Numerous strategies exist for scaling up food production and transforming food systems in Africa, including commercial commodity crops, fertilizer and high-quality seeds input intensification, and integration of advanced technologies. AI and digital tools in particular are rapidly revolutionizing food systems and landscapes within Africa and beyond.
But what does an AI-driven future mean for Africa’s food systems, where smallholder farmers contribute 80% of the continent’s food supply? How can AI and machine learning be harnessed to drive a green leap forward across Africa’s food systems and landscapes?
In this plenary, we will explore two pivotal questions through dynamic debates and discussions. The first will focus on the choice between input-intensive agriculture and agroecology, while the second will examine the potential of AI for building sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agrifood systems.