FutureFood 2050 is a multiyear programme highlighting the people and stories leading efforts in ensuring a healthier, safer and better-nourished planet for 9 billion+ people by 2050. It will release 75 interviews with the world's most influential leaders in food and science through 2015. The programme will also launch next year a documentary film exploring the possible contributions of the science of food in feeding the world.

 

One issue of crucial importance not just to food scientists but the global population as a whole that FutureFood 2050 is discussing intensively is food security. Its articles on doctors, activists, professors, and entrepreneurs tackle innovative strategies making an impact on countries across Africa and beyond. The stories transcend typical coverage by highlighting the personal changes that these people are making, in particular the hundreds of thousands of lives saved and countless others affected by food science.

The articles on Africa are the fourth installment in FutureFood's interview series, following sustainability, women in food science, and food waste. To achieve food security for the continent, experts have identified successful smallholder farms, increased investment, and a cultural and policy shift toward nutritional foods as key steps. In addition, they believe that by addressing these challenges, Africa can not only feed itself but can also produce enough surplus food to expand its role in the global food economy.

 

At present, African agricultural yields are less than half the global average. Farmers there depend on rain rather than technology, resulting in only four percent of irrigable land being actually irrigated. Faced with difficulties in accessing reliable seed, only about one quarter of Africa's smallholder farmers have access to good seeds compared to 80 percent of farmers in China.

 

 

The situation is exacerbated by the growing need for more new varieties because many of the seeds farmers use are inherently low-yielding and vulnerable to crop diseases and pests. Furthermore, when crops are harvested farmers are hard-pressed to get their products to market.

According to Nobel Peace Prize Winner and former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, "The eradication of hunger is not just an end in itself: It is a first step toward sustainable development and progress in general, for a hungry man is not a free man. He can not focus on anything else but securing his next meal."

 

 

In one of the articles, Annan says that his experience in addressing global challenges has given him a unique viewpoint on the need not just for nutrition but the benefit for all that comes from creating a food-secure continent. He believes that in addition to addressing hunger, African can leverage farming, processing and transportation of crops in creating more jobs for the growing percentage of young people in rural areas.

 

 

Jane Karuku, food scientist and President of AGRA, also sat down with FutureFood 2050 and discussed the value of investing in smallholder farmers to move them out of poverty and transform agriculture in Africa. She also talked about developing systemic solutions to food security.

 

Ms. Karuku explains that "Africans are saying, 'Invest with us.' They are not asking for a handout. It's about investing in somebody, in some woman, in some farmer to break the cycle of poverty. Once the value chain becomes profitable, then it's automatically sustainable."