With Africa's population expected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, the continent has to enhance its sustainable food production and processing capabilities to ensure food security, a senior African Union (AU) official has said. Josefa Sacko, AU commissioner for agriculture, rural development, blue economy and sustainable environment, made the call on Thursday while addressing the media on the sidelines of the ongoing 38th AU Summit, which is taking place from Feb. 12 to 16 at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital. Noting the complex impact of global and regional shocks, ranging from public health challenges and pandemics to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and other geopolitical uncertainties, Sacko said Africa has to strengthen its food production and processing systems. She added that these challenges have been further exacerbated by rising inflation, making food security an even more critical issue. She said that the 10-year Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program strategy and action plan for 2026-2035, adopted earlier this year at the AU Extraordinary Summit in Kampala, Uganda's capital, serves as a blueprint for advancing agricultural development and food systems across the continent. Our first strategic pillar is intensifying sustainable food production because we need to produce more. By 2050, Africa's population is projected to reach 2.5 billion, so how are we going to feed this growing population? That is why we must intensify sustainable food production, Sacko told reporters. The AU commissioner said that, in addition to increasing food production, African countries must also enhance food processing capabilities. She said that improving these systems is essential not only for strengthening food security but also for creating job opportunities for Africa's rapidly growing youth population. She stressed that achieving food and nutrition security for all Africans requires promoting inclusive and equitable livelihoods, particularly since 70 percent of the continent's population lives in rural areas. Noting that Africa's agricultural production is predominantly rain-fed, Sacko underscored the need to develop resilient agri-food systems. We need to look at the nexus between the environment and agriculture, including the impact of climate change on our largely rain-fed farming, she said, adding that it is essential to apply innovative technologies to mitigate the adverse effects of recurrent droughts and other natural disasters on Africa's agriculture sector. This year's AU Summit is being held under the AU's 2025 theme: Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations. As part of the annual gathering, the AU Executive Council, comprising foreign ministers from AU members, met on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by the Assembly of African Heads of State and Government, which will convene on Saturday and Sunday.
