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Accra – The private sector and development partners are vital in mitigating the impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on food supply chains in Africa. That was the key message at a virtual roundtable convened by FAO and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) that brought together participants from the private sector, industry associations,  farmer organizations and private industry and development partners,. hosted by the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF).“We must continue the dialogue, provide policy advice, and advocate for solutions and support to keep the food value chain alive in Africa during and post COVID-19,”...

Accra – With over 60 percent of the African continent’s population in rural areas and dependent on smallholder or family farming, the risk from the COVID-19 pandemic to food supply chains, market access and nutrition is high. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)/ African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) brought together private sector partners, economists and business leaders to identify these risks and gaps in response efforts while proposing solutions.Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, welcomed over 565 participants.“The concerns...

Growing food without soil or natural light is not something many Rwandans had seen or heard about. Agriculture – growing crop in soil and relying on natural rain and sun is embedded in the culture of the people of Rwanda.Currently, about 67 percent of Rwandans – of 12 million population–are employed in agriculture, with arable land covering over 1.56 million hectares at national level.According to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), Rwanda’s population will grow to 16.9 million by 2032. The rise is expected to increase the demand for food yet the arable land...

23 April 2020 - What exactly is the Bioeconomy and what is the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) doing to promote its sustainable and circular implementation? Bioeconomy is generally understood as “the production, utilization and conservation of biological resources, including related knowledge, science, technology and innovation, to provide information, products, processes and services across all economic sectors aiming towards a sustainable economy”. Bioeconomy, if done sustainably, can comprehensively address interconnected societal challenges such as food security, fossil-resource dependence, natural resource scarcity and climate change, while achieving sustainable economic development, and supporting the achievement of many Sustainable Development Goals...

Rome - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu has welcomed a $10 million donation from Mastercard Foundation to step up the fight against the Desert Locust outbreak in East Africa amid concern about an imminent upsurge in numbers. The Desert Locust upsurge continues to be alarming, particularly in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, where it threatens food security and livelihoods. In the six East African...