Africa has no shortage of agricultural technologies capable of helping farmers cope with the growing impacts of climate change.
From drought-tolerant maize varieties and heat-resistant wheat to improved livestock breeds and digital farming tools that support decision-making, researchers have already developed a wide range of innovations aimed at increasing food production.
However, experts say the biggest obstacle is not the lack of technology but outdated regulatory systems that delay the movement and adoption of these innovations across African countries. As a result, millions of farmers are unable to access climate-smart solutions when they need them most.
Speaking at the DialogueNEXT Africa conference organised by the World Food Prize Foundation in Nairobi, scientists, policymakers, and agricultural leaders said outdated regulations have become a major barrier to food security and climate resilience across the continent.
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the 2017 World Food Prize Laureate and former President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), said Africa can no longer afford to delay the adoption of proven agricultural technologies.
“The problem is not the absence of technology. We already know what works. The challenge is the lack of political commitment to create regulatory systems that enable farmers to access these technologies quickly,” he said.
Dr. Adesina explained that many African countries require new crop varieties to undergo years of field testing before they can be approved for commercial cultivation. In many cases, identical trials are repeated in neighbouring countries despite having similar ecological conditions.
He argued that agricultural technologies should be approved based on shared agroecological zones rather than political borders.
“Drought does not carry a passport, pests do not need visas, and climate change does not respect national boundaries. Our regulatory systems should reflect that reality,” he said.
According to Dr. Adesina, Africa loses an estimated US$7 billion annually due to climate change, a figure expected to rise to US$50 billion by 2050 unless adaptation measures are accelerated.
He noted that innovations such as drought-tolerant crops, heat-resistant wheat, digital weather advisory systems, and crop insurance are already helping farmers reduce losses. However, uptake of crop and livestock insurance in Kenya remains below one percent.
Dr. Adesina also projected that Africa’s agricultural market could grow to US$1 trillion by 2030.
“The future billionaires of Africa will come from agriculture because everyone needs food,” he said.
Agriculture and nutrition expert Professor Ruth Oniang’o said many technologies fail to reach smallholder farmers because of weak extension systems, inadequate investment, and poor communication between researchers, extension officers, and farmers.
“Science must be communicated in simple language so that farmers can understand and apply it,” she said, adding that food security should not be measured solely by production levels but also by food quality, safety, and nutrition.
She cited the persistent problem of aflatoxin contamination in maize in Kenya as an example of a challenge that could be significantly reduced through improved agricultural technologies.
Participants at the DialogueNEXT Africa conference warned that unless African governments remove unnecessary regulatory barriers and embrace biotechnology and other scientific innovations, the continent risks missing a crucial opportunity to strengthen food security, build resilience to climate change, and drive economic growth through agriculture.
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