The Salon International de l'Agriculture puts the spotlight on Africa's food sovereignty

During the Salon International de l'Agriculture in Paris, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), in collaboration with CIRAD, ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) and Roppa (Réseau des organisations paysannes et des producteurs agricoles de l'Afrique de l'Ouest), organised a conference on local innovations and public policies capable of ensuring food security and nutrition in Africa. At a time when global crises are highlighting the continent's dependence on imports, African agri-food production is at the same time demonstrating its many strengths in terms of renewal.

The theme of the conference, "Africa feeds Africans", held on 27 February at the Salon International de l'Agriculture in Paris, attracted the attention of an audience of experts in nutrition and agricultural issues. The aim of the conference was to explore the mechanisms behind an apparent contradiction: despite the fact that the African continent has a large population of farmers and a considerable diversity of diets and agricultural models, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has estimated that in 2021 one African in five will still suffer from hunger.

At the conference, international experts examined the major challenges facing Africa in terms of food security and food sovereignty. They highlighted the progress made by the continent in controlling its food destiny. Rémy Rioux, Chief Executive Officer of AFD, pointed out that Africa depends on only 16 % of the food resources it consumes, compared with a global average of 13 %. However, despite these solid foundations, the FAO indicates that almost a fifth of the African population still suffers from hunger.

The speakers examined the diversification of African diets and its impact on food security. Nicolas Bricas, a socio-economist at CIRAD, cited the example of Nigeria, where a demographic explosion has been accompanied by a significant increase in local food production, reducing dependence on imports.

However, food diversification is still insufficient in some regions, leading to problems of malnutrition linked to micronutrient deficiencies. Initiatives have also been put in place to promote agricultural diversification and resilience, by favouring drought-resistant crops and encouraging agro-ecology.

The conclusion of the conference underlined the importance of public policies and support for food sovereignty and agricultural development in Africa, as well as persistent challenges such as climate change and demographic growth.

Élisabeth Claverie de Saint-Martin, CIRAD's President and CEO, concluded by highlighting Africa's ability to control its own food destiny, while stressing the importance of research and appropriate policies to meet the challenges ahead.