AI Solutions and Policy Shifts Key to Ending Hunger in Africa, Experts Warn

Scholars and scientists have urged African governments to increase funding for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and related innovations to transform agriculture, boost food production, and reduce hunger across the continent.

The call was made in a communiqué issued on Friday at the 2025 Humboldt Kolleg Scientific Conference hosted by the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).

The three-day international conference, themed “AI-Driven Approach to Regenerative Agriculture for Sustainable Food Production, Food Safety, and Environmental Preservation,” brought together researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to discuss ways AI and regenerative practices can reshape food systems, protect the environment, and stimulate Africa’s economic growth.

Declaring the conference open, FUNAAB Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde — represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olukayode Akinyemi — described the gathering as timely, stressing that Africa must work collectively to strengthen its food production capacity. He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to advancing research and partnerships that integrate AI into agriculture to enhance productivity, food safety, and environmental sustainability.

The University Librarian, Prof. Abayomi Owolabi (represented by Dr. Fauziyah Adenekan), highlighted Africa’s marginal share of global AI investment, noting that while countries like the U.S. and China dominate, the continent receives only 0.3 percent despite its vast potential. “AI is rewriting the rules of the global economy, and Africa risks being sidelined not due to lack of talent but because its role has been overlooked,” he warned.

Owolabi emphasized that Africa’s youthful workforce remains a crucial advantage and called on governments to allocate more resources to AI and emerging technologies in agriculture to scale food production.

In his keynote address, Prof. Jonathan Atungwu, Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan, appealed for stronger policies and private-sector investment to support farmers through regenerative agricultural systems, training on environmental stewardship, and access to credit. He stressed that safeguarding food security for future generations requires deliberate reforms.

Prof. Simeon Cadmus of the University of Ibadan, delivering a paper on climate change, cautioned about the rising risks it poses to human and animal health, urging more proactive research and interventions.

The conference also featured panel discussions, goodwill messages, and networking sessions, reinforcing cross-disciplinary collaboration and underlining the importance of AI-driven regenerative agriculture in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

FUNAAB, through this conference, continues to position itself as a leading agricultural think tank and innovation hub for food security solutions in Africa.

Despite significant growth in crop production — from 365 million tons in 1990 to over 1 billion tons in 2019, with projections of 1.47 billion tons by 2043 — hunger remains widespread. In 2023, around 282 million Africans faced hunger, while 61% of the population in 2022 experienced moderate to severe food insecurity, more than double the global average. Experts believe that with greater investment in mechanisation and advanced technologies such as AI, the continent can sustainably feed its growing population.