Accra: Today, as the world marks World Hunger Day 2025, we are reminded that food is not just a basic need - it is a fundamental right. And yet, nearly 830 million people globally still go to bed hungry. This is a global tragedy. But nowhere is this crisis more deeply felt than in Africa-a continent with 60% of the world's arable land and the youngest population. Here, hunger is not a crisis of potential. It is a crisis of priorities.
According to Ghana News Agency, in Africa, climate shocks, fragile food systems, and underinvestment in science continue to hold back collective progress. The 2023 CAADP Biennial Review concluded that no African country was on track to meet the targets of the Malabo Declaration. Across the continent, millions face chronic food insecurity-and in a painful paradox, many of them are farmers, the very people whose hands till the soil to feed us all.
The neglect of national research institutions and universities in Africa has weakened the ecosystems needed to translate global discoveries into local solutions. Despite important contributions from international agricultural research, particularly the CGIAR system, the lack of local investment has hindered transformative progress. This imbalance highlights the necessity for stronger local institutions to ensure that global scientific advancements can effectively take root and flourish at the national level.
The West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) has been pivotal in addressing these challenges, training over 120 PhD plant breeders and 60 seed scientists across 19 African nations. Their efforts have led to the release of more than 280 improved crop varieties, such as resilient maize, cowpea, groundnut, rice, and tomatoes, transforming the lives of smallholder farmers. This initiative exemplifies African-led science solving African problems with African talent, showcasing that agency, not aid, is the answer.
The urgency of fulfilling the African Union's Malabo Declaration, which urges Member States to allocate at least 1% of GDP to research and development, is emphasized. Science-led agricultural transformation is critical for ending hunger, creating jobs, and building resilient economies. Global foundations and development partners are urged to provide sustained support for African research institutions and scientists, fostering smart partnerships for shared success.
Ghana's new government is taking bold early steps to operationalize the Ghana National Research Fund, a long-awaited initiative. If sustained and well-resourced, this Fund could unlock a new era of agricultural transformation by empowering scientists to develop climate-smart innovations, bolster seed systems, and enhance productivity. It could nurture the next generation of agricultural leaders and help make food security a reality.
The call for action is clear: re-imagine food systems that are climate-smart, science-led, community-driven, and globally competitive. The transformation of food systems must be inclusive, ensuring that women, youth, and marginalized communities are leaders of change. By moving from declarations to delivery, promises to policies, and handouts to harvests, we honour the Hunger Fighters who sow seeds of hope. May this World Hunger Day sow the seeds of transformation.
