Celebrating world food day by creating innovative agricultural solutions to end poverty, tackle malnutrition and save our planet.
The exponential population growth to 9.7 billion by 2050 means all hands must be on deck to rise to the challenge. There must be inclusion of innovative ideas in the way farming, processing and marketing of farm produce is done now to ensure increase productivity.
The use of design thinking comes into play here to chart the path to productivity using smart agricultural constructs.
Robotics has been incorporated to livestock and general farming to increase productivity and also increase revenue by preventing losses. Africa needs to embrace more of technology-based agriculture to produce more and ensure food security.
Agricultural solutions are basically centered around :1) increased productivity which can be achieved by improved seeds, improved animal breeds, new farm practices,education of farmers, adoption of climate smart agriculture .
2) Leveraging technology to provide data to farmers to improve productivity like Zenvus .The use of robots to enhance productivity such as use of
3) Curbing food waste this can be by provision of cold hubs for farmers, provision of processing hubs to convert excess products or left overs to a new product with longer shelf-life.
4) Funding for farmers which can be in form of loans or private partnership in form of investment platforms.
5)Access to market: creating linkages for farmers to sell produce at reasonable prices. The creation of new markets to improve productivity by adoption of circular economy in all agricultural value chains.
Circular economy not only curbs wastes but closes loops in production cycles.
6) Adoption of clean energy to drive innovations in agriculture to reduce cost of production while saving the planet by reducing emissions.
