Climate change poses significant challenges to agriculture in Africa, impacting soil health, water availability, and crop yields hence the need for farming solutions that are climate-resilient, experts underscored during a session the inaugural edition of the African Conference on Agricultural Technology (ACAT) held in Nairobi, Kenya from October 30, 2023 to November 3, 2023.

A panelist at the Technical Interactive Panel on climate-smart farming solutions, Dr Solomon Gizaw, who heads the Clearinghouse of Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) identified the adoption of heat-tolerant and high-yielding seed varieties alongside good agricultural practices as win-win solutions for a climate-resilient future.

“In line with its commitment to facilitating a climate-resilient future for farming in Africa, TAAT has delivered high-quality, water-efficient and drought-tolerant seeds to beneficiaries, thereby providing over 11 million farmers in 31 countries with climate-smart seeds, fertilisers, and technical support, and helping to increase African food production by more than 12M metric tonnes”, Dr Gizaw added.

Organised by Africa Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), ACAT brings together a dynamic community of agricultural researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators to exchange ideas, share best practices, and explore innovative solutions that can enhance agricultural productivity in Africa. With the theme “Agricultural Resilience through Innovation,” the conference which ends on the 3rd of November 2023, focuses on the centrality of science, technology, and innovation (STI) in fostering agricultural transformation on the continent.