Climate-Resilient Crops are Key to Africa’s Food and Nutrition Security
By Enock Chikava, Director, Agricultural Delivery Systems, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
After the recent 2024 Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, one key theme stands out: the need to prioritize food and nutrition security within Africa’s broader climate agenda. This urgency cannot be overstated.
Africa is at the forefront of an escalating climate crisis that is disrupting food systems across the continent. Globally, the last decade has been the hottest on record. For Africa, the effects are already evident. Droughts, floods, mudslides, and storms have become more frequent and severe, and these extreme weather events are crippling the continent’s agricultural productivity, leaving millions vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition.
If current climate trends persist, the consequences for Africa’s agricultural output will be severe. Projections indicate that by 2030, crop yields could drop by nearly 3 percent, with a sharper decline of up to 18 percent by 2050. These declines would put 200 million people at risk of extreme hunger by 2050.
This crisis is made worse by rising temperatures, which affect not just the amount of food smallholder farmers can grow, but also its quality. Higher levels of atmospheric carbon diminish the nutritional value of staple crops, reducing their essential nutrients like zinc, iron, and protein. This double threat—lower production volume and worsening quality—heightens the urgency of focusing on climate-resilient crops that can withstand the pressures of climate change to provide nutritious diets.
The conversations in Kigali brought light to the role of climate-resilient and nutrient-dense crops in addressing these dual challenges. My three major takeaways from the forum highlight the actions required to secure the continent’s future food systems:
- Local knowledge is vital for enhancing food security and climate resilience. Africa’s diverse communities possess a wealth of knowledge on food sources, agricultural practices, and climate adaptation strategies. This knowledge needs to be paired with climate-smart innovations that accelerate progress. Combining traditional practices with new innovations, like AI-powered weather prediction services, offers a pathway to improve hunger and nutrition while adapting to changing environmental conditions.
- High-nutrient crop varieties tailored to Africa’s needs can transform food systems. Several crop varieties have already been developed to help communities get the nutrients they need. Two standout examples are the orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) and iron-rich beans. OFSP is particularly promising due to its high vitamin A content and drought resistance, allowing it to thrive in some of the continent’s most challenging environments. Similarly, iron-rich beans offer multiple benefits, providing essential nutrients like protein and minerals while being environmentally sustainable. These crops demonstrate the power of innovation to address both nutritional deficits and climate change.
- Agricultural policies must prioritize local production and intra-Africa trade.
Localized production is crucial because it helps diversify food systems, making communities less dependent on imported staples that can be expensive and less nutritious. By investing in local food systems and trade within Africa, smallholder farmers can improve food security, reduce transportation costs, and increase their resilience to climate challenges.
The stakes are high, but so is Africa’s potential to build a more resilient, nutritious, and sustainable food system. What emerged from Kigali was a recognition that the continent has the resources, innovations, and knowledge to solve its nutrition and climate challenges. Yet, success will require concerted efforts from all sectors—governments, philanthropy, private industry, researchers, and communities alike.