Transforming African food systems through digital innovation

^{Shungu Kanyemba, Managing Director of Solidaridad Southern Africa and Candice Kroutz-Kabongo, Digital Innovations Lead for Solidaridad Southern Africa speak with the press at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Rwanda.}

In September of 2024, the Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF) took place in Kigali, Rwanda. Solidaridad Southern Africa used the forum as an opportunity to describe its innovative work providing bundled digital services to smallholder farmers in its ongoing effort to support southern African agriculture. Taking the opportunity to share information with the press, Solidaridad staff also shed light on the transformative role of youth-led digital solutions.

Across Africa, the effects of climate change have shown the need to develop agricultural resilience. In southern parts of the continent the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reveals that El Niño-induced droughts could slash maize yields by up to 60 percent and threaten the food security of millions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events will only increase due to climate change.

Shungu Kanyemba, the managing director for Solidaridad Southern Africa spoke to the media at the Kigali International Convention Centre in Rwanda, and emphasized the importance of digital solutions in fostering agricultural resilience.

"It is time to unpack how bundled services, such as soil testing, weather data, insurance, and financial products, delivered through digital platforms, are improving access to essential services for smallholder farmers."

"This model provides a scalable and efficient approach to strengthening agricultural systems, making these services more affordable and accessible. Solidaridad aims to demonstrate the potential of digital platforms to revolutionize agriculture across Africa," he said.

According to Kanyemba, the future of African agriculture lies in leveraging innovative digital tools, and by prioritizing services for youth and women, it will be possible to accelerate progress toward a food-secure future. Kanyemba's goal is to support smallholder farmers with the resources and services that they need to enhance their productivity and incomes while ensuring that these solutions are sustainable and inclusive.

To respond to the digital needs of small-scale producers, who often lack internet access, mobile phones, or struggle with time limitations or illiteracy, Solidaridad has received a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant, which will focus on digital innovation, integration and partnerships in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.

The message shared by Solidaridad at the AGRF 2024 focused on the power of digital innovations to enhance agriculture service provision for smallholder farmers. The event showcased the success of Solidaridad's bundled services model in improving the productivity and resilience of smallholder farmers.

According to Candice Kroutz-Kabongo, the digital innovations lead for Solidaridad, digital platforms can often deliver an affordable combination of services to farmers. Bundled services are both scalable and efficient for service providers, and data-driven digital tools can support better monitoring and decision-making for farmers.

The AGRF in 2024 provided a unique opportunity to present Solidaridad's bundled services model. The model provides digital tools to farmers to create sustainable supply chains that are prosperous, inclusive and in balance with nature. Additionally, it facilitates partnerships between farmers, businesses and governments, while fostering a supportive business ecosystem that will drive progress in African agriculture.

The 2024 AGRF revolved around the theme, "Innovate, Accelerate, and Scale: Delivering Food Systems Transformation in a Digital and Climate Era." With Africa facing unprecedented challenges, from climate shocks to economic pressures, the Forum works to accelerate the adoption of digital tools to revolutionize food systems and tackle these pressing issues.

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