AGRA

At the margins of World Without Hunger Conference in Ethiopia, His Excellency Hailemariam Dessalegn, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and AGRA Board Chair met with a delegation led by Matthias Berninger, EVP of Bayer Global. The meeting, held in Addis Ababa, was a platform for discussing innovative solutions and collaborative efforts to tackle the pressing challenges faced by smallholder farmers across the continent.

Matthias Berninger began by highlighting Bayer’s groundbreaking work on nitrogen-fixing seeds for crops such as corn, wheat, and rice. “The results, expected to be evaluated one year from now, are said to be encouragingly huge,” he noted. Berninger emphasized Bayer’s commitment to making these seeds accessible to meet the growing demand, underscoring the importance of gene-editing and modern breeding techniques in achieving high and sustainable agricultural productivity.

Berninger also pointed out the existing gap in the production of quality corn seeds and Bayer’s efforts to address this demand. He mentioned Bayer’s initiative on crop insurance, targeting 10 million smallholder farmers, as a crucial step in providing a safety net against adverse weather conditions and other risks. Reflecting on a recent meeting with the World Bank, Berninger highlighted MIGA’s current interest in agriculture, signaling potential collaborations.

Looking ahead, Berninger expressed interest in understanding AGRA’s vision for the next five years and inquired about any controversies that might affect future collaborations. He also shared concerns about the shift in AGRA’s leadership, assuming they should wait for the new leader’s guidance.

In response, His Excellency Hailemariam Dessalegn raised concerns about the impact of climate change on smallholder farmers. He proposed collaborative efforts between AGRA and Bayer to tackle these challenges using available technologies as shock absorbers. “Smallholder farmers must be included in assessments, decision-making, and implementation processes,” Dessalegn emphasized, highlighting the importance of their involvement for the success of agricultural initiatives.

Reiterating AGRA’s commitment to improving seed and crop quality, Dessalegn stressed the need for changing mindsets towards technology-based approaches for resilient and high-yielding crops. He acknowledged the political challenges that need to be addressed to embrace gene-editing and GMOs and underlined the necessity for robust studies and discussions led by African scientists and researchers.

Addressing Bayer’s concerns about controversies, Dessalegn assured that these mainly exist among donors and should not deter their efforts. He emphasized AGRA’s focus on state capacity building and advocating for best policies. Dessalegn explained AGRA’s holistic approach to the food system value chain, highlighting cooperation with the Global Climate Fund on food waste management from harvest to consumption.

Encouraging Bayer to actively engage with AGRA, Dessalegn affirmed that AGRA’s structured objectives and pillars remain steadfast despite leadership changes. “The upcoming president will still be from the sector,” he assured, promising that he and the Vice Presidents are committed to continuing discussions and engagements with Bayer. Dessalegn also offered his support in Bayer’s engagements across the continent, leveraging his capacity, networking, and experience.

The meeting concluded with several key takeaways and future actions. Both AGRA and Bayer reaffirmed their commitment to supporting smallholder farmers, acknowledging the climate-related challenges hindering their productivity. Bayer committed to equipping more researchers in Africa to advocate for gene-editing and modification. Discussions on the Food Basket program will be deepened, with Nigeria and Ethiopia identified as key areas of interest.

Bayer expressed interest in continuing efforts to improve corn seed availability in Ethiopia through mechanization and local seed grower support. Collaborative efforts will focus on regulatory harmonization and enabling policies to facilitate the movement of seeds and critical inputs across the continent.

This meeting marked a significant step towards fostering innovation and collaboration in Africa’s agricultural sector, paving the way for a more resilient and productive future.