The Federal Government has called for stronger science-driven partnerships and increased investment in agricultural research to accelerate food security and agricultural transformation across Africa.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, made the call on Tuesday, at the Science and Partnership for Agriculture Conference (SPAC) 2026 in Abuja.
The conference formed part of the 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week (9AASW) and the 10th General Assembly of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA).
Abdullahi said Africa needed stronger collaboration among research institutions, policymakers, farmers, development partners and the private sector to address emerging agricultural challenges.
He said the Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, was pursuing reforms focused on food security, research, innovation, mechanisation, climate resilience, digital agriculture and partnerships.
According to him, Africa has developed National Agricultural Research Systems, universities, specialised research institutes and centres of excellence that have produced technologies for crop production, livestock, fisheries, forestry and natural resource management.
He, however, said greater institutional collaboration was required to translate scientific advances into solutions capable of addressing the continent’s agricultural challenges.
“The Science and Partnership for Agriculture Conference was conceived by FARA to provide a unique continental platform where researchers, policymakers, development partners, universities, farmers’ organizations, and the private sector can collectively shape Africa’s agricultural research agenda and strengthen partnerships for greater impact,” Abdullahi said.
He said emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, digital agriculture, genomics, robotics and big data, were changing agriculture, while climate change, soil degradation, water scarcity and population growth were putting additional pressure on food systems.
The minister called for a new generation of scientists with multidisciplinary skills to develop climate-smart, technology-driven and commercially viable agricultural solutions.
He also urged African countries to increase investment in frontier sciences, commercialise research outputs, establish sustainable research financing mechanisms, promote responsible scientific data sharing and strengthen partnerships between public research institutions and the private sector.
Abdullahi said the impact of agricultural research should ultimately be measured through improved farmers’ livelihoods, job creation, agribusiness development, environmental sustainability and national prosperity.
Earlier, the Director, Research and Innovation – Emeritus, FARA, Dr Irene Annor-Frempong, said SPAC was designed to translate scientific breakthroughs into practical and scalable solutions for farmers.
She said the platform would promote innovation, strategic partnerships, knowledge exchange and climate-resilient agricultural development.
The event also featured the launch of Reimagining Agricultural Research in Africa: Demand, Innovation and Transformation, performed by Abdullahi, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, and other dignitaries.
The statement was signed by Obe M. Mabel, Assistant Chief Information Officer, for the Head, Department of Information, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
