Africa: Transforming African food systems from the ground up

All information is local, they say. The same goes for innovations, the many new technologies, policies and practices that regularly arise from research to improve our lives.

It is in specific regions, cultures and places in the South that innovations for agricultural development are first taken up and adapted to meet the needs of the populations. Or not. Only by understanding that all innovations are local will innovators be able to meet the diverse needs of diverse populations.

From the library and laboratory to the farm and the kitchen

Recognizing that imagining innovative solutions is the easy part, and that delivering innovations to real people facing real problems is the hard part, CGIAR – the largest publicly funded agri-food research network in the world – has placed “scaling innovation” at the heart of its integrated regional initiatives. (RII).

The six CGIAR RIIs operate in six regions: Latin America, West and Central Africa, East and Southern Africa, West and Central Asia and North Africa, Southeast Asia and Asian Mega Deltas. Beginning in 2022 and running until 2024, these RIIs work with more than 750 local public and private partners and research centers to help transform the agri-food systems of these regions. As CGIAR’s “living laboratories,” RIIs help more local organizations adapt, apply, validate and scale solutions from many disciplines and integrate them into local programs and platforms. By building local capacity, RIIs empower “last mile stakeholders” to apply, adapt, use and take ownership of innovations and lead the innovation process as it evolves over time.

Context is decisive

With a solid foundation laid in their first two years of operation, these RIIs offer great opportunities to scale up engagement in more local food systems, attract investment and unite efforts in specific regions. With a multitude of local partners offering local experience, these initiatives provide granular information that can help transform “random” conventional agri-food systems projects into sustainable solutions to specific high-profile problems. For example, with technical and commercial support from the CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator, Zambian fruit processing company Forest Africa developed a non-dairy milk from the baobab fruit that brings economic benefits to local communities while helping to avoid deforestation.

In particular, the six RIIs and their partners are maximizing their impact by focusing on innovations at advanced readiness levels, using digital agroclimatic advisory tools and services, strengthening local agrifood system development capacities, and providing relevant policies and regulations with evidence-based recommendations. For example, by partnering with the popular farm transformation reality TV show “Shamba Shape Up” in Kenya, CGIAR helped bring proven innovations to more than eight million viewers each week.

In 2023 alone, these RIIs improved regional and local agri-food systems with 577 reports and documents, 341 products and events strengthening the capacity of local agri-food systems, 198 new innovations and 31 policy changes.

THE Well-being Initiative

With a new CGIAR portfolio (2025-2030) under development, the CGIAR IIR on Diversification in Eastern and Southern Africa, led by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and implemented jointly with 154 other partners, is a model of how the CGIAR and its many partners can play a greater role in scaling and developing agri-food innovations for the continent.

Given the first name Well-being (a blend of the Southern African Shona word for “partnership” and the East African Swahili word for “well-being” respectively), this initiative works in a dozen African countries with local food producers and food retailers, innovators and influencers. Our partners are invaluable in helping us overcome barriers to scaling research-based innovations and avoiding any unintended consequences of their adoption.

Innovate the “how”

Part of what makes Ukama Ustawi unique is its ever-evolving and participatory working methods.

A regular series of dynamic farm fairs and virtual field trips enable the exchange of knowledge, ideas, experiences and expertise, not only from farmer to farmer but also, and most importantly, from farmer to farmer to village elders, scientists and government officials. , and to donor agents. These deliberately “immersive” physical fairs and virtual field trips not only accelerate and expand farmer-to-farmer learning, but also introduce the world of smallholder agriculture to decision-makers, who meet farmers, listen to their stories, and experience their challenges — firsthand. and in real time.

Innovations are also accelerated through award competitions promoting “scale-ready” agricultural innovations in the region. Through the CGIAR Food System Accelerator, Ukama Ustawi supports innovation through agribusinesses who receive substantial support to help them diversify their corn farming into more nutritious products and farming systems. Each local agribusiness is matched with appropriate mentors from CGIAR and beyond and benefits from tailored technical and financial assistance. In 2023, this pairing resulted in initial financial commitments exceeding US$11 million for the 10 selected agribusinesses. Ukama Ustawi also launched an annual competition for research groups to apply for Scaling Fund grants. Three winning research initiatives each received US$125,000 in 2024.