The Agriculture Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Promise of Biotechnology

Abstract

Agriculture supports the livelihoods of most households in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and makes significant contribution to national economies, especially in countries that are not dependent on mineral wealth. The region is home to more than 950 million people and is projected to reach 2.1 billion by 2050. Although agriculture accounts for about 23% of the region’s total gross domestic product, the full potential of the agriculture sector in SSA is yet to be exploited. Food insecurity on the continent has been increasing since 2014: in 2019, 250 million people in SSA were undernourished, and the coronavirus pandemic has likely pushed tens of millions more into food insecurity. Climate change will exacerbate existing threats to food security and agriculture-based livelihoods. Africa’s 33 million smallholder farmers depend on rainfed agriculture and are especially vulnerable to impacts of climate change. Unlike other regions of the world, where yields have increased substantially over recent decades, yields have stagnated in SSA. The African Union’s target of 6% annual agricultural productivity growth will require substantial policy support and investment in agricultural technologies, including biotechnology. With the exception of South Africa, most SSA countries continue to question whether agricultural biotechnology is a good investment.