More than 100 stakeholders from East and Central Africa came together on March 13, 2025, for the second virtual G20 Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS G20) regional consultation, co-convened by ARC, FANRPAN, the South African Department of Agriculture, and other partners. This event is part of a series of consultations aimed at aligning Africa’s agricultural priorities with the global G20 agenda. The dialogue continued, with FANRPAN’s nodes, Vivian Kazi and Joshua Laichena, facilitating discussions that built on the ongoing discussion of resilience, innovation, and sustainability within Africa’s agricultural systems.
The discussions echoed many of the challenges and solutions raised during the previous Southern Africa session, emphasizing the shared barriers African farmers face across regions. From the digital divide to the urgent need for sustainable agricultural practices, the conversation highlighted the interconnected nature of agricultural issues throughout the continent.
A key focus remained on integrating biodiversity conservation into agricultural practices, with a call for policies that support sustainable land management and ecosystem preservation. Similarly, the importance of fostering multi-sectoral collaboration to address the Water-Energy-Food-Health Nexus was underscored, with experts pointing to the need for synergies between these critical systems to enhance food security, water availability, and energy access.
The conversation on digital agriculture continued to hammer on the challenges posed by the digital divide between rural and urban areas. Issues such as digital illiteracy, data privacy concerns, and the high costs of digital tools for smallholder farmers were addressed, with solutions like infrastructure investment, satellite internet, and community connectivity hubs proposed to bridge these gaps.
The potential for building resilient agricultural Bio economies was also discussed, with an emphasis on policies and investments that can support smallholder farmers while driving economic growth at larger scales. Sustainable soil health practices and regenerative agriculture approaches were presented as solutions to improve soil quality and productivity across various farming systems.
As the dialogue continues, the next virtual consultation will take place on March 20, 2025, with West Africa joining the conversation. This continued engagement is vital for ensuring that Africa’s agricultural priorities are effectively integrated into the global G20 agenda, driving innovation and action toward a more sustainable, resilient future for the continent’s agricultural systems.