African Science Week: Minister reaffirms proven technologies to drive food security

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, State, Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi has said that Nigeria is presently upscaling the use of science and technologies to drive her food value chains system beyond farmers' tables.

Sen. Sabi Abdullahi said that the corridor of food security in Nigeria has gone beyond being perceived from production microscope, but rather holistically from farms to tables using science and improved technologies to achieve results.

Abdullahi stated this during a session at the ongoing 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week held in Abuja, yesterday.

 He said Nigeria is moving beyond a production-focused agricultural model to a comprehensive food systems approach that integrated science and technologies, trade, transportation, water resources, livestock development, youth empowerment, and nutrition to enhance sustainable food security.

According to him, food security is no longer measured solely by what farmers produce, but by how efficiently food moves through the entire value chain from production and processing to storage, transportation, marketing, and consumption with improved technologies application.

He noted that Africa possesses world-class scientific talent capable of providing home-grown solutions to the continent's food security challenges, but advised the need for cooperation among governments, researchers, universities, development partners, and the private sector.

Also speaking on the occasion, the Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr. Adamu Dabban described the conference as an important platform for African researchers to exchange knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and develop innovative solutions to  agricultural challenges.

Dabban added that Nigeria's agricultural research system was one of the largest on the continent with commitment to strengthening scientists through innovation, technology adoption, and strategic partnerships that will improve research outcomes and accelerate food security across Africa.

Participants emphasized the need for science communication that would enhance policies on the continent's food security just as they called for stronger national research management systems with digital platforms for knowledge sharing, and evidence-based policies to bridge the gap between research and implementation.

Professor Paul Bosu of Ghana stressed that innovation should not be viewed solely as scientific discovery but as part of an integrated system involving research, policy, markets, financing, and business saying that Ghana's agricultural programmes included food plantation and jobs creation.

Using rice production as an example, Professor Bosu posited that several African countries had already possessed the scientific capacity to achieve self-sufficiency, but policy inconsistencies and weak market coordination continue to undermine local production.

Government research administrator from Zimbabwe, Kutuwayo highlighted the importance of credible scientific evidence in influencing government investment decisions pointed that his country adopted conservation agriculture, drought-tolerant crop varieties, and climate-smart farming practices to increase food productivity among smallholder farmers thereby linking research and extension with private sector partnerships.

Professor Maher Al-Magrabi, Egypt shared how sustained government investment on research, long-term agricultural planning, and collaboration with international partners have enabled the country to significantly increase agricultural productivity despite land and water constraints. 

Egypt he said has expanded cultivated farmland, improved wheat production, and reduced dependence on food imports through science-driven policies and strategic investment.

Representatives of CGIAR however have called for a new generation of partnerships that would move beyond research to ensure that technologies got to farmers. 

They unveiled plans to co-create a new CGIAR Africa strategy that will be focused on scaling impact with innovations, and strengthening extension services.

Delegates urged African governments to draw lessons from successful agricultural programmes across the continent and implement reforms that will accelerate the implementation of the Kampala Declaration.

They agreed that achieving resilient food systems and sustainable agricultural development would require stronger research institutions, increased investment in science and innovation, commercialization of research, effective extension services, supportive government policies, and deeper continental partnerships.