Africa looks to scale up farm technologies to boost food security

Africa's efforts to transform its agri-food systems hinge on scaling up agricultural innovations beyond research and pilot projects, as limited investment constrains the adoption of technologies that could boost productivity and strengthen food security, Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General Qu Dongyu said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the Africa Science and Innovation Forum 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Qu called for stronger financing, policies, and partnerships to bring advances in climate-resilient crops, livestock technologies, and digital agriculture to farmers and rural communities across the continent.

He underscored the role of science and innovation in transforming Africa's agrifood systems, expanding opportunities for women and young people, and advancing sustainable development.

"These innovations must now move beyond the pilots to reach Africa's farmers, agribusinesses, and rural communities to deliver impact on the ground," Dongyu said in a video message.

Africa accounts for about 8 percent of global public spending on agricultural research and development, highlighting the challenge of translating its growing scientific capacity into solutions that can be adopted at scale.

Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO assistant director-general and regional representative for Africa, said artificial intelligence, satellite observations, and data-driven pest forecasting were opening new possibilities for agricultural production and natural resource management.

However, gaps in investment, research, advisory services, and digital infrastructure continue to limit access to these advances. In 2025, internet use stood at 74 percent globally, compared with 36 percent in the International Telecommunication Union's Africa region, Haile-Gabriel said.

Africa must also strengthen its ability to develop and adapt technologies to local conditions, rather than rely solely on solutions designed elsewhere, he said.

"Africa's ambition should not be confined to becoming a larger market for technologies designed elsewhere," Haile-Gabriel said. "It should include the capacity to develop, adapt, manufacture, maintain, and govern the solutions its agri-food systems require."

Practical solutions are being showcased at the three-day forum, which brings together about 700 participants from governments, research institutions, businesses, and development partners.

Exhibits include Ghanaian technologies that convert organic waste into fertilizers, solar-powered food processing, and cold storage in Nigeria, and a Tunisian system for treating saline water for agricultural use. Other innovations include environmentally friendly poultry incubators from Sierra Leone and research from Rwanda on expanding women's access to cold-chain technologies to reduce post-harvest losses.

"Africa's future will not be determined by the number of innovations we generate, but by the number we successfully scaled up," said Moses Vilakati, African Union commissioner for agriculture, rural development, blue economy, and sustainable environment.

The forum, running until Thursday, is expected to produce a regional roadmap to expand access to proven technologies, strengthen innovation hubs, and mobilize financing.