Africa has the scientific talent, institutions and innovative capacity needed to transform its agrifood systems, but greater investment, stronger partnerships and a commitment to scaling homegrown solutions are needed to unlock the continent’s full potential.
This was the key message delivered during the 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week and 10th FARA General Assembly, where leaders from across Africa’s agricultural research, policy, and development sectors gathered under the theme “Innovation and Partnerships for Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems in Africa.”
Speaking during his keynote address delivered at the opening, IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui, challenged the long-held perception that Africa is merely a recipient of agricultural innovations. He argued instead that the continent is increasingly generating globally relevant research solutions to some of agriculture’s most pressing challenges.
“Africa is not only a beneficiary of innovation. Africa is also a source of globally relevant research knowledge, technologies, and solutions,” he said.
Calling on governments, development partners, the private sector, and other stakeholders to rethink how success in agricultural science is defined, Dr Ehui stressed that innovation cannot improve livelihoods, strengthen food systems, and deliver impact if it is not accessible or if it fails to respond to local realities.
Highlighting the urgent need to respond to climate change, land degradation, biodiversity loss, and rising food and nutrition insecurity through science-driven approaches that place farmers at the center of innovation, Dr Ehui urged stakeholders to look beyond the obstacles and recognize Africa’s greatest strengths: its scientific talent, youthful population, rich biodiversity, growing digital connectivity, and millions of innovative farmers.
Bringing these assets together through science, investment, policy, and strong institutions, he said, is essential to building resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.
“Innovation must begin with the problem, not with the technology,” he noted, emphasizing that researchers, extension workers and farming communities should co-design solutions from the earliest stages of research.
He pointed to African scientists developing climate-resilient crop varieties, biological pest controls, digital advisory platforms, and sustainable soil management practices, while farmers continue adapting scientific knowledge with generations of indigenous experience. The next step, he said, is to strengthen African institutions, invest in Africa-led scientific leadership, and ensure the continent strategically contributes to the global agricultural research agenda.
Speaking on proven approaches in addressing existing challenges, Dr Ehui called for greater investment in integrated soil fertility management, efficient fertilizer use, agroforestry, and restoration of degraded landscapes to improve both productivity and environment sustainability.
To demonstrate that science is already making a difference, he cited initiatives such as the multi-partner Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), IITA’s cassava improvement program, and the Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health for West Africa and the Sahel as evidence that collaborative research is delivering impact at scale.
These successes demonstrate that Africa does not lack proven innovations; the greater challenge is scaling through effective partnerships, strong seed systems, enabling policies, and sustained investment, he noted.
He emphasized that partnerships involving governments, national research institutions, CGIAR, universities, development partners, the private sector, and farmers would determine whether scientific breakthroughs reach millions of people.
“No single institution can transform Africa’s agrifood systems alone. We must work together to co-design solutions, strengthen national systems, and accelerate the adoption of technologies that respond to farmers’ realities,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of knowledge management and adaptive learning, he noted that research creates value only when it is accessible, understood, and applied.
Looking ahead, he announced that CGIAR is developing a new Africa Strategy designed through broad consultation with African stakeholders to ensure future investments align with national priorities and strengthen African scientific leadership.
He invited delegates to participate in the consultation process, describing it as an opportunity to shape an Africa-led vision for agricultural research and innovation.
Closing the address, he urged participants to move beyond conference discussions toward measurable action.
“The urgency of our challenges demands implementation,” he said, calling for concrete commitments that will restore degraded lands, strengthen research institutions, improve food security, and create opportunities for Africa’s growing population.
Dr Ehui’s speech concluded with a call for the continent to move “from imported solutions to African-led innovations” and from promises of transformation to measurable results.
Contributed by
Anu Oyeleye and ‘Timilehin Osunde