News in brief:
-Â AfDB and the US have pledged to enhance collaboration in boosting food production and security in Africa with a $9.5 million grant from USAID to support the bank’s Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) initiative.
– Both parties explore further opportunities for collaboration, including investment in climate-resilient and nutritious crops.
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the United States have pledged to strengthen their collaboration to boost food production and food security in Africa. This commitment was made during a recent visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the AfDB headquarters in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Secretary Blinken commended the AfDB for its exceptional efforts in helping Africa feed itself and the world. He expressed confidence in Africa’s potential to become a global food provider and revealed that extraordinary work is being done to get to a place where Africa feeds itself and a place where Africa feeds the world.
Additionally, Blinken announced a new $9.5 million grant from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), aimed at supporting the second phase of the AfDB’s Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) initiative. The grant will help African countries increase food production, introduce climate-smart technologies, and expand extension services.
AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina welcomed the US support and acknowledged the historic nature of Blinken’s visit. He noted it’s significance, being the first time that a US Secretary of State would visit the African Development Bank and its work. Adesina further declared that Secretary Blinken’s visit provides great momentum for the bank’s work to feed Africa.
Also, he applauded President Biden’s leadership in global food security and expressed his enthusiasm for working with the US government to advance their shared goals in Africa.
Additionally, Adesina highlighted the success of TAAT, which reportedly deployed climate-resilient agricultural technologies and fertilisers to 13 million farmers in 40 African countries.
Subsequently, the US and the AfDB agreed to explore further collaboration opportunities. This includes partnering on the US State Department’s Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) activities and developing an investment strategy. They also acknowledged the potential of investing in climate-resilient and highly nutritious crops, including some of Africa’s neglected traditional foods.
Specifically, the AfDB’s AfricaRice initiative, launched in 2018, is a prime example of successful collaboration in rice production. Reports project that 15 of the 28 member countries are expected to achieve rice self-sufficiency soon.
