The world agrifood system is becoming increasingly globalized. As the majority of the world moves into cities, and as people who remain in rural areas adopt more urbanised lifestyles when they are better connected to infrastructure, consumption of food is changing to a more varied composition yet also to greater similarity around the world. The time-saving instant noodle soup in a plastic cup, as well as the hamburger and the prepared sandwich worldwide, are indicative of this tendency. Consumption of processed foods, soft drinks, and bottled water is expanding, and foods and beverages are increasingly transported long distances, catering to changing demands. The food processing and retail industries have become global players. Farmers increasingly specialize their production as a consequence of these changing markets, which requires change upstream in the food chain—that is, in such production inputs as water, seeds, feeds, and technical equipment, which has in turn created new organisational arrangements in the food system. In this context, African leaders have developed a blue print for the continents socio-economic transformation based on the fundamental principle of ownership and partnership. In this connection, the New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD) is the embodiment of their collective resolve for the realization of the African Renaissance. Within this framework, the African Union is implementing a number of important flagship projects such as the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), the Programme for Infrastructural Development in Africa (PIDA) and the Accelerated Industrial Development in Africa (AIDA), which will be instrumental in realizing the continents transformation agenda.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 09:17:35 +0000
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