View this email on the web

This week, we look at the current and future state of food security in Africa. The situation in places like Ethiopia and Sudan looks bleak. But there is cause for hope on the continent: a movement to reclaim sustainable farming methods and crops is gaining momentum. Here’s an overview, in 4 minutes.

Top news

Ag’s lag: Africa has more than 60% of the world’s remaining arable land. Agriculture accounts for 35% of the continent’s GDP and employs more people than any other sector. Yet Africa’s agricultural potential is far from realised: with smart investments and policy decisions, output could increase from US$280 billion per year to US$1 trillion by 2030. That could go a long way to boosting Africa’s food security and economic growth: more than 80% of Africa’s basic food imports currently come from outside the continent.

Gnawing hunger: One in 10 people (783 million) globally go to bed hungry each night. That’s more than the combined populations of the EU and US. In Africa, several consecutive failed rainy seasons fueled an historic drought in the Horn of Africa. The drought was followed by massive floods last year that further undermined the food security of millions of people. Elsewhere in Africa, over 25 million people in the DRC (or 25% of the population) are experiencing severe hunger, as are 3 million people in Cameroon. Meanwhile, countries dealing with crisis levels of hunger globally received just 35% of their funding needs in 2023. Zero funding appeals were met in full, and 88% weren’t even half met. 🤦‍♂️

History repeats: More than 3 million Ethiopians are facing acute hunger and a “humanitarian catastrophe,” a crisis with echoes of the 1984 famine that killed 500,000 people. The crisis is the result of drought and conflict in the Tigray region. In Sudan, many of the same atrocities that occurred in Darfur two decades ago are at risk of happening again — but this time with less global attention. Violence across Sudan has displaced more than 10 million people. Nearly 5 million people are on the brink of famine. The two warring generals at the centre of the conflict seem to be more concerned about winning than about the well-being of the people they claim to want to govern.

H2Ohhh: Groundwater levels have fallen by almost half since 2000 across 40 countries, according to a new study. That has serious ramifications for agriculture globally and in Africa. More than 95% of African agriculture is reliant on rainfall. Africa has experienced more than 150 droughts since 2000, with the rate of droughts tripling over the past 50 years. Twelve of the world’s 20 countries most at-risk from drought are in Africa, and one in three Africans is already facing water insecurity. Without significant changes, the future looks drier.

Drought risks globally

Source: UNU-INWEH

But wait!... the story of food security in Africa isn’t all bad news. There are a couple of interesting phenomena gaining traction in Africa – regenerative agriculture and the (re)embrace of ancient grains – that have the potential to strengthen Africa’s food security.

Farming for the future: Regenerative agriculture practices in Africa could increase yields by 13% by 2040 and create 5 million new full-time jobs. Regenerative agriculture is a growing agricultural movement that seeks to build soil, protect biodiversity, and sequester carbon. It involves a range of practices, including minimal soil disturbance, the use of cover crops, and no or limited use of pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertiliser. The potential benefits are substantial: For example, if 50% of Africa’s farms adopted regenerative agriculture, then carbon equivalent to nearly 10 times South Africa’s annual emissions could be sequestered by 2040. Venture capitalists are taking note: between 2021 and 2023, they funnelled US$1.4 billion into regenerative agriculture start-ups.

Comeback crops: Traditional African crops are making a comeback. They had been supplanted by the production and consumption of non-native cereals like wheat, rice, and maize. But native crops are better suited to local ecosystems, and are often more nutritious. And they are likely to be more resilient to climate change. Africa has more than 2,000 native fruits and grains, the most of any continent. African “super grains,” such as fonio, pearl millet, sorghum, and teff, are gaining in popularity beyond Africa, driving up demand. And after decades of neglect, plant scientists are working to make ancient grains higher-yielding and more climate-resilient. 🥳

From the ONE Team

• David McNair on whether credit rating agencies are treating African countries unfairly.

The numbers

• US$8.7 billion is needed to wipe out hunger crises in 17 countries. That’s roughly half of what Americans will bet on this weekend’s Super Bowl.
• ⇧5%: Food inflation remains above 5% in 74% of lower-middle-income countries.
• US$10 trillion in economic benefits globally could be generated each year by fixing broken food systems.

Quote of the week

"If we’re really serious about tackling food insecurity in the face of climate change, we have to focus on [local or indigenous] crops."

–Enock Chikava, Director for Agricultural Development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Heroes of the week

HERO: South African singer Tyla, winner of the inaugural Grammy award for the Best African Music Performance.

HERO: Professor Lesley Lokko, the acclaimed Ghanaian-Scottish architect, will receive the Royal Gold Medal 2024 for architecture, one of the world’s highest honours in architecture.

What you should read, watch, and listen to:

• Make me care about...ancient grains. (Make Me Care About... podcast)
• Try your hand at this Fonio jollof. (World Bank and FAO)
• How can we protect foods we love as climate impacts hit? (Context)
• Navigating the climate challenges for year-round crops. (SciDevNet)
• African priorities for the G21 in 2024. (Development Reimagined)
• The pioneering Maasai women ending all-male leadership of the land. (The Guardian)
• America should not allow its trade programme with Africa to die. (Financial Times)

A look ahead

10 February: World Pulses Day on the theme “Pulses: nourishing soils and people”.

11 February: The African Cup of Nations championship match between Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria.

17-18 February: African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The ONE Campaign’s data.one.org provides cutting edge data and analysis on the economic, political, and social changes impacting Africa. Check it out HERE.

Did you like today's email?

Loved it

Mehhh

Hated it