H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and current Board Chair of AGRA, has called for accelerated action to address Africa’s persistent food security challenges.
Opening the Africa Food Systems Forum 2025 in Dakar, Senegal, on Monday, September 1, H.E. Hailemariam highlighted the paradox of Africa’s vast agricultural potential alongside heavy dependence on food imports and significant post-harvest losses.
“Despite our abundance, Africa still imports $70 billion worth of food each year, loses 30 to 40 percent of its harvest post-farm, and produces only 60 to 70 percent of its food needs. This cannot continue,” he said, quoting an African proverb: “The river is full, but the calabash is empty.”
He called on all stakeholders to go “all in” on CAADP’s third 10-year development plan, empowering youth to lead in agriculture and agribusiness and secure a prosperous future for generations to come. “We owe it to the 300 million Africans living in poverty, to the youth seeking opportunities, and to the women who sustain our communities,” he emphasized.
Held under the theme “Africa’s Youth: Leading Collaboration, Innovation, and Implementation of Agri-Food Systems Transformation,” this year’s Forum has brought together more than 6,000 delegates, including heads of state and government, ministers, policymakers, private sector leaders, researchers, and civil society representatives.
The Forum will run until Friday, September 5, 2025, with discussions focusing on actionable solutions to transform Africa’s agri-food systems and unlock the continent’s agricultural potential.
