Global food systems are under immense strain. Climate change, geopolitical instability, rising protectionism and repeated supply chain disruptions are combining to jeopardise food security across the world.
From 2019 to 2022, food insecurity surged by an astonishing 150, with the harshest impacts felt by low- and middle-income countries. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, 46 million more people slipped into undernourishment during that time, an urgent reminder that the stakes have never been higher.
As chair of the B20 South Africa Sustainable Food Systems and Agriculture Task Force, I believe we are at a pivotal crossroads. While the challenges are significant, this is also a moment to rethink, redesign and reinvest in the systems that feed our people and drive our economies. Agriculture is not a relic of the past, it is the foundation of Africa's prosperity and we must embrace it as such.