Migration and food supply risks can both be stopped by African development

Africa holds the key to reducing the risk of food running out and at the same time has the power to stop the migration of millions into Europe, according to a leading African politician. Akinwumi Adesina, 2017 World Food Prize Laureate and president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), said Africa did not need aid but disciplined investments. AfDB envisions a food-secure continent that uses advanced technologies, creatively adapts to climate change and develops a whole new generation of what he describes as ‘agripreneurs’ – empowered youth and women who he expects to take agriculture to the next level. By 2050, an additional 38 million Africans will be hungry. This paradoxical shortage in the midst of plenty, along with Africa’s growing youth population, are some of the reasons why Mr Adesina’s sense of urgency has been resonating with numerous governments, the private sector and multilateral leaders during recent European and Asian trips. Africa continues to import what it should be producing – spending $35bn on food imports each year, a figure that is expected to rise to $110bn in 2025 if present trends continue. Africa, foe example, receives only 2% of the $100bn annual global revenues from chocolate. Mr Adesina said that “adding value to what nations produce, is the secret to their wealth”. He continued: “Producing chocolate instead of simply exporting cocoa beans does not require rocket science.” In separate meetings with Sigrid Kaag, minister for foreign trade and development cooperation in the Hague, along with Peter van Mierlo, CEO of the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, key private sector players, and members of the Dutch Foreign Affairs Advisory Council, Mr Adesina said Africa and its partners must seize unprecedented opportunities for innovative partnerships and increased development impact. Mr van Mierlo added: “A huge benefit for Africa is that it can skip development cycles that often almost all developed countries had to go through, by deploying new technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics in agriculture.” In a continent where more than 640 million people are without electricity, Mr Adesina said the private sector is key to Africa’s development in the energy and agriculture sectors. “If Africa is going to turn the tide of irregular migration, this is critical,” he said. Mr Adesina recognised that the lack of electricity is Africa’s biggest development impediment. “The bank’s new and ambitious ‘Desert-to-Power’ initiative, which aims to generate 10,000MW of power across Africa’s Sahel region, will be critical to reducing migration and climate change impacts. We will do this through a blended finance mechanism with guarantees,” Mr Adesina said. He added: “Governance structures and business regulatory environments are changing in Africa. Indeed, several African countries have already made significant progress in improving their general business and investment environments. “Africa is doing better than some of the Asian countries,” he reminded his audience.

Migration and food supply risks can both be stopped by African development

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