Who should quantify opportunities and risks for smallholder food producers? The harsh realities associated with rainfed agriculture make it difficult for smallholder farmers in remote parts of African countries to quantify their opportunities and risks. Such a big picture perspective can come from extensive research and real-time information gathering in the market. Even the most Read more about Who should quantify opportunities and risks for smallholder food producers?[…]

Questions that can promote healthy African food through colleges and schools Although foreign food continues to find its way into African cities and rural communities, colleges and schools can be effective avenues for reviving and promoting indigenous African food. As knowledge centers, colleges and schools can be huge sources of ideas on how African countries Read more about Questions that can promote healthy African food through colleges and schools[…]

Correcting the underrated value of studying African mass food markets It is not enough for research conducted in African countries on food systems to end up in academic journals. In most cases there is often no clarity on who benefits from such research and intended uses of the findings. Unless African governments study mass food Read more about Correcting the underrated value of studying African mass food markets[…]

Facing the limitations of industrial agriculture, many governments and global organizations are beginning to embrace agroecology and other alternative ways of producing food. Being the application of ecological concepts and principles in farming, agroecology considers the relationships between all the plant, animal, and human elements in a system. There is some emerging consensus that when Read more about Avenues for cultivating the business face of agroecology in the Global South[…]

Technologies for preserving indigenous African food are long overdue For many decades, African countries have lagged behind in terms of developing technology for preserving indigenous food systems. What has worsened the situation is that the colonial system brought its own food and seed systems into Africa supported by appropriate technology for processing and preserving food. Read more about Technologies for preserving indigenous African food are long overdue[…]

How African mass food markets use moments of truths to redefine roles People who blame middlemen for messing up the market have no idea about the role playing by   different market actors to keep the market functioning smoothly. It is when the market is in action that one can see the extent to which the Read more about How African mass food markets use moments of truths to redefine roles[…]

How revisiting the meaning of data can add value to African content The advent of digital solutions has brought confusion to the meaning of the word data. This continues to undermine indigenous knowledge systems and African intellectual heritage in several ways.  Academics and researchers have always viewed data as a subset of information that can Read more about How revisiting the meaning of data can add value to African content[…]

Preserving indigenous African food systems through reconstructive writing Scholars and thought leaders in the Global South are realizing that the best way of reversing the damage caused by colonialism on African food systems and intellectual heritage is not just to continue lamenting. Aggressive efforts should be directed at reconstructing and reappropriating African food systems including Read more about Preserving indigenous African food systems through reconstructive writing[…]

One of the legacies of colonialism in many African countries is the notion of coloniality. This refers to long-standing patterns of power that emerged as a result of colonialism and which continue to define culture, labour, inter-subjective relations, knowledge production and food systems. Coloniality is maintained alive in books, in the criteria for academic performance, Read more about How African mass food markets decolonize and moderate the cost of living[…]

7 critical uncertainties that affect African farmers and food systems While volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA) has become a major characteristic of all economies across the globe, the situation is worse for African farmers and food systems.  In agriculture-driven African economies, some of the enduring uncertainties include the following: 1. Price uncertainties – whether Read more about 7 critical uncertainties that affect African farmers and food systems[…]