Agriculture

FAO Chief urges faster global action on One Health Agenda (Image credit: FAO)

At a key global meeting in Lyon, Qu Dongyu, Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, called for stronger and faster efforts to advance the One Health agenda

Speaking at the fourth annual executive meeting of the Quadripartite partnership, he warned that gaps in capacity and a lack of stable funding are still slowing real progress.

The Quadripartite brings together the Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations Environment Programme, World Health Organization, and World Organisation for Animal Health. This alliance aims to improve cooperation across sectors to better protect the health of people, animals, plants, and the environment. At its core is the One Health approach, which encourages collaboration across disciplines to address shared challenges such as disease, food safety, and environmental risks.

During his opening remarks, Qu recognised the progress made in recent years, especially in strengthening cooperation and advancing the Joint Plan of Action. Still, he made it clear that progress has not been equal everywhere and that more must be done to turn plans into real change on the ground.

"This meeting is not only about taking stock - it is about accelerating action," Qu said. "We need to expand and scale One Health implementation at country and community level. We need to work collectively, bringing together our individual comparative advantages, in line with our connected yet distinct mandates."

He also highlighted the need to strengthen knowledge sharing and build stronger evidence to show the value of One Health investments. According to him, improving governance, encouraging scientific collaboration, and building stronger communities of practice will be essential for long term success.

As the FAO prepares to pass leadership of the partnership to the World Health Organization, Qu outlined key priorities for the future. These include scaling up action at country level, securing sustainable investment, and raising political awareness to keep One Health high on the global agenda.

He concluded by thanking partner organisations for their continued cooperation and reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to building more resilient and sustainable food systems worldwide.

AfDB Boosts African Growth Businesses with Strategic Fund Investment (Image credit: African Development Bank)

The African Development Bank Group has pledged US$15mn to the SPE PEF III private equity fund, signalling strong support for businesses that are ready to move beyond their early stages and expand across Africa

This step reflects a wider ambition to strengthen the private sector by helping mid sized companies that often face difficulty securing long term funding.

Managed by SPE Capital, the SPE PEF III fund is primarily focused on North Africa, while also exploring promising opportunities in parts of sub Saharan Africa. Its purpose is straightforward: to provide financial backing to companies that want to grow, enter new markets, and improve how they operate. By focusing on this phase of development, the fund fills an important gap between early stage investment and large scale corporate financing.

The investment approach centres on sectors that are seen as essential for long term economic progress. Industrial activity is one of the main priorities, covering areas such as manufacturing, packaging, and food processing. These industries play a key role in strengthening local production and reducing reliance on imports. Another focus lies in business and industrial services, including logistics, outsourcing, and financial technology, which help companies operate more efficiently. The third area is human capital, which includes healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and education, all vital for both social wellbeing and economic stability.

Beyond direct funding, the investment is expected to attract further interest from other investors. Institutions like the African Development Bank often act as early supporters, helping to reduce risk and encourage wider private sector involvement. This can lead to increased flows of capital into African markets and a more active investment environment.

Overall, the move supports the Bank’s broader mission to drive economic growth, create jobs, and expand business opportunities across the continent. By improving access to finance and backing key industries, this initiative is set to help African businesses grow in a steady and sustainable way while becoming more competitive in regional and global markets.

Morocco steps forward in global agriculture support programme

Morocco has been named among seven priority countries under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) “Food for Progress” program for 2026, a major initiative valued at US$226mn aimed at boosting agricultural development and trade

This decision places Morocco in a strong position to benefit from international support focused on strengthening its agricultural future.

The programme is built to encourage agricultural productivity, infrastructure development, and stronger value chains across developing economies. What makes it distinct is its trade based mechanism, where the United States sells its agricultural goods within partner nations and reinvests the funds into local development projects. This model supports farmers on the ground while also creating new trade opportunities.

Morocco joins a diverse group of countries including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Ecuador, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Each nation will take part in programmes lasting around five years, with funding generally ranging between US$28mn and US$35mn.

While the exact areas of focus in Morocco are yet to be confirmed, attention is expected to fall on pressing agricultural needs. These include improved irrigation systems, climate resilient farming methods, and better access to markets. Such efforts are particularly important as the country has experienced several years of drought, placing strain on both production and water supply.

Morocco’s inclusion also reflects its wider importance in global agriculture. It remains one of Africa’s largest importers of food, showing strong and rising demand. At the same time, it plays a key role as a major exporter of phosphate fertilisers, which are essential to farming systems around the world.

More broadly, the programme connects development with trade growth, encouraging modern farming practices and stronger private sector involvement. For Morocco, this support is expected to improve productivity, build resilience, and support long term economic progress. It also strengthens ties with the United States, marking a step forward in shared agricultural goals.

The growing strength of Africa’s livestock sector

The livestock section of African Agribusiness offers a clear window into the changing landscape of animal farming across the continent. It brings together updates and insights on cattle, poultry, pigs, and small ruminants, while exploring key areas such as production, investment, technology, and policy

The section reads less like a static report and more like an ongoing story of a sector that continues to evolve with time.

One of the most striking themes is the economic importance of livestock. Across many African nations, livestock remains deeply tied to livelihoods, national income, and food security. In countries like Tanzania, the sector supports millions of people and plays a meaningful role in daily life. Rising demand for meat and dairy products has encouraged growth in animal populations and output, reflecting both changing diets and gradual improvements in farming practices.

Attention is also given to investment and funding initiatives that are helping reshape the industry. Governments and financial institutions are increasingly directing resources into livestock development. These efforts often focus on smallholder farmers, helping them move beyond subsistence farming into more stable and profitable systems, while also creating employment in rural areas.

At the same time, technological innovation is quietly transforming traditional practices. From digital tracking systems to better breeding methods, farmers are gaining tools that improve efficiency and animal health. These changes are also opening doors to financial services, making it easier for farmers to access credit and manage risk.

However, the sector continues to face challenges in animal health and disease management. Outbreaks such as avian influenza and African swine fever remain a concern, making strong veterinary systems and regional cooperation essential.

Trade patterns also shape the industry, with imports from countries like Brazil highlighting both demand and gaps in local supply. Alongside this, issues like climate change and feed shortages continue to test resilience.

Overall, the section presents livestock as a vital and steadily developing part of Africa’s future.