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Cape Town - The time to transform Africa’s agriculture is now and cannot wait, Steven Hayes, President of the US's Corporate Council on Africa said at the Ifama agribusiness forum in Cape Town on Wednesday.
"Without Africa the people of the world will not be able to survive in the future andI have no doubt that Africa as the ability and will provide global food supplies,” said Hayes.
He added that relationships between the US and African countries were very important and admitted that the time had come that Africa was becoming more important to the US than the US was to Africa.
The economy of Africa is projected to grow from $313m to $1trn in the foreseeable future and the US has taken note of this.
Hayes also pointed out that the African Union had declared 2014 the year of agribusiness and food security.
The Corporate Council on Africa is a US non-profit, membership-based organisation that promotes business and investment between the US and the nations of Africa.
Hayes emphasised that for large scale agricultural development to be successful the lack of capacity within African countries will need to be addressed urgently.
“Private sector engagement and funding will be crucial for this to succeed and into the future academic leadership and favourable government policies will have to lead the way," he said.
"Academics and government will have to engage for this vital need."
"Without Africa the people of the world will not be able to survive in the future andI have no doubt that Africa as the ability and will provide global food supplies,” said Hayes.
He added that relationships between the US and African countries were very important and admitted that the time had come that Africa was becoming more important to the US than the US was to Africa.
The economy of Africa is projected to grow from $313m to $1trn in the foreseeable future and the US has taken note of this.
Hayes also pointed out that the African Union had declared 2014 the year of agribusiness and food security.
The Corporate Council on Africa is a US non-profit, membership-based organisation that promotes business and investment between the US and the nations of Africa.
Hayes emphasised that for large scale agricultural development to be successful the lack of capacity within African countries will need to be addressed urgently.
“Private sector engagement and funding will be crucial for this to succeed and into the future academic leadership and favourable government policies will have to lead the way," he said.
"Academics and government will have to engage for this vital need."
