Food and Nutrition Security in Africa seminar in Helsinki 16 June 2014, Tools and solutions for improved food security in West and East Africa, Hannu Korhonen, MTT

1. FoodAfrica
Research for Development Programme
Tools and solutions for improved food security in West
and East Africa
Prof. Hannu J. Korhonen
FoodAfrica Director

2. Facts on African agriculture
Agriculture has a vital significance for sub-Saharan African
countries, as it is the biggest economic sector throughout the area.
A majority of the population gains livelihood through farming.
Agriculture carries great potential for economical development, but
has low productivity.
Africa holds a rich and varied biodiversity.
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3. African agriculture in figures
• 60 % of the globally available arable land is in Africa but it provides only
10 % of global agricultural output
• 4 % Africa’s annual agricultural growth over the past decade
• 75% of African population relies on agricultural and livestock production for
their livelihoods
• 90% of the agricultural output is produced by smallholder farmers on farms
averaging 2.5 hectares in size
• 85% of locally consumed food is produced by women farmers
• $40bn to $50bn The amount Africa spends yearly on imported agricultural
products- Africa remains as net importer
Source: Economic Commission for Africa,World Bank, NEPAD
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4. Women produce up to 85 % of foodstuffs in Sub-Saharan
Africa for household consumption and sale in local markets
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5. Challenges of food and nutrition security in Africa
• Population growth - 900 million more by 2050
• Climate change- extreme weather conditions, less rainfall
• Poverty- 25 % of population below absolute poverty line
• Undernourishment- 230 million people now
• Low investments in agricultural R&D and agribusiness-
low yields, quality and added value
• Poor marketing efficiency of agricultural produce-
loss of harvest, low prices
• Unsustainable agricultural practises and resource use-
low productivity and environmental degradation
• Inappropriate or limited extension services- poor agricultural
productivity, subsistence farming
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6. Projected change in population numbers (millions) in different
continents during 2010-2100
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7. Climate change attenuates food and nutrition security
 Increase of 2 degrees C decreases all crop yields across Sub-
Saharan Africa by 10% by the 2050s.
 Effects on nutrient content of food (for example, protein and toxin
levels).
 Effects on availability of and access to food
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8. How to improve food and nutrition security in Africa
through science and education?
Extracts from IFPRI Report 2013- potential solutions?
• Higher investments in agricultural research and
development (R&D) to develop new varieties of crops and livestock that
are tolerant to stresses such as drought, flood, and cold are critical
• Linking smallholder farmers to agrifood value chains is also
an important component of building their resilience. To help them acquire real-time
information on prices and weather patterns, investments in new information and
communication technologies (ICTs) are imperative
• Developing and introducing novel extension methods. For
example, Farmer Field Schools’ emphasis on farmers as decision-makers helps rural
communities, and especially women, to build their confidence and capacity to
experiment, while also helping people to improve their farming potential.
Source: IFPRI 2013 Global Food Policy Report
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9. FoodAfrica Programme- Basic Data
Duration
- 4 years (Jan 2012- Dec 2015)
Budget
-11,8 million €, of which 9,5 million Official
Development Aid (ODA) from the Ministry for
Foreign Affairs of Finland
8 Partners
- MTT, IFPRI, ICRAF, ILRI, Bioversity International,
University of Helsinki, HAMK University of Applied
Sciences and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of
Finland
- Plus many local partners in Programme countries
6 African countries
- Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal
and Uganda
7 Work Packages
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10. FoodAfrica objective, purpose and approach
• Objective
The overall objective of FoodAfrica is to reduce poverty and improve food
and nutrition security in Western and Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa by
providing new knowledge and tools for the use of decision makers,
extension officers and local farmers
• Purpose
Improved capacity of African research and education institutions for
research, education, and information dissemination
• Approach
A new model combining applied research with development co-
operation by linking a large number of different actors at research,
education, extension and farmer level.
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11. Food Africa Components and Cross-cutting Issues
Thematic components
Sustainable food production
Food safety and nutrition
Market access and extension
Cross-cutting Issues *)
Climate Sustainability
Gender Equality
Reduction of Inequality
Human rights based approach
*) as stipulated by MFA

12. FoodAfrica work package topics and partners
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WP1: Soil micronutrients (Sub-Saharan Africa)
• ICRAF, University of Nairobi, MTT
WP2: Sustainable dairy production (Senegal)
• ILRI, EISMV, University of Helsinki, MTT
WP3: Agricultural practices in a changing climate (Senegal)
• IFPRI, ISRA, MTT
WP4: Traditional foods for nutrition (Benin)
• Bioversity International, University of Benin, University of Helsinki
WP5: Reducing risk of mycotoxins (Kenya)
• ILRI, IFPRI, University of Nairobi, MTT
WP6: Better market access through ICT’s (Ghana & Uganda)
• IFPRI, MTT
WP7: Innovative extension approaches (Kenya & Cameroon)
• ICRAF, HAMK

13. WP 1: Strengthening Soil Management for Sustainable
Agriculture and Food Production (> 20 African countries)
• Expected outcome
Strengthened capacity of local research
and education institutions, and local soil
laboratories for diagnosis and
management of soil micronutrient
deficiencies
• Partners
• ICRAF
• MTT/ Plant Production Research
• University of Nairobi, Institute of Nuclear
Physics
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14. WP 2: Increasing Sustainable Dairy Production through
Livestock Breeding in Senegal
• Expected outcome
Strengthened capacity of local
institutions to support
sustainable dairy production
• Partners
• ILRI
• MTT Biotechnology and Food
Research
• University of Helsinki, Department of
Agricultural Sciences
• EISMV (Inter-State School of
Veterinary Science and Medicine of
Dakar)
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15. WP 3: Adaptation of Smallholder Farming Practises in
Changing Climate in Senegal
• Expected outcome
Best agricultural practices and
adaptation responses produced for
and disseminated to the farmers,
agricultural extension officers and
national policy makers
• Partners
• IFPRI
• MTT Economic Research
• ISRA (National Agricultural
Research Institute of Senegal)
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16. WP 4: Improving Nutrition of Vulnerable Groups by Traditional
Foods
• Expected outcome
Strengthened information base on
indigenous foods for marginal and
vulnerable households through
nutrition-sensitive value chains
• Partners
• Bioversity International
• University of Helsinki, Department of
Food and Environmental Sciences
• Universite d’Abomey Calavi, Benin
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17. WP 5: Reducing Risk of Mycotoxins in the Feed – Dairy Chain
in Kenya
• Expected outcome
Improved methods and practises for
reducing the risk of mycotoxin
contamination in feeds, maize and milk
• Partners
• ILRI
• IFPRI
• MTT/ Biotechnology and Food Research
• MTT/ Economic Research
• University of Nairobi
• ACDI/VOCA
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18. WP 6: Developing Better Market Access in Uganda and Ghana
for Smallholders through ICT
• Expected outcome
Improved market access for small
scale farmers through market
information by means of modern
information and communication
technology (ICT)
• Partners
• IFPRI
• MTT Economic Research
• ISSER (University of Ghana)
• FIT-Uganda
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19. WP 7: Application of Innovative Extension Approaches for
Better Food Security and Livelihoods
• Expected outcome
Innovative extension approaches
made available for local extension
organizations for transfer of
research results to end-users
• Partners
• ICRAF
• HAMK University of Applied Sciences
• ANAFE
• local partners
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20. FoodAfrica Dissemination and Extension Methods
• Policy briefs, workshops, videos, mobile technology, websites,
education materials
• Volunteer Farmer Trainers approach (VFT)
• Focus Group Discussions (FGD)
• Rural Resource Centres (RRC)
• Market Information Systems (MIS)
Target Groups: Decision-makers and authorities, education and
extension staff, rural communities, NGO’s, CSO’s, small-scale
farmers and vulnerable groups

21. FoodAfrica - Academic Capacity Building Activities
• The Programme aims to improve the research and teaching capacity of
participating African universities and research institutions through provision
of training opportunities for a number (up to 20) of MSc and PhD students.
• At present, 8 PhD students from African (Programme) countries and 3
PhD students from Finland are attached to different work packages and
carry out research on topics related to WP objectives.
• Many African MSc. students have already completed their thesis work or
are working on it in different WPs.
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Food security is a precondition for human development.
Africa has the knowledge, technology and resources for
closing the food security deficit, and breakthroughs will
continue to emerge from research and development .
UNDP Africa Human Development Report 2012
www.mtt.fi/foodafrica Photo by Mila Sell /MTT