Tackling food insecurity in Africa

The Afreximbank's 31st annual meetings are currently taking place at the islands of The Bahamas, with a focus on critical topics such as building resilience in a politically challenging world. One of the central discussions revolves around food security, a pressing issue faced by many African nations. CNBC Africa's Kenneth Igbomor engaged in a conversation with Umezuruike Linus Opara, Chair for the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) in Postharvest Technology, to explore how postharvest technology can play a crucial role in boosting agricultural productivity across the continent. Africa's agriculture sector, despite being rich in natural resources, continues to grapple with food insecurity. Opara highlights the significance of enhancing agricultural productivity not only through increasing cultivation but also by optimizing post-harvest management. Postharvest technology emerges as a key solution to mitigate losses, add value, and ensure food sustainability. One of the primary areas where postharvest technology can make a difference is in reducing wastage along the agricultural value chain. Through technological innovations such as improved packaging and cold chain maintenance, fresh produce's shelf life can be extended, preventing significant losses. The conversation delves into the scalability of postharvest technology. Opara shares an example from Stellenbosch University, showcasing a model focused on enhancing one crop's value chain, in this case, pomegranate. This model, rooted in rigorous research and industry collaboration, seeks to optimize harvesting, packaging, and storage techniques to preserve the crop's quality and enhance market accessibility. Furthermore, Opara emphasizes the critical role of knowledge dissemination and capacity building in replicating successful postharvest technology interventions across various crops in Africa. Industry response to research in postharvest technology has been positive, with active engagement and readiness to adopt innovative solutions. Opara underscores the importance of extending these initiatives to diverse commodity value chains and sectors throughout the continent. As the discussions at the Afreximbank's annual meetings draw to a close, the theme of African unity emerges as a crucial takeaway. Opara stresses the need for collective action among African stakeholders, including scientists, academics, business leaders, and policymakers, to drive agricultural transformation. By fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing, Africa can harness the power of technology and innovation to address local market needs and enhance competitiveness on a global scale. The call for unity echoes the success stories of other regions that have leveraged collective efforts to achieve industrial advancement. Moving forward, the integration of research and innovation into this unified vision holds the key to propelling Africa's agricultural sector towards sustainable growth and food security.