Dakar, Senegal — The Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) 2025 has opened in Dakar with urgent calls for systemic reforms to transform the continent's agriculture, as hunger and malnutrition continue to rise despite decades of progress in output.
The gathering brought together heads of state, policymakers, researchers, and development partners who launched the Africa Food Systems Report (AFSR) 2025. The annual publication, formerly the Africa Agriculture Status Report, presents a mixed picture of growth and vulnerability.
According to the report, Africa's agricultural output has expanded faster than any other region, averaging 4.3 percent annual growth since 2000. Yet this growth has not translated into adequate nutrition. One in three African children under five remains stunted, and more than 300 million people were undernourished in 2023.
The findings highlight stark regional disparities. Countries with coherent governance and accountability frameworks report stronger nutrition and food security outcomes, while fragile states face food insecurity rates above 80 percent. The report also cites climate pressures, rapid population growth, and urbanization as compounding factors reshaping food demand and supply.
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Infrastructure remains one of the weakest links in Africa's food chain. Up to 30 percent of food produced is lost after harvest due to inadequate storage, poor rural roads, and lack of cold-chain systems. Closing this gap, the report notes, could raise farmer incomes by as much as 40 percent.
Finance is another critical bottleneck. Less than 5 percent of commercial bank lending in Africa goes to agriculture, leaving farmers without access to affordable credit. The report urges governments and private investors to expand blended finance models, digital lending, and crop insurance to unlock productivity and resilience.
Yield gaps also persist. Average cereal yields in Africa are 1.7 tons per hectare, compared with a global average of 4.2 tons. Expansion of farmland continues to drive output gains, often at the expense of soil health and environmental sustainability. Analysts warn that "Africa cannot feed its future with the tools of the past," calling for investment in climate-smart and regenerative practices.
In response, several initiatives were launched during the forum. One is Africa100, a partnership with the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund to identify and support 100 anchor small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in 12 countries that connect smallholder farmers to markets and create rural jobs.
AGRA and its partners are also working with governments in Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania to develop national pipelines of "investible flagship" projects that advance food security, youth employment, and resilience to climate shocks.
Protein gaps and rural job creation are being targeted through poultry sector initiatives. These include a Poultry Feed Innovation Grand Challenge to lower feed costs across Southern Africa, and the first-ever Poultry Futures Forum, scheduled for Zambia in November 2025.
Youth and media engagement are also central to the agenda. A partnership with Global Citizen will spotlight young innovators, while a new Africa Media Fellowship with Farm Radio aims to amplify agricultural success stories. Farm Radio's network of more than 1,300 stations is expected to disseminate key messages directly to farmers in at least seven markets.
School feeding is another priority, with African First Ladies and the Rockefeller Foundation backing a School Meals Coalition that links local farmers to school meal programs. Organizers say this will both improve child nutrition and create reliable markets for smallholder farmers.
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The summit's deliberations underscored the urgency of transformation. Africa's population is projected to hit 2.5 billion by 2050, doubling food demand in just 25 years. Experts warned that without decisive action, the continent risks worsening hunger, rising unemployment, political instability, and stunted economic growth.
Key statistics from the AFSR 2025 include: Africa's agriculture has grown 4.3 percent annually since 2000; one in three children under five is stunted; over 300 million Africans were undernourished in 2023; less than 5 percent of commercial lending goes to agriculture; and roughly 30 percent of food is lost after harvest. Africa's food import bill already exceeds $100 billion a year.
The report concludes that Africa's food future must focus on producing "better, not just more" by strengthening governance, expanding finance, improving infrastructure, and empowering communities to build resilient food systems.
