AfDB to Mobilise to Feed 200m Africans by 2025

Gilbert Ekugbe
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced that it is scaling up its Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) initiative meant to feed over 200 million Africans by 2025.

The Vice President, Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Mrs. Beth Dunford, said the move is critical to address the high level of food insecurity in the continent.

Dunford said at the 18th Annual International Business Awards to recognise outstanding organisations and highlight their positive contributions globally that the bank broadcasted the TAAT video series in April during the 2021 High-level Dialogue on Feeding Africa, High-Level Virtual Dialogue on Feeding Africa: Leadership to scale up su… African Development Bank Group.

African countries were committed to doubling their agricultural productivity as the development bank pledge $17 billion, which hosted more than a dozen heads of state, global leaders, as well as thousands of online participants.

She said the 2021 International Business Awards, the world’s only all-encompassing business awards competition, drew more than 3,700 nominations from 65 nations coinciding with the close of the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit, which explored the global challenge of malnutrition.

“As world leaders returned from the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit energised to accelerate progress on defeating malnutrition, we share this honor with our TAAT implementing and regional member country government partners working to produce more and more nutritious foods,” said the AfDB’s Director for Agriculture and Agro-Industry, Mr. Martin Fregene.

The bank received the first place “Gold Stevie” at the 18th Annual International Business Awards virtual event, in recognition of the institution’s digital campaign showcasing its TAAT initiative.

The International Business Awards honored the bank in the Best Video – Documentary category during an online ceremony on Wednesday. TAAT’s wheat compact video led a series of clips demonstrating how TAAT is delivering agricultural technologies to help 11 million smallholder farmers across 30 African countries increase productivity and adapt to climate change.

Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 260 executives worldwide who participated in the judging process from June through early August.

Last year, the bank earned a Gold Stevie for its 2019 Annual Report in the publication category and bronze for the report’s companion video.

This year’s other award winners include Google, IBM, Yapi Kredi, DHL Express Worldwide, Dubai Municipality and Tata Consultancy Services.