Science-Based Solutions Could Create a More Sustainable and Resilient Future of Agriculture

Agriculture is at a crossroads. On the one hand, we face the challenge of feeding a growing global population. On the other hand, we need to produce food sustainably and resiliently to climate change.

Science-based solutions offer a way to bridge this gap. By leveraging the latest scientific knowledge and technologies, we can develop new ways to produce food more efficiently, sustainably, and profitably.

However, there is a significant gap between the scientific community and the farmers who stand to benefit the most from these advancements. Smallholder farmers, in particular, are often excluded from innovation and need access to the latest technologies and resources.

The 2023 ANDE Conference in Ghana brought together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to discuss how to bridge this gap and harness the power of science to transform agriculture.

The panel discussion on "Agtech as a Bridge Between Science and Agriculture" produced several key lessons and insights:

• Invest in ag-tech start-ups. Agtech start-ups are driving innovation in agriculture. Investing in these companies can accelerate the development and adoption of new technologies.
• Advocate for supportive policies. Governments can play a vital role in supporting the adoption of agtech by developing policies that encourage investment and innovation.
• Foster private-public partnerships. Partnerships between the private sector, scientific institutions, and farmers are essential for developing and deploying agtech solutions at scale. The agricultural sector should collectively work to bridge the gap between scientific innovation and practical implementation. The collaboration will help unlock the potential of these advancements and create a more sustainable and regenerative agricultural landscape
• Agriculture's Technological Transformation: Agriculture is shifting toward greater productivity through data and connectivity. The emergence of science-based solutions is at the forefront of this transformation.
• The Need for Greater Investment: While significant progress is being made in agrifood tech, particularly in Africa, it still receives only 1% of global investment in the sector. There is a clear need for more investment in African agritech.
• Bridging the Connectivity Gap: There is a notable disparity in connectivity access, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the usage gap for mobile internet is 44%, significantly higher than the global average. This affects the adoption of digital solutions in agriculture.
• Examples of Science in Agribusiness: Several examples illustrate the transformative potential of technology and science in agribusiness, from data collection and management to remote sensing and machine learning applications.

Importance of Agribusinesses: While the primary focus is on supporting smallholder farmers, digital tools and science-based solutions often require a level of sophistication that agribusinesses are better suited to implement. Equipping agribusinesses with science-based information can increase productivity, quality improvement, streamlined supply chains, and adherence to environmental and social standards.

The CGIAR Excellence in Agronomy Initiative , TechnoServe , and FBISTech use science to help smallholder farmers improve their productivity and resilience. While TechnoServe 's primary focus is supporting smallholder farmers, digital tools and science-based solutions often require a level of sophistication more suited for agribusinesses.

FBISTech is a company that provides digital extension services to smallholder farmers in Africa. FBISTech's CEO and founder, Isaiah Bendi , explained that FBISTech uses farmers' locations to send targeted information to them in their local language via outbound calls, SMS, or USSD. This flexibility makes it easier for farmers to access the information they need, even if they missed the outbound call.

FBISTech's localized and targeted distribution of information enables farmers to receive relevant and tailored information. This is important because the needs of farmers in different locations can vary greatly. For example, farmers in a drought-prone region may need different information than farmers in a region with abundant rainfall.

FBISTech is also working with telecom partners to expand its coverage to areas where there is no network or where farmers do not have access to the network. The telecom partners have committed to ensuring the expansion of the coverage and will give farmers free SIM cards so that FBISTech can quickly bring farmers into the ecosystem.

This collaboration between FBISTech and telecom partners is a promising example of how science-based solutions can be localized and made more accessible to smallholder farmers. By providing farmers with access to timely and relevant information, FBISTech is helping them to improve their productivity and resilience.

The work of FBISTech, TechnoServe , and the CGIAR Excellence in Agronomy Initiative demonstrates the potential of science-based solutions to help smallholder farmers. By localizing and targeting their solutions, these organizations are making them more accessible and relevant to the farmers who need them most.

The ANDE Conference in Ghana was a timely and important event. It brought together key players to discuss and advance the use of science-based solutions in agriculture. We can create a more sustainable and resilient food system by bridging the gap between science and agriculture.

Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs

Treekle Inc.

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