Ethiopia puts coffee at heart of culture climate and growth. (Image credit: Ethiopian News Agency)

Ethiopia has renewed its call for greater recognition of coffee as more than a global export, framing it as a cultural treasure, a social bond and a vital economic pillar for both the country and the wider African continent.

The message was delivered at a high level policy forum held on Tuesday during the 3rd African Coffee Week in Addis Ababa, where leaders and development partners gathered to discuss the future of Africa’s coffee industry.

Meles Mekonnen, State Minister of Agriculture said, “Coffee is far more than a tradable commodity. It is and will remain one of Africa’s most powerful symbols and strategic assets,” Meles said.

He warned that climate change is placing increasing pressure on the sector, with erratic rainfall, rising temperatures and growing pest threats already affecting production. According to Meles, smallholder farmers are bearing the brunt of these changes, making climate resilience and sustainable transformation urgent priorities.

As Africa’s largest coffee producer, Ethiopia has positioned coffee at the core of its national development strategy. Meles said the government is expanding climate smart farming practices, strengthening quality control systems and improving market transparency, while ensuring women and young people benefit from sector reforms.

He also urged African countries to rethink their role in the global coffee value chain by moving beyond raw bean exports and investing in value addition, branding and finished products. He pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area as a major opportunity to build regional value chains and create decent jobs.

“Investments in climate smart production systems and sustainable land management are not optional; they are economically prudent,” he said. “Together, we can cultivate a coffee industry that is economically vibrant and deeply rooted in Africa’s rich heritage.”

AU Commission Chief of Staff Mohamed El Amine Souef echoed the call for stronger cooperation, noting that new harmonised African coffee standards aim to boost competitiveness.
“Coffee brings people from diverse cultures together for mutual benefit,” Souef said.

UNIDO Representative Stephen Kargbo highlighted coffee’s role in Ethiopia’s export earnings while warning of climate risks and price volatility. “No single institution or government can address these issues alone,” he said.

Italian Ambassador Sem Fabrizi praised coffee’s cultural roots and confirmed Italy’s continued support through development cooperation and increased financing via the Italian Climate Fund.

Africa’s role in feeding a changing world

The impact of climate change is no longer a distant warning.

It is part of daily life, shaping the weather we experience, the cost of energy and the food that ends up on our plates. Between 2022 and 2023 alone, climate breakdown added US$490 to the average UK household’s annual food bill. At the same time, the UK imports around US$4bn worth of food from countries already facing severe climate related displacement. Together, these figures point to a clear and uncomfortable reality. Climate change is driving food prices higher while putting global food security under growing strain.

One powerful way to respond lies beyond Europe’s borders. Strengthening agricultural systems in vulnerable regions, particularly across Africa, could play a decisive role in easing pressure on global food markets. Doing so requires tackling long standing structural challenges while speeding up access to modern, transformative technologies. If approached seriously, these efforts could help stabilise food prices, reduce supply chain disruptions and build long term resilience into the global food system.

Across Africa, smallholder farmers sit at the heart of agricultural production. They supply most of the staple crops that feed both rural and urban populations and support millions of livelihoods. Yet despite Sub Saharan Africa holding roughly a quarter of the world’s arable land, the region accounts for only about 10 percent of global agricultural output. This imbalance is not due to a lack of land or effort. The problem lies in productivity.

Historical data paints a stark picture. Between 1961 and 2022, cereal yields in Africa barely doubled, while yields in other regions rose far more sharply. By 2022, the global average cereal yield had reached 4.2 tonnes per hectare, compared with just 1.7 tonnes per hectare across most African countries. Further research shows that between 2008 and 2019, smallholder productivity declined by an average of 3.5 percent per year. These trends reflect a complex mix of pressures that continue to hold farmers back.

Environmental stress is one of the most immediate challenges. Droughts are becoming more frequent and more intense, soils are increasingly degraded and nutrient poor, and moisture shortages limit crop growth. These abiotic stresses are compounded by pests and diseases that steadily erode harvests. In many areas, insecure land tenure discourages farmers from investing in long term soil health or sustainable practices, further weakening resilience.

Beyond environmental conditions, access to technology remains deeply unequal. Many farmers still struggle to obtain quality seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, irrigation systems and modern farming equipment. Without these inputs, even experienced farmers cannot fully realise the potential of their land. Institutional shortcomings add another layer of difficulty. Poor roads and limited storage facilities restrict access to markets and increase post harvest losses. Extension services, especially in rural areas, are often underfunded or overstretched, leaving farmers without reliable training or advice. At the same time, limited access to credit and low investment in agricultural research deprive farmers of the financial and scientific support they need to adapt.

Conservation agriculture highlights how these barriers intersect. This approach, which improves soil structure and moisture retention, could significantly boost sustainability and productivity. Yet in Sub Saharan Africa it is practised on only about 1.25 percent of cultivated land. A shortage of suitable tools, limited training, lack of crop residues for mulching and unsupportive socioeconomic conditions all contribute to its low uptake.

Unlocking Africa’s agricultural potential requires coordinated action across environmental, technological and institutional fronts. Without it, productivity will remain suppressed and the consequences will extend far beyond the continent.

Encouragingly, smart solutions are beginning to take hold. Digital tools and regenerative practices are increasingly recognised as essential to the future of African farming. At the second Roundtable of African Farmers in 2024, participants called on international policymakers to adopt outcome driven and evidence based policies that help farmers access modern technologies. When paired with training, these approaches can boost productivity while protecting natural resources.

Practical progress is already visible. Digital platforms such as PlantVillage and the Malawi Digital Plant Health Service enable early detection of pests and diseases, allowing farmers to respond more quickly. Artificial intelligence tools are also being used to monitor soils, plan irrigation and guide crop choices. Studies show that advisory systems like RiceAdvice and NextGen Agroadvisory have increased wheat and rice yields by up to 25 percent, improving incomes for smallholder farmers in countries including Ethiopia, Nigeria and Mali.

However, access remains uneven. Poor internet connectivity, limited digital skills and weak policy support continue to exclude many farmers. Without inclusive infrastructure and thoughtful regulation, innovation risks widening existing inequalities rather than reducing them. Technology alone is not enough. It must be embedded within broader systems that include reliable infrastructure, accessible education and transparent data governance.

Alongside digital innovation, biotechnology offers another powerful set of tools. Techniques such as marker assisted breeding, genetic modification and genome editing allow for faster and more precise responses to climate stress and pest pressure. South Africa has been a leader since the late 1990s, developing genetically modified cotton, maize and soybean. More recently, countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia and Malawi have approved the general release of genetically modified crops.

Globally, the evidence is compelling. The use of genetically modified technology has increased yields by 22 percent, reduced chemical pesticide use by 37 percent and raised farmer profits by 68 percent. Importantly, these gains are even greater in developing countries. Yet adoption remains uneven, held back by public mistrust, regulatory delays and limited biosafety capacity. These concerns, often fuelled by misinformation and insufficient public engagement, must be addressed openly and responsibly.

Building trust takes time, but delay carries its own risks. Governments and policymakers have a crucial role in creating conditions for safe and inclusive biotechnology use. This includes strong seed certification systems, well resourced extension services and financing models that allow smallholders to benefit from innovation.

Investing in African agriculture is no longer optional. As climate impacts intensify, global supply chains are becoming more fragile and food prices more volatile. Strengthening farming systems across Africa could help stabilise global markets by increasing reliable production of staple crops and reducing reliance on emergency imports. It would also help cushion the world against climate shocks that are already undermining food security in vulnerable regions.

Behind this growing body of research and insight are scientists working at the intersection of agriculture, climate and technology. One of them is Dr El Houssaine Bouras, an assistant professor specialising in crop modelling and remote sensing at the Center for Remote Sensing Applications and the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at University Mohammed VI Polytechnic. His work reflects a wider shift in agricultural thinking, one that recognises Africa not as a passive victim of climate change, but as a central player in feeding the future.

Sugar workers halt strike as government signals settlement plan. (Image credit: Capital Business)

Sugar factory workers across Kenya have suspended a planned nationwide strike following breakthrough talks between the Government and the Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation and Allied Workers KUSPAW.

The decision came after high level crisis discussions held at Kilimo House, offering fresh hope for stability in the struggling sugar sector.

The meeting was chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mutahi Kagwe, and brought together key players in the industry. Among those present were Agriculture Principal Secretary Kipronoh Ronoh, Kenya Sugar Board chief executive officer Jude Chesire, Chair of the Sugar Transition Committee Harun Khator, and KUSPAW leaders led by General Secretary Francis Wangara.

The industrial action had begun on January 29, 2026, affecting operations at Muhoroni, Nzoia, Sony and Chemelil sugar factories. Workers downed their tools over unpaid salary arrears and terminal benefits amounting to KSh10.8 billion, owed to both current and former employees. The prolonged dispute had disrupted production and deepened hardship for thousands of families in sugar growing regions.

After lengthy deliberations, the parties reached an agreement that will see workers return to duty as the Government moves to settle the outstanding arrears. Under the deal, the strike was suspended with immediate effect, while KSh1 billion is set to be released within the next two weeks to ease acute financial pressure on workers. The remaining balance will be addressed through the Supplementary Budget and future budget allocations, with Parliament expected to approve the funding. Payments will be made in phases covering salary arrears, redundancy dues, pensions and other terminal benefits.

CS Kagwe, said, “As Government, we accept responsibility for these debts. The arrears are owed by the Government, not private millers. We will push Parliament hard to resolve this matter conclusively through the Supplementary Budget so that the sugar sector is stabilized once and for all.”

He stressed that private millers leasing the factories are not responsible for the legacy debts and warned that targeting third parties only prolongs worker suffering and undermines sector recovery.

KUSPAW General Secretary Francis Wangara welcomed the renewed commitment, noting the dire conditions faced by exited workers. “We have agreed to suspend the strike in good faith as we monitor the release of funds and implementation of agreed milestones. Workers have suffered long enough, and this matter must now be resolved conclusively,” Wangara said.

Nigeria moves to power bioethanol growth by linking 14 million cassava farmers to industry.

Nigeria has unveiled an ambitious agricultural and industrial plan aimed at integrating about 14 million smallholder farmers into the cassava based bioethanol value chain.

The move forms part of a broader effort to industrialise agriculture, strengthen rural livelihoods and cut Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imported fuel. Known as the Cassava Bioethanol Value Chain Development Project, the initiative is being driven by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and represents a key step in reshaping the country’s agricultural economy.

A central feature of the programme is the “triple helix” approach, which brings together government institutions, universities and the private sector. This partnership model is designed to speed up the transfer of research, skills and technology to farmers and processors. Through this collaboration, producers will gain access to high yielding and disease resistant cassava varieties, modern farming techniques and improved production systems that support large scale industrial processing. The approach is also expected to attract private investment and strengthen Nigeria’s bioenergy ecosystem.

The project aligns with Nigeria’s National Biofuels Policy (2007), which targets the blending of ethanol with Premium Motor Spirit with the long term goal of achieving a 10 percent ethanol mix. This strategy is expected to stimulate domestic demand for cassava derived bioethanol, reduce fuel imports and preserve foreign exchange. Currently, close to half of Nigeria’s petrol consumption depends on imports, and official estimates suggest the initiative could save more than US$3 trillion, roughly US$4bn, every year.

Beyond fuel, ethanol is widely used across the chemical, pharmaceutical and agri food industries, including in the production of disinfectants, solvents and beverages. This broad demand highlights the strong commercial potential of bioethanol outside the energy sector.

Approved in April 2023, the project is backed by a US$11.9bn government investment running through 2028. A pilot phase includes a 20 hectare biotechnology industrial park where hybrid cassava varieties such as TME 419 will be cultivated. While the opportunities are significant, success will depend on reliable logistics, strong processing infrastructure and a stable regulatory framework that balances industrial demand with cassava’s role as a staple food.