The challenge Africa faces the most is how to feed the 2.4 billion people in 2050. This will require a transformational agriculture. Africa doesn’t need subsistence agriculture, but rather agriculture linked to the m...The challenge Africa faces the most is how to feed the 2.4 billion people in 2050. This will require a transformational agriculture. Africa doesn’t need subsistence agriculture, but rather agriculture linked to the market where market demand and the consuming habits are taken in consideration. Agriculture evolves in an environment where small holders are linked to markets (national and regional), where economies of complementarity and economies of scale are taken advantage of by producers and private sector. In short, Africa will need a paradigm shift to industrialise and commercialise its agriculture sector in order to increase food production, and income and to create jobs in and outside the sector. Africa needs agribusiness and agro-industries to domesticate the benefits of the sector, to create wealth in the sector and retain that wealth in the continent. Agricultural commodities regional value chains for increased food should be the target for Africa. The continent remains the region with the highest prevalence of under-nourishment. Since agriculture remains the mainstay of most African economies except the mineral producers, the sector deserves a close attention from leaders. It accounts for 65% of employment and 40% of Africa’s export earnings and accounts for 17% of the GDP. This shows how important the sector is. Agriculture needs to be seen as a conduit for farmers to get connected to markets, a conduit for revenue, for jobs and for transformation. Africa needs to come back on the international scene as food sufficient continent and even food exporter. This can be achieved only with a stable, productive agricultural resource base. Thus, achieving and sustaining food security and economic prosperity in Africa will require significant efforts to modernize the continent’s agriculture sector through injection of agribusiness and agro-industries and through the application of science and technology in agriculture. In essence, agriculture needs to be viewed as knowledge based entrepreneurial activity. Smart investments in agriculture will have multiplier effects for the whole economy and hence induce prosperity to other sectors. In recent years, a renewed focus on agriculture has been evident in policy and development agendas across the African continent. This paper outlines the status of agriculture, agribusiness and agro-industries in Africa, their role in the agenda of agricultural transformation and economic transformation and the focus on regional value chain to increase food production, transformation and trade. The paper adopts a new thinking in agriculture, which reflects a regional value chain approach. The author covers such issues as: need for agricultural transformation, the role of value chain in agricultural sector, the need for regional value chain for increased income and increased food, the role of markets and the common denominator of all, the regional integration to push forward the African agriculture agenda. Evidence shows that it is agricultural growth, through its leverage effects on the rest of the economy that typically enables poor countries, poor regions and ultimately poor households to take the first steps toward economic transformation. Therefore agricultural productivity, at the small holder’s level, has the potential to lift millions of Africa’s vulnerable out of poverty and provide sustainable jobs. Other factors, namely “the rapid urbanization” and “increased population growth”, are quoted to be of critical importance. Africa population is projected to double, attaining the 2.3 billion people mark over the next 40 years representing half of the globe’s total population. This could trigger competition for resources and can have devastating effects on natural resources if not rightly channelled.展开更多
Realizing sustainable development has become a global priority.This holds,in particular,for agriculture.Recently,the United Nations launched the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs),and the Nineteenth National People’...Realizing sustainable development has become a global priority.This holds,in particular,for agriculture.Recently,the United Nations launched the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs),and the Nineteenth National People’s Congress has delivered a national strategy for sustainable development in China—realizing green development.The overall objective of Agriculture Green Development(AGD)is to coordinate"green"with"development"to realize the transformation of current agriculture with high resource consumption and high environmental costs into a green agriculture and countryside with high productivity,high resource use efficiency and low environmental impact.This is a formidable task,requiring joint efforts of government,farmers,industry,educators and researchers.The innovative concept for AGD will focus on reconstructing the whole crop-animal production and food production-consumption system,with the emphasis on high thresholds for environmental standards and food quality as well as enhanced human well-being.This paper addresses the significance,challenges,framework,pathways and potential solutions for realizing AGD in China,and highlights the potential changes that will lead to a more sustainable agriculture in the future.Proposals include interdisciplinary innovations,whole food chain improvement and regional solutions.The implementation of AGD in China will provide important implications for the countries in developmental transition,and contribute to global sustainable development.展开更多
文摘The challenge Africa faces the most is how to feed the 2.4 billion people in 2050. This will require a transformational agriculture. Africa doesn’t need subsistence agriculture, but rather agriculture linked to the market where market demand and the consuming habits are taken in consideration. Agriculture evolves in an environment where small holders are linked to markets (national and regional), where economies of complementarity and economies of scale are taken advantage of by producers and private sector. In short, Africa will need a paradigm shift to industrialise and commercialise its agriculture sector in order to increase food production, and income and to create jobs in and outside the sector. Africa needs agribusiness and agro-industries to domesticate the benefits of the sector, to create wealth in the sector and retain that wealth in the continent. Agricultural commodities regional value chains for increased food should be the target for Africa. The continent remains the region with the highest prevalence of under-nourishment. Since agriculture remains the mainstay of most African economies except the mineral producers, the sector deserves a close attention from leaders. It accounts for 65% of employment and 40% of Africa’s export earnings and accounts for 17% of the GDP. This shows how important the sector is. Agriculture needs to be seen as a conduit for farmers to get connected to markets, a conduit for revenue, for jobs and for transformation. Africa needs to come back on the international scene as food sufficient continent and even food exporter. This can be achieved only with a stable, productive agricultural resource base. Thus, achieving and sustaining food security and economic prosperity in Africa will require significant efforts to modernize the continent’s agriculture sector through injection of agribusiness and agro-industries and through the application of science and technology in agriculture. In essence, agriculture needs to be viewed as knowledge based entrepreneurial activity. Smart investments in agriculture will have multiplier effects for the whole economy and hence induce prosperity to other sectors. In recent years, a renewed focus on agriculture has been evident in policy and development agendas across the African continent. This paper outlines the status of agriculture, agribusiness and agro-industries in Africa, their role in the agenda of agricultural transformation and economic transformation and the focus on regional value chain to increase food production, transformation and trade. The paper adopts a new thinking in agriculture, which reflects a regional value chain approach. The author covers such issues as: need for agricultural transformation, the role of value chain in agricultural sector, the need for regional value chain for increased income and increased food, the role of markets and the common denominator of all, the regional integration to push forward the African agriculture agenda. Evidence shows that it is agricultural growth, through its leverage effects on the rest of the economy that typically enables poor countries, poor regions and ultimately poor households to take the first steps toward economic transformation. Therefore agricultural productivity, at the small holder’s level, has the potential to lift millions of Africa’s vulnerable out of poverty and provide sustainable jobs. Other factors, namely “the rapid urbanization” and “increased population growth”, are quoted to be of critical importance. Africa population is projected to double, attaining the 2.3 billion people mark over the next 40 years representing half of the globe’s total population. This could trigger competition for resources and can have devastating effects on natural resources if not rightly channelled.
基金supported by the Project of Beijing’s Top-Precision-Advanced Disciplinesthe CSC-AGD Ph D Program from China Scholarship Council(CSC)the Key Consulting Project of the Chinese Academy of Engineering。
文摘Realizing sustainable development has become a global priority.This holds,in particular,for agriculture.Recently,the United Nations launched the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs),and the Nineteenth National People’s Congress has delivered a national strategy for sustainable development in China—realizing green development.The overall objective of Agriculture Green Development(AGD)is to coordinate"green"with"development"to realize the transformation of current agriculture with high resource consumption and high environmental costs into a green agriculture and countryside with high productivity,high resource use efficiency and low environmental impact.This is a formidable task,requiring joint efforts of government,farmers,industry,educators and researchers.The innovative concept for AGD will focus on reconstructing the whole crop-animal production and food production-consumption system,with the emphasis on high thresholds for environmental standards and food quality as well as enhanced human well-being.This paper addresses the significance,challenges,framework,pathways and potential solutions for realizing AGD in China,and highlights the potential changes that will lead to a more sustainable agriculture in the future.Proposals include interdisciplinary innovations,whole food chain improvement and regional solutions.The implementation of AGD in China will provide important implications for the countries in developmental transition,and contribute to global sustainable development.
