Statement by Dr. Michael Terungwa David, founder of the Global Iniviative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP)
Africa stands at a defining moment in its food systems journey. By 2050, the continent’s population is projected to reach nearly 2.5 billion people, meaning hundreds of millions of additional mouths to feed within a generation. This rapid population growth, combined with climate change, land degradation, water stress, and rising food prices, presents an urgent challenge but also a powerful opportunity. The choices made today will determine whether Africa’s food systems become a source of resilience and prosperity or a driver of inequality and environmental loss.
Meeting future food demand cannot rely on business-as-usual approaches. Current food systems already struggle with low productivity, climate change, high post-harvest losses, environmental degradation, and exclusion of smallholder farmers, women, and youth. This is why there is a strong case for building a co-investment platform that brings together public finance, private capital, development partners, philanthropy, and local institutions to accelerate food systems transformation at scale.
At the heart of this transformation lies the opportunity to scale agroecology and regenerative agriculture. These approaches restore soil health, improve water retention, protect biodiversity, and reduce dependence on costly external inputs. Agroecology strengthens climate resilience while improving yields over time, supporting farmer incomes and nutrition outcomes. Regenerative practices such as crop diversification, agroforestry, composting, and integrated livestock systems offer a pathway to produce more food while regenerating ecosystems delivering benefits for both people and the planet.
However, production alone is not enough. Africa loses an estimated 30–40 percent of its food after harvest, representing wasted investment, lost income for farmers, and unnecessary pressure on land and water. A co-investment platform must therefore prioritize strategic infrastructure that reduces these losses and unlocks market access. Investments in cooling and cold-chain systems, especially for perishable crops, can dramatically cut spoilage and improve food safety. Climate-smart irrigation can stabilize production in the face of erratic rainfall, while rural access roads and storage facilities can connect farmers to markets, reduce transport costs, and improve price realization.
Such a platform creates a win-win outcome. For people, it means improved food availability, better nutrition, decent jobs, and increased incomes for farmers and agribusinesses. For the planet, it means healthier soils, reduced emissions, more efficient water use, and less pressure to expand agriculture into forests and fragile ecosystems. By aligning investments around shared outcomes, food security, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability a co-investment platform can de-risk capital, crowd in private investment, and ensure long-term impact.
Building a co-investment platform for food systems transformation in Africa is not just an option; it is a necessity. With coordinated action, innovative financing, and a clear focus on regenerative solutions and enabling infrastructure, Africa can feed its growing population while safeguarding the natural systems on which future generations depend.