FAOStat

According to UN population projections, Africa is expected to add another 2.3 billion people over the next 75 years …amounting to a total of 3.8 billion by the year 2100. Understandably, there are substantial implications for this growth, which represents a population greater than the Americas and Europe combined, or that of East or South Asia. In terms of Africa’s production of major cereal and food grains (maize, rice, wheat and soybean), it forms a near linear line that is much flatter than other regions with similar populations. Africa’s current trajectory suggests a probable need to, at least, triple its food grain production by 2100. Since grain production in Africa is largely comprised of a diverse patchwork of smallholder farming systems, any newfound gains in productivity will be critically dependent on the consistency with which farmers’ gain access to locally relevant agronomic solutions. This is most likely achieved with long-term dedication to agricultural R&D polices from governments and agri-food industries that support the generation of knowledge, value, resilience, and sustainability.