, governance, financing, and political stability. Water security, therefore, is not just about how much natural water a country has but also how well the resource is managed. Photo: Supplied/Pixabay

    Africa’s water security progress a drop in the ocean

    Nestlé East and Southern Africa (ESAR) has created the Nestlé Needs Youth (NNY) Agri Competition where participants stand the chance of winning mentorship opportunities and a cash prize of US$30 000. Photo: Pixabay

    Young agripreneurs have a chance to win big with Nestlé

    Catherine Kamanu believes that "farming smart" is the way to go, and prioritises working with nature instead of against it. Photo: Supplied/Catherine Kamanu

    Kenyan farmer proudly soldiers on, gumboots and all

    Many are moving away from West Africa because they relied on the small-scale fishing industry to survive. Photo: Supplied/Pixabay

    Three factors driving West Africa’s migration crisis

    The full 100% of the Gorongosa-grown coffee's profits are ploughed back into the National Park and those who live in the surrounds. Photo: Gorgonosa Project/Supplied

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    The Ministry of Agriculture distributed a ton of Bt cotton seeds for a pilot trial, across 10 000 hectares of farmland. Thereafter the use of the genetically modified crop became more common, as it produces a higher yield and is fairly pest resistant. Photo: Pixabay

    Kenya pins hopes on Bt seeds to grow cotton production

    Technology uptake remains low in upper parts of Africa

    Technology uptake remains low in upper parts of Africa

    Let’s keep our food local, says farmer and agri trainer

    Within the next ten years, AFEX intends to grow beyond Kenya to Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Zambia. Photo: Supplied/Pixabay

    Kenyan farmers take quantum leap with help from AFEX

    FAO counts on 55 implementing partners for community distributions across the country. Photo: ©FAO/Mayak Akuot

    FAO in a race against time to plant in South Sudan

    The course is a 6-week intense program given in three 2-week sessions at IITA in Nairobi, Kenya, hosted by B4A/ILRI hub and World Agroforestry, over the course of a year, with a maximum of 20 participants per course offering. Photo: Supplied/Pixabay

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    The Ministry of Agriculture distributed a ton of Bt cotton seeds for a pilot trial, across 10 000 hectares of farmland. Thereafter the use of the genetically modified crop became more common, as it produces a higher yield and is fairly pest resistant. Photo: Pixabay

    Kenya pins hopes on Bt seeds to grow cotton production

    Within the next ten years, AFEX intends to grow beyond Kenya to Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Zambia. Photo: Supplied/Pixabay

    Kenyan farmers take quantum leap with help from AFEX

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    The course is a 6-week intense program given in three 2-week sessions at IITA in Nairobi, Kenya, hosted by B4A/ILRI hub and World Agroforestry, over the course of a year, with a maximum of 20 participants per course offering. Photo: Supplied/Pixabay

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    The Malawian government chose sub-national triggering risk transfer to manage localised drought episodes and insured a total of four cluster policies that covered various parts of the nation. Photo: Pixabay

    Weather payouts keep Malawian households ticking over

    The UN’s concept of water security encompasses various needs and conditions. These include: water for drinking, economic activity, ecosystems, governance, financing, and political stability. Water security, therefore, is not just about how much natural water a country has but also how well the resource is managed. Photo: Supplied/Pixabay

    Africa’s water security progress a drop in the ocean

    Nestlé East and Southern Africa (ESAR) has created the Nestlé Needs Youth (NNY) Agri Competition where participants stand the chance of winning mentorship opportunities and a cash prize of US$30 000. Photo: Pixabay

    Young agripreneurs have a chance to win big with Nestlé

    Catherine Kamanu believes that "farming smart" is the way to go, and prioritises working with nature instead of against it. Photo: Supplied/Catherine Kamanu

    Kenyan farmer proudly soldiers on, gumboots and all

    Many are moving away from West Africa because they relied on the small-scale fishing industry to survive. Photo: Supplied/Pixabay

    Three factors driving West Africa’s migration crisis

    The full 100% of the Gorongosa-grown coffee's profits are ploughed back into the National Park and those who live in the surrounds. Photo: Gorgonosa Project/Supplied

    How coffee is bringing life back to Mozambican forests

    Nile co-founder Louis de Kock said the start-up is delighted to have Naspers Foundry support its mission to make fresh produce more accessible to people across the African continent. Photo: Supplied/Ventureburn

    Naspers Foundry pumps R40 million into fresh produce start-up

    Previous studies have shown that rodents and shrews are two large mammalian orders with widespread distribution and are reservoirs of many viruses. Photo: Pixabay/Supplied

    Scientists find new DNA viruses in rodents in Kenyan agri hubs

    Annita Mutoni is a young poultry farmer in Rwanda, and is finding her stride within the industry. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Rwandan poultry farmer sets her sights far beyond chicken coops

  • Changemakers
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    The Ministry of Agriculture distributed a ton of Bt cotton seeds for a pilot trial, across 10 000 hectares of farmland. Thereafter the use of the genetically modified crop became more common, as it produces a higher yield and is fairly pest resistant. Photo: Pixabay

    Kenya pins hopes on Bt seeds to grow cotton production

    Technology uptake remains low in upper parts of Africa

    Technology uptake remains low in upper parts of Africa

    Let’s keep our food local, says farmer and agri trainer

    Within the next ten years, AFEX intends to grow beyond Kenya to Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Zambia. Photo: Supplied/Pixabay

    Kenyan farmers take quantum leap with help from AFEX

    FAO counts on 55 implementing partners for community distributions across the country. Photo: ©FAO/Mayak Akuot

    FAO in a race against time to plant in South Sudan

    The course is a 6-week intense program given in three 2-week sessions at IITA in Nairobi, Kenya, hosted by B4A/ILRI hub and World Agroforestry, over the course of a year, with a maximum of 20 participants per course offering. Photo: Supplied/Pixabay

    Crop scientists invited to have a crack at gene editing

    Uganda has a high literacy rate of 76.53% and is one of the world's youngest populations, which bodes well for the AYuTe Africa Challenge's success. Photo: Supplied/Pixabay

    Young Ugandans vie for agritech challenge honours

    World Bank has launched an insurance for Kenyan farmers that starts coverage at KES 50 per month. Photo: Supplied/World Bank

    Kenyan farmers embrace new weather insurance product

    Mantombi Madona proudly follows in the footsteps of her father. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

    It’s all in your hands, says dynamo farmer and agri trainer

  • Food Security
    • All
    • Crops
    • Food Trends
    • Logistics
    • Markets
    The Ministry of Agriculture distributed a ton of Bt cotton seeds for a pilot trial, across 10 000 hectares of farmland. Thereafter the use of the genetically modified crop became more common, as it produces a higher yield and is fairly pest resistant. Photo: Pixabay

    Kenya pins hopes on Bt seeds to grow cotton production

    Within the next ten years, AFEX intends to grow beyond Kenya to Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Zambia. Photo: Supplied/Pixabay

    Kenyan farmers take quantum leap with help from AFEX

    African avocados are growing in European export volume, and is one of the fastest-growing markets beside Latin America. Photo: Supplied/Pixabay

    East African avocado exports growing despite challenges

    The course is a 6-week intense program given in three 2-week sessions at IITA in Nairobi, Kenya, hosted by B4A/ILRI hub and World Agroforestry, over the course of a year, with a maximum of 20 participants per course offering. Photo: Supplied/Pixabay

    Crop scientists invited to have a crack at gene editing

    Governments across East Africa are fighting against the impact of mold in food products. Photo: Supplied/Pixabay

    Uganda fights to eliminate harmful aflatoxins in food

    East Africa's 2022 cereal harvest is in danger as the price of fertiliser has double since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Photo: Supplied/Pixabay

    East Africa’s cereal harvest at risk as fertiliser prices soar

    Ghana's government is working together with AGRA on its SeedSAT initiative to improve the regulation of the country's informal seed sector. Photo: Supplied/Pixabay

    AGRA launches project to boost Ghana’s seed quality

    Rain, and lots of it, is needed in Somalia to relieve the famine. Photo: Supplied/FoodforAfrika.com

    Drought-stricken Somalia on the brink of catastrophe

    Zimbabwean government is using a new financial incentive to lock more grain producers and entice them to sell to the country's sole grain purchasing board. Photo: Pixabay/Supplied

    Zimbabwean government introduces maize incentive to entice farmers

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Food Health
    • Trends
    A picture featuring George Chiwedzerero, who left Zimbabwe for South Africa and was not heard from for two decades.

    Missing migrants project helps families find peace

    The general impression of Zanzibar when approached from the mainland is of a long, low island with small ridges along its central north–south axis. Coconut palms and other vegetation cover the land surface. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Here’s how farming transformed Zanzibar’s coastline

    Saponins also work against bacteria and fungi. Some bacteria have an external membrane that protects their genetic material. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Southern Africa’s soapy plants can improve hand hygiene

    There are a number of flowering plants that we do not often recognise the holistic health benefits of, such as okra, kalanchoe and periwinkle flowers. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Healing with the help of Africa’s indigenous plants

    Cassava is one of the continent's food staples. Here is a history on the root veg and its humble beginnings. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Cassava, a staple crop that sustains a continent

    Herbal remedies are commonplace in Uganda; testing these scientifically is a good way to ensure they’re safe and effective. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Herbal skin treatments in Uganda get a scientific boost

    Researchers believe that Rwanda's soft drink tax can be better used to boost public health by targeting sugar content. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Sugar tax might curb rise in obesity, diabetes in Rwanda

    Lebanese farmers have shirked using chemicals during the goring process and are realising their produce is healthy regardless. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Lebanese potato farmers find that less is more

    In January 2015, a three-day rain displaced nearly quarter of a million people, devastated 64,000 hectares of land, and killed several hundred people in Malawi. Photo: Ashley Cooper/Getty Images

    What African countries got out of COP26

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‘Complete reset’ needed to save African food systems

by Staff Reporter
1 Dec 2021
in Thought Leader
Reading Time: 8 mins read
A A
The complexity of food systems goes far beyond supply chains and is deeply entwined with other systems, such as energy and water. Photo: Supplied/Brand SA

The complexity of food systems goes far beyond supply chains and is deeply entwined with other systems, such as energy and water. Photo: Supplied/Brand SA

Imagine the concept of a “food systems approach” as organising a concert to bring together a wide range of performers across different genres, from classical orchestras and folk singers to rock bands and hip-hop musicians. 

To make it work, you need to take the relationships and power dynamics of all the stakeholders into account, who despite conflicting interests and external influences have to collaborate for a shared cause. 

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Obviously, when looking at food systems, the stakeholders are not musicians, but people who produce, distribute or consume food. And instead of harmonising different music genres, their shared cause is the triple challenge of:

  • ensuring that the growing global population has access to enough good-quality food; 
  • providing livelihoods for the millions of people working in agriculture and the food supply chains;
  • and that all this is done sustainably. 

Complete reset 

The complexity of food systems goes far beyond supply chains and is deeply entwined with other systems, such as energy and water. One example is how electricity load shedding and water mismanagement hamper Africa’s farmers. Experts with vastly different agendas now agree on one issue: current food systems are unsustainable and require a complete reset. 

Vanessa Adams, vice president of strategic partnerships and chief of party: partnership for inclusive agricultural transformation in Africa at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA. Photo: Twitter
Vanessa Adams, vice president of strategic partnerships and chief of party: partnership for inclusive agricultural transformation in Africa at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA. Photo: Twitter

This is radical. Resetting an entire system will require dramatic changes in mindset, policy, actions and finance. An additional investment of around US$30 trillion annually is needed, according to Vanessa Adams, vice president of strategic partnerships and chief of party: partnership for inclusive agricultural transformation in Africa at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

The alliance has acted as a voice of Africa in the global food systems dialogue and at the COP26 Climate Summit. 

Adams was the keynote speaker at a roundtable discussion called “A food systems approach: setting the table to address agriculture’s triple challenge”, held by Corteva Agriscience and the Gordon Institute of Business Science’s (GIBS) Entrepreneurship Development Academy. 

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She outlined that while Africa’s food systems don’t contribute significantly to the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, the continent is plagued by food loss and food waste due to supply chain inefficiencies. Other challenges relate to food quality and food safety, which contribute to malnutrition and health costs. 

“Over the past two years, the conversation has shifted from the classic ‘invest in agriculture’ to thinking comprehensively about food systems,” said Adams. 

“Whether it’s regenerating soil fertility, inclusivity of indigenous populations and thinking more strategically, even about replacing certain ingredients and using traditional recipes that are more nutritious and have increased protein for children. Some of Africa’s largest food processors are now working with procurement to improve school feeding and participate in coalitions around Zero Hunger. We see an increased willingness for public-private dialogue and mutual flagships.”

Better nutrition 

Africa has a major health crisis on the horizon because most of the available food is unsustainable and unhealthy. 

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Sheryl Hendriks, professor of food security at the University of Pretoria. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com
Sheryl Hendriks, professor of food security at the University of Pretoria. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

“Our obsession with creating cheap food over the last four decades has led to a situation where the food we consume is making us ill,” warned Sheryl Hendriks, professor of food security and head of the department of agricultural economics, extension and rural development at the University of Pretoria. 

The health impacts are already visible and require more integrating models of understanding our existing production systems; how population growth changes and aspirations – such as for the Western diet in Africa – are going to affect the future demand for food; and how the current production and processing systems are going to respond to making food healthier.

The pandemic was a wake-up call for public health by demonstrating that comorbidities worsened the health outcomes for infected people. This emphasised the need to overhaul the current food system because of its links to chronic diseases such as diabetes. 

Covid-19 has also magnified other food systems-related issues, such as the disruption of trade corridors and the lack of real-time data and analytics for decision-makers. In response, efforts are underway to integrate food balance sheets across trade corridors to improve planning and awareness.

Having this data available could also improve the accessibility to insurance, such as crop insurance for small-scale farmers.

Covid-19 has accelerated digitisation, down to last-mile partnerships within Africa’s food supply chains.

AGRA is, for example, working with more than 5 000 village-based advisors who are using smartphones to access information and connect farmers in their ecosystems, helping them with access to improved inputs as well as market and weather information. 

Another example is Corteva Agriscience’s Advanced Maize Seed Adoption Programme in Ethiopia, where Adams witnessed how excited farmers are to get access to seeds and fertilisers and, contrary to traditional view, how open to behaviour change and new technologies. She said it’s crucial that the last-mile delivery is consistent, that the cost of delivery is reduced and that more diversified seeds are made available.

Visible and transparent supply chains can increase the linkages to more structured, liquid markets, such as the JSE in South Africa. 

Growing more food 

Eric Dereudre, Corteva’s head of global government affairs and business advocacy. Photo: Twitter
Eric Dereudre, Corteva’s head of global government affairs and business advocacy. Photo: Twitter

Africa currently has enough food to feed itself, except for climate change and conflict hotspots. However, food production must be scaled up significantly to cater for the projected population growth by 2050.  

Corteva Agriscience is developing technologies to improve soil health, for example through solutions for nitrogen management and crop rotation. Corteva actively supports a wide variety of desired agriculture systems — regenerative, sustainable, organic and conventional—that help prevent erosion from wind and water and keep nutrients where plants can access them. 

The company leverages its science expertise, technology, operational facilities, and deep agricultural knowledge to collaborate with the food industry to solve difficult problems. The company is also working with policymakers, as policy changes can accelerate soil regeneration, climate adaptation, and the acceptance of modern breeding tools and technologies.

Corteva’s innovations include seeds that are adapted to changing climate conditions, including water scarcity and pests. 

Eric Dereudre, Corteva’s head of global government affairs and business advocacy, noted that farmers can be a cause of climate change (e.g., increased greenhouse gases emitted by cattle); they can be a victim of climate change (e.g., crops and livestock impacted by heat and drought); and a solution to climate change (through carbon sequestration, as discussed at COP26).  

Food, fuel, fodder 

Climate resilience is about having a diversity of crops, according to Tatjana von Bormann, a food system, strategy, and strategic foresight specialist. 

She pointed out the importance of growing crops that are appropriate for a specific ecosystem, although this is not always possible for farmers pressured by the large, industrialised food system to get the price, scale and technologies right.

In a scaled-up production system, it is important to understand how changes in consumption drive demand for products that are not suited for certain environments.

Hendriks said, “We have to promote the consumption of foods that are going to benefit the African system and our health, while not overriding the potential of our soils. We need to balance the competition between food, fuel and fodder – looking at how we allocate the proportion of land to those different production systems and their interaction on the environment.”

Gender justice 

Tatjana von Bormann, a food system, strategy, and strategic foresight specialist. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com
Tatjana von Bormann, a food system, strategy, and strategic foresight specialist. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

Women are critical in feeding Africa, yet women farmers still lag 30% behind their male counterparts in profitability and productivity. Their key constraints are land ownership, access to finance and training for leadership roles. 

The Corteva Women Agripreneur Programme at GIBS seeks to address this through an immersive intervention that develops the entrepreneurial, leadership and business skills of women farmers. Incidentally, the roundtable discussion coincided with the graduation of programme participants at GIBS. 

“We have only nine harvests left to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals,” said Adams, urging Africa not to waste time with duplication or replication of existing solutions and rather focus on leapfrogging.

Now players from all sectors need to take the baton and address the triple challenge to get the global food systems to perform sustainably and in harmony. 

Collaboration across governments, non-governmental organisations, and businesses is needed to reverse the seven-year rise in global hunger and to strengthen food-system integrity. Agricultural innovation offers solutions to all three of those challenges. 

By helping farmers grow food sustainably, by sustaining farmers’ livelihoods, and by working collaboratively with the food industry, agricultural innovators are helping increase food security worldwide. 

ALSO READ: SA tops sub-Saharan Africa on food security index

Tags: Agricultural and Food Systems Strategy
Staff Reporter

Staff Reporter

Researched and written by our team of writers and editors.

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