The African Union (AU) has adopted the Kampala Declaration, a 10-year strategic framework designed to transform Africa's agriculture and food systems from 2026 to 2035. This landmark agreement, finalized in January 2025, signifies a crucial shift towards a holistic agrifood systems approach, moving beyond traditional farming to encompass production, trade, investment, nutrition, inclusion, and governance.
The ambitious agenda aims to tackle the continent's multifaceted challenges, including climate change impacts and the demands of a growing population. The Kampala Declaration builds upon previous initiatives like the Maputo Declaration (2003-2013) and the Malabo Declaration (2015-2025), recalibrating priorities for a more integrated and resilient future. Key targets include halving post-harvest losses by 2035, tripling intra-African agrifood trade, and increasing the proportion of locally processed food products to 35% of the agrifood Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the same year.
Furthermore, the declaration commits to mobilizing $100 billion in public and private sector investment to bolster agrifood systems. This initiative is particularly vital given the persistent food insecurity across Africa. Despite Africa's significant agricultural potential, the continent faces serious challenges, including food insecurity and low yields. According to research, over 1 billion people on the continent cannot afford a healthy diet, and about 20% of Africa's population suffers from malnutrition. Low yields, less than 25% of potential, cost the continent $68 billion annually due to soil degradation and inefficient fertilizer use. The Kampala Declaration's proposed solutions include enhancing agricultural productivity with a goal to increase crop yields by 45% by 2035, focusing on scientific approaches including soil fertility restoration and locally adapted fertilizers, improving access to affordable inputs, and strengthening extension services.
Experts highlight the importance of a renewed focus on child nutrition and authentic stakeholder participation for effective implementation. The declaration also calls for intensified research, data gathering, and policy advocacy from non-state actors. The success of this transformative agenda hinges on robust accountability mechanisms and the commitment of member states to translate its strategic vision into concrete actions and sustained resource allocation. The strategy also aims to strengthen all links in the food chain, from farmer to market, with an emphasis on empowering smallholder farmers, who provide up to 80% of food in Sub-Saharan Africa. By embracing a comprehensive agrifood systems approach, the African Union is charting a course towards a more food-secure, economically integrated, and resilient continent.