Africa must scale up investment in science, technology, and innovation to secure food systems – LUANAR Vice Chancellor
Posted: May 9, 2025 Posted By: Kondwani Kapaula
Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) Vice Chancellor, Professor Emmanuel Kaunda, has urged African countries to scale up investments in science, technology, and innovation (STI) to transform agriculture and strengthen food security systems across the continent.
Speaking during a session on aligning national and regional STI policies with the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA 2034) in Nairobi, Kenya, today, Professor Kaunda said Africa has made progress in applying technology to agricultural development but still lags in key investments that would drive long-term sustainability and innovation.
“Africa has made strides in technology advancement in relation to agriculture and food security, but we need to invest more,” said Kaunda. “At LUANAR, our research which ranges from crop genetics and breeding to embracing the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence, naturally aligns with STISA 2034, which has also placed Agriculture as number one priority”.
The session, held as part of the 2025 Evidence for Development Conference (Evi4Dev), brought together key stakeholders to explore how African countries can better align their STI frameworks with continental priorities under STISA 2034.
Organised by the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) in partnership with AUDA-NEPAD and Science for Africa (SFA), the conference concluded with calls for bolder policy shifts toward evidence-based governance and innovation-led development.
Earlier in the week, addressing participants during the conference, Malawi’s Minister of Higher Education, Hon Dr Jessie Kabwila expressed similar sentiments, emphasizing that the continent must embrace science, technology, innovation, and evidence-based decision-making as critical drivers of sustainable development.
Dr Kabwila called on African leaders to champion homegrown, data-driven solutions to tackle the region’s most pressing challenges, including climate change, youth unemployment, weak health systems, and rising debt.
She praised the conference’s theme, which centered on data, evidence, and innovation for wealth creation and responsive governance, noting that it closely aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
“Only through evidence-informed policies can Africa build effective institutions and meet the needs of its citizens,” she said.
The Evi4Dev Conference remains an important platform for promoting research, technology, and data as key tools for shaping better policies across Africa.