Nigeria, Others to Chart Way Forward for Global Food Systems

Gilbert Ekugbe

To address failing agri-food systems, Nigeria and other countries across the globe have agreed to have a common position at the forthcoming United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) scheduled to hold in New York, United States next month.

The Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, at the official opening of the UNFSSS Pre-Summit held in the Italian capital, Rome, stated that Africa’s common position is in line with the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) for Africa to pursue solutions in its priority areas.

He said African Union’s (AU’s) New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), is the African Union’s implementing agency as he was quoted as saying that NEPAD has been providing support to African national governments on the UNFSS process in order to have a common position for the continent ahead of the US summit.

Rwanda holds the chair of the African Union (AU) and by virtue of that, Kagame is the chairperson of the NEPAD heads of states and governments orientation committee.

Kagame said Africa as part of its priority areas to transform food production, will adopt nutritious food policies, support local markets to get access to food, invest in agro-processing, make agricultural financing available and facilitate stakeholder farmers to establish cooperatives and to ensure women participation in food production.

He said Africa will also invest in climate change early warning systems, adding that, the UNFSS should take decisive action to transform food systems, especially due to time lost due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

He noted that digital and biotechnology play a role in global food production, but stated that farmers in Africa do not have access to this technology.