SUSTAINABILITY & CLIMATE CHANGE

Shaping Finance in Transitioning to a Sustainable Food System

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4 years ago

September 23, 2021

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The global food system would be insolvent if the costs of its negative impacts were priced in, writes Simon Zadek

The global food system would be insolvent if it was a business or country where the polluter pays. Its annual economic value of about $8 trillion would be overwhelmed by the internalized costs of its negative impacts, estimated by the World Bank to be $12 trillion annually.

Today’s global food system delivers industrial scale, cheap food to billions, and has remained largely intact in the face of the recent pandemic. At the same time, it is in a vicious spiral that threatens food security and livelihoods, and ultimately much more.

It is a major contributor to climate change as well as being increasingly battered by our changing climate. It draws on nature in producing cheap food, and in so doing is the single biggest cause of biodiversity loss that is undermining our capacity to produce food and sustain viable economies. It is the livelihood source for hundreds of millions of people, but offers, in the main, low quality, low paid jobs. And whilst delivering cheap food stacked high, it fails in its ultimate purpose of delivering affordable nutrition to all.

Love it or hate it, today’s food system is fundamentally unviable. It has to transition; the challenge is how, and to what, and how best to manage the transition risks along the way.

We all agree, for example, that we should internalize nature-related risks in financial decision making, the raison d’etre of Finance for Biodiversity (F4B). Yet although we need such moves to shift investments towards the food system we want, to do so too quickly and without mitigating associated risks could lead to widespread bankruptcy, devastate rural employment, and drive up food prices, poverty, and inequality.

Like the clean energy revolution, we need to ensure a rapid, fair and sustainable transition of the food system to one that is climate-, nature- and people-friendly, delivering affordable nutrition for all. The clean energy transition has been a bumpy ride but the food system transition is more complex and more risky by an order of magnitude.

“Today’s food system is fundamentally unviable. It has to transition; the challenge is how, and to what”

Perhaps not surprising, then, that there are so many counter-productive public disputes in the lead up to the forthcoming UN Food Systems Summit later this month.

Regenerative farming advocates, for example, are primarily opposed to soilless food production e.g. lab-grown ‘alternative protein’ and vertical farming. Yet regenerative farming is in practice difficult to scale rapidly, and the most recent scientific research casts doubt on its potential for soil-based carbon sequestration. Soilless systems will therefore have to be a major part of the solution, offering up to 95% reduction in water use, dramatic reductions in emissions and the potential for delivering cheap, healthy food at scale.

Indeed, regenerative and soilless farming can be complementary. Alternative protein growth, for example, is likely to lead to the release of land for repurposed use, probably more cheaply, whilst regenerative farming can be a source of ingredients for vegetable-based alternative protein.

By far the biggest dispute, however, is about the role and impact of private capital, the focus of F4B’s most recent report ‘Getting the Financialisation of Food Right – Financing the Transition to a Sustainable Food System‘.

There is little doubt that the food system is increasingly financialised, that is, being shaped by the logic of risk-adjusted financial returns. Just 10 companies own half of the world’s seed market; four agribusiness companies control 90% of the global grain trade; and 65% of farmland is owned by 1% of farming businesses. Agribusiness is the US’s second most profitable sector, made possible by leaving others to pay for environmental and health costs, and by being the recipients of considerable government subsidies.

“The clean energy transition has been a bumpy ride but the food system transition is more complex and more risky by an order of magnitude”

As a community dedicated to sustainable finance, we need to face the facts that financialisation can be a major driver of the food system’s negative impacts and unpaid-for costs. Much of today’s core, commercial food system is at least complicit in:

Concentrating the unequal distribution of economic benefits, squeezing rural incomes of increasingly dependent small farmers and communities.
Delivering an under-supply of healthy, affordable food, an over-supply of salt, sugar, fat, and carbohydrates.
Supporting lobbying that externalises public health costs, maintains perverse agricultural subsidies, and ensures that nature and climate costs do not diminish financial bottom lines.

Set against this harsh view is that we still require private capital to invest in the food system we need. In fact, it is inconceivable that we can effectively manage the inevitable transition without tapping global financial markets at scale.

F4B’s report, prepared in association with the Food System Economics Commission (FSEC), is an attempt to get beyond two false views about finance: one that we can do without private capital in transitioning to the food system we need, and the second that we have to accept private capital on any terms.

“Now is the time to apply more broadly what we have learnt in reshaping our global food system to ensure a rapid, fair, and sustainable transition”

We can learn from the last decade’s efforts in better aligning global finance with the clean energy revolution. We have made advances in shaping global finance to deliver a low-carbon future, through improved risk pricing and financial regulation, shifts in central bank behaviour, through extraordinary financial innovation, and increasingly through shareholder and citizen action in demanding values and impact alignment in financing and corporate behaviour.

Drawing on this experience, F4B’s report sets out an agenda for shaping global finance in ways that deliver investments in the transition to an inclusive, healthy, sustainable food system, highlighting four clusters of possible actions.

Financial policies and regulation – reinforced by shareholder and public activism – must drive the inclusion of nature and climate impacts into financing decisions, stranding dirty assets and accelerating green-friendly investments, triggering a shift towards more nutritious food production.
Financial innovation needs to accelerate investments in, and drive down costs of, healthy food produced by climate- and nature-friendly forms of farming. We need an equivalent to the feed-in tariffs that were used to great effect in catalysing renewables investments, rapidly bringing down costs to affordable levels.
Policy and public finance are needed most of all to protect and retool those whose rural livelihoods, food security and economic strengths are eroded during the transition, by the provision of technology, skill development and capital to enable them to own and operate commercially viable regenerative and soilless food production.
We need to support citizen action as the ultimate owners and intended beneficiaries of much of the world’s financial assets and flows, in demanding that their money is used to deliver the food system they need, harnessing digital opportunities to empower and nudge them, as consumers of food, savers, pension policy holders and voting tax-payers.

This agenda should be familiar to us all, made up of instruments and actors that have underpinned our collective efforts in shaping finance to support the many facets of sustainable development. Now is the time to apply more broadly what we have learnt in reshaping our global food system to ensure a rapid, fair, and sustainable transition.

Dr Simon Zadek is the chair of Finance for Biodiversity.

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SUSTAINABILITY & CLIMATE CHANGE

Islamic Development Bank Invests $1.15 Billion in Kazakhstan Water Sector

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5 months ago

November 26, 2024

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by Aamer Yaqub

At the recent UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) held in Baku, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy, Nurlan Baybazarov, celebrated the signing of a landmark agreement with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). This $1.15 billion investment—the largest project ever financed by the IDB—marks a pivotal step in fortifying Kazakhstan water sector in the face of climate change.

Kazakhstan, with its vast landscapes and varied climate, faces pressing water-related challenges. The country’s economic growth, combined with climate-driven water scarcity, has intensified the need for robust, adaptive infrastructure. This new project, focused on climate-resilient water management, reflects Kazakhstan’s commitment to long-term sustainability and the IDB’s dedication to supporting green growth in member nations. Here, we unpack the ambitious project, its goals, and the promising impact it holds for Kazakhstan water sector and beyond.

Kazakhstan Water Sector

Kazakhstan is the world’s largest landlocked country and has one of the most diverse climates in Central Asia. This diversity, however, also brings vulnerability. The country relies on a delicate balance of snowmelt, river inflows, and groundwater, all of which are under threat due to rising temperatures, decreased rainfall, and increasing demand from industrial, agricultural, and urban sectors.

Kazakhstan’s water usage primarily serves the agriculture sector, which consumes an estimated [X]% of total water resources. The nation’s agricultural productivity, food security, and rural livelihoods are directly tied to the reliability of these water supplies. However, aging infrastructure and inefficient water management have compounded the scarcity issue. The government has been working toward sustainable water use, yet climate-related stresses make this goal increasingly challenging.

A 2023 study by the World Bank warned that Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, could face a 30% reduction in water availability by 2050 due to climate change. With urban growth rates accelerating, the water demand in cities like Astana and Almaty is rising, increasing strain on outdated water management systems.

In response, Kazakhstan has developed a 2050 Development Strategy that prioritizes water conservation, infrastructure renewal, and sustainable growth. With a clear aim to reduce water losses, promote efficient irrigation, and support resilience in rural and urban areas, the government has been seeking international partnerships to bring these goals to life. This is where IDB’s involvement brings valuable support.

The Islamic Development Bank’s (IDB) record-breaking $1.15 billion investment is a testament to Kazakhstan’s strategic importance and the IDB’s confidence in the nation’s economic direction. This funding will support the ‘Development of Climate-Resilient Water Resources’ project, crafted by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation. IDB’s additional $3.5 million grant, dedicated to research and development, will further Kazakhstan’s capacity to build climate-smart water systems.

This partnership reflects IDB’s dedication to sustainable development in its member countries. In recent years, IDB has aligned its strategy with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing projects that promote water security, climate adaptation, and green infrastructure.

IDB’s work in climate-resilient projects spans various regions, from Africa to Southeast Asia. For instance, in Morocco, IDB invested in solar-powered water pumping systems to help farmers irrigate fields without relying on erratic rainfall. In Bangladesh, it supported flood protection initiatives that safeguarded crops and homes from monsoon-induced waterlogging. IDB’s mission has become increasingly climate-focused, with a major of its annual portfolio dedicated to projects that enhance resilience against environmental changes.

What the Project Entails

The Kazakhstan water sector project is divided into multiple stages, with each phase designed to tackle a specific set of challenges. The first phase focuses on strengthening water storage, distribution, and irrigation across key agricultural and urban areas. The scale of this initiative reflects Kazakhstan’s commitment to transforming its water infrastructure.

Key Project Goals Include:

Building New Reservoirs
The construction of four new reservoirs and the restoration of four existing ones aim to bolster the nation’s capacity for water storage. With a modernized reservoir system, Kazakhstan can regulate water availability, minimizing the impact of seasonal variations and droughts.
Rehabilitation of 115 Canals
This ambitious canal overhaul includes the Astana Reservoir Recharge Project, a critical step toward efficient water distribution. By reducing water losses due to leaks and evaporation, the canal upgrades are expected to improve irrigation for farming communities and sustain urban water supplies.
Analytical Capacity-Building
Alongside physical infrastructure, the project includes partnerships with institutions like the Kazakh Research Institute of Water Management. These collaborations will focus on river basin studies, water demand forecasting, and the implementation of early warning systems for water scarcity.
Equipping Kazvodkhoz for Water Management
Kazakhstan’s state-owned water agency, Kazvodkhoz, will receive advanced equipment and automation systems to streamline operations. This will empower local water authorities to monitor water levels, quality, and flow rates more accurately, paving the way for sustainable resource management.

This comprehensive project spans various regions within Kazakhstan: Akmola, Almaty, Zhambyl, Kyzylorda, Turkestan, West Kazakhstan, Zhetisu, and the capital city, Astana. These areas were selected due to their agricultural significance and vulnerability to water-related challenges. By focusing on regions with high water demand, the project will directly impact farmers, residents, and industries relying on consistent water supplies.

Why This Investment Matters

Water security is fundamental to Kazakhstan’s socio-economic future. For a country that heavily depends on agriculture, inadequate water supplies pose a risk not only to food production but also to economic stability. Moreover, water shortages can lead to rural migration, which places additional pressures on urban infrastructure and services.

The IDB-funded project is more than just an infrastructure initiative; it represents a vision for a climate-resilient Kazakhstan. The introduction of automated water management systems, for instance, will allow Kazakhstan to monitor resources with precision, ensuring that water use is optimized based on real-time needs and availability. With climate change affecting the region’s hydrology, these innovations could be a game-changer in mitigating the impact of droughts and floods.

Climate change is a global challenge, but its effects are highly localized. For Kazakhstan, climate-driven changes such as altered river flows and erratic precipitation patterns directly threaten water resources. This project incorporates climate-smart water management practices aimed at adapting to these shifts.

The Development of Climate-Resilient Water Resources project will serve as a blueprint for other Central Asian countries grappling with similar issues. From adopting water-saving technologies to diversifying irrigation methods, Kazakhstan’s efforts could inform climate adaptation across the region.

Baybazarov remarked at COP29, “This investment is not just about building infrastructure; it’s about preparing Kazakhstan for the future. By modernizing our water systems, we are investing in the resilience of our communities and ensuring that our development is sustainable for generations to come.”

Climate-Resilient Infrastructure

IDB’s involvement in Kazakhstan water sector highlights its broader focus on climate resilience. With a portfolio of over $X billion in climate-focused projects, IDB has established itself as a leading financier for sustainable infrastructure in emerging markets. Its projects aim to provide long-term solutions, whether through clean energy, water conservation, or sustainable agriculture.

In addition to this investment, IDB has supported water initiatives in countries like Sudan, where it financed water purification plants, and in Jordan, where it funded the construction of water reservoirs to tackle urban shortages. For Kazakhstan, IDB’s investment not only offers financial support but also brings in technical expertise and strategic insights that will help shape the country’s water policies for years to come.

This water sector project is expected to create numerous job opportunities, particularly in construction, engineering, and environmental management. By hiring local workers and contracting regional companies, the initiative will boost Kazakhstan’s economy and provide valuable skills training in fields like infrastructure maintenance and hydrology.

The social impact, however, extends beyond economic growth. Improved water infrastructure will help rural communities thrive, reduce health risks associated with water scarcity, and ensure reliable access to water for drinking and sanitation. Additionally, these improvements align with the government’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to water access, health, and economic growth.

In the long term, modernizing water infrastructure could significantly enhance Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector. With efficient irrigation and water storage systems, farmers can expand crop production, diversify agricultural exports, and build resilience to climate-induced challenges. The impact on food security and rural livelihoods could transform Kazakhstan into a model for water management in arid and semi-arid regions.

Building a Sustainable Future

The IDB-funded project represents a critical milestone in Kazakhstan’s journey toward sustainable water management. As the country gears up for an uncertain climate future, it recognizes the importance of proactive planning and international collaboration. The Islamic Development Bank’s support is an endorsement of Kazakhstan’s vision, demonstrating that large-scale, impactful projects can be achieved through partnerships focused on long-term sustainability.

Kazakhstan’s commitment to water sector reforms is only the beginning. With new infrastructure in place, the next steps will involve policy improvements, capacity-building for local agencies, and continuous adaptation to environmental changes. As Kazakhstan continues on its path toward climate resilience, the lessons learned from this project will serve as a guiding light for other nations facing similar challenges.

Kazakhstan water sector stands at the cusp of transformation, thanks to the Islamic Development Bank’s historic $1.15 billion investment. This project embodies a vision for a resilient, climate-adaptive future where water resources are managed sustainably to support both urban and rural communities. As Kazakhstan embraces the future, this partnership serves as a reminder that tackling climate change requires bold initiat

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SUSTAINABILITY & CLIMATE CHANGE

The Trillion-Dollar Question: Can Global Unity Find the Funds to Halt Climate Catastrophe?

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5 months ago

November 12, 2024

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At the COP29, currently taking place from November 11 to November 22, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan, one is faced with a monumental question that frames every discussion: Can the world’s wealthiest nations truly unite to raise the trillion dollars a year needed to stop the climate crisis in its tracks? It’s a staggering figure, yet as floods, wildfires, and extreme weather ravage communities worldwide, it becomes clear this funding is no longer a distant aspiration but an urgent necessity. Baba Yunus Muhammad argues that the stakes are high, and time is running out – but the money exists. But the question is, will world leaders muster the political will to make it happen?

As the UN’s COP29 summit unfolds in the historic city of Baku, Azerbaijan, an imposing question looms over the gathering: Can the world’s wealthiest nations mobilize the staggering $1 trillion needed annually to address the climate crisis and prevent the most vulnerable from facing environmental disaster? With 198 nations represented, the summit is grappling with an urgent challenge: finding the financial resources to transition the world away from fossil fuels and toward a green, resilient future.

The stakes are high, as floods, droughts, and wildfires continue to devastate communities worldwide. Last week alone, torrential floods swept across Spain, wreaking havoc and claiming lives, a tragic reminder of the escalating risks of inaction. As Simon Stiell, the UN’s climate chief, aptly summarized: “It’s not a question of whether we can afford to tackle the climate crisis; it’s a matter of whether we can afford not to.”

A Trillion Dollars – A Bargain to Save Our Planet

A trillion dollars may sound astronomical, yet in the context of global economics, it is but a fraction of what is achievable. The global economy, which generated approximately $105 trillion in GDP last year, could feasibly absorb this cost, representing less than 1% of annual output. To put it in perspective, the world’s oil and gas industry has made a trillion dollars in profit every year for the past 50 years. These figures make a trillion-dollar climate fund appear not just possible, but economically viable – a bargain, even – if channeled toward building a sustainable world.

The United States, one of the wealthiest and most polluting nations, has already pledged $1 trillion over three years to domestic climate initiatives, showing that the funds exist and can be directed toward climate action. But this example highlights a major issue: while the money is there, it has yet to flow equitably to the countries that need it most.

Developing Nations in Crisis: The Case for Climate Reparations

For many developing countries, the climate crisis is not a future threat but a present-day reality, manifesting in deadly storms, rising sea levels, and crop failures. These nations, which have contributed the least to global emissions, are bearing the brunt of the crisis. The UN Environment Program estimates that adaptation costs alone could exceed $500 billion annually by 2050 in developing countries if current warming trends continue. Yet, these nations are expected to shoulder a disproportionate share of the economic burden, even as they spend over $1 trillion each year on their own climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.

This inequity has led poorer nations to call for the funds to be delivered as grants, rather than loans, which they argue would place them under additional financial strain. Currently, many of these nations are spending more on debt repayments than they receive in climate aid, a situation that risks deepening poverty and economic vulnerability in the Global South.

Financing the Future: Proposed Solutions

As negotiations continue in Baku, several financing options have emerged, each with its own set of challenges:

International Aid and Development Bank Loans: Wealthier countries’ foreign aid budgets will contribute to the climate fund, though experts caution against merely rebranding existing aid as “green.” The World Bank and other development banks, meanwhile, could potentially offer low-interest loans, amounting to $200 billion to $400 billion per year. Yet, as seen at recent meetings in Washington, progress remains slow.
Solidarity Taxes: Climate advocates are increasingly calling for global taxes, such as a 2% wealth tax on billionaires, estimated to raise as much as $250 billion in Brazil alone. Taxes on frequent flyers, international shipping, and financial transactions have also been suggested, but these measures would require unprecedented global cooperation.
Ending Fossil Fuel Subsidies: Despite a climate emergency, fossil fuel subsidies persist globally, totaling a mind-boggling $600 billion annually. Cutting these subsidies could free up funds for climate action, though politically entrenched interests make this an uphill battle.
Private Sector Investments: With the right incentives, private sector finance could help bridge the funding gap. Yet many view this as a means for rich countries to outsource their climate responsibilities, sparking debate on the balance of public and private contributions.

Global Disparities in Climate Responsibility

Another contentious issue is the classification of “developed” and “developing” nations under the UN’s climate treaty. Originally defined in 1992, this classification now excludes several major polluters who remain classified as “developing,” including China, South Korea, and the Gulf states. These emerging economies, once minor players, have become both economically powerful and significant carbon emitters. The EU, the largest provider of climate finance, argues that these countries must also step up and share the responsibility, especially the oil-rich Gulf states, which have reaped enormous profits from fossil fuels.

Saudi Arabia, for example, recently reaffirmed its commitment to extracting every ounce of its vast oil reserves. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman al-Saud, the kingdom’s energy minister, stated at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, “We will monetize every molecule of energy this land has, period.” This commitment stands in stark contrast to global climate goals and underscores the challenge of achieving universal cooperation on climate finance.

Time is Running Out

Despite these challenges, a potential solution is emerging from the negotiations: a core agreement around hundreds of billions in public finance, supplemented by private investments to reach the trillion-dollar goal. The question, however, is one of timing. The world’s previous climate finance target of $100 billion per year took over a decade to fulfill, and with climate disasters escalating, time is a luxury we no longer have.

The world has the means, the technology, and the funding to curb climate catastrophe – but without political will and coordinated action, even the best solutions remain theoretical. Ani Dasgupta, head of the World Resources Institute, reminded the summit’s attendees, “Ultimately, it’s a political decision to move the world forward to a safer place for our children and everyone else.”

The trillion-dollar climate fund is no longer a “nice-to-have”; it’s a necessity. COP29 represents a crucial juncture: the global community’s commitment today will define the fate of our planet tomorrow. As the summit presses on, the world watches – and waits – to see if global leaders will rise to the trillion-dollar challenge.

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AGRIBUSINESS & AGRICULTURE

Sweet Sorghum offers Solutions in Drought-hit Southern Africa

Published

11 months ago

May 29, 2024

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By Hamond Motsi

The southern African region is battling with drought at present. This is the result of El Niño, a natural climate cycle characterised by changes in Pacific Ocean temperatures. It has effects on global weather patterns, particularly rainfall and temperature.

The drought has hit the region’s agricultural productivity hard. Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe have declared a state of disaster with respect to their current agricultural outputs. They are seeking humanitarian assistance in the form of food aid to feed their people. The downturn also has economic implications, since over 70% of people residing in the region’s rural areas rely on agriculture for their livelihoods.

The dire situation underscores how important it is for the agricultural sector to prevent, avoid or prepare for the impacts of climate change, which will also bring extremes of weather.

One measure the sector can take is to cultivate biofuel crops. These are crops rich in starch, sugar or oils that can be converted into bioethanol directly or through a fermentation process. Bioethanol, a type of ethanol produced from biological or plant based sources, emits fewer greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuels like petroleum, natural gas and coal. Commonly used biofuel crops include sugarcane, maize, grain sorghum, sugar beet, rapeseeds and sunflower.

These conventional biofuel crops do have drawbacks, however. They are highly susceptible to extreme weather events. They require high upfront investment for fertilisers, chemicals and irrigation. And they compete with food production – if they’re grown as biofuels they can’t also be used as food because of how they have to be processed.

So, researchers are always on the lookout for crops that might be good biofuels without those problems. Sweet sorghum, which is indigenous to the African continent, is one such crop. Unlike the better-known sorghum, it has sweet juice in its stems. In a recent study, I reviewed scientific literature to analyse the potential significance of sweet sorghum to African farmers because of its multipurpose nature and ability to adapt under harsh climatic conditions.

Multiple uses

Sweet sorghum has many uses. It can produce grains, animal feed and sugary juice, making it unique among crops. The grains from sweet sorghum are prepared as steamed bread or porridge malt for traditional beer, as well as in commercial beer production across the continent.

They’re nutritionally rich, with high energy values (342 calories/100 g), proteins (10g/100 grains), carbohydrates (72.7g/100 grains), and fibre (2.2g/100 grains) as well as essential minerals such as potassium (44mg/100 grains), calcium (22mg/100 grains), sodium (8mg/100 grains) and iron (3.8mg/100 grains).

The nutritional value of maize is fairly similar: proteins (8.84g/100 grains), carbohydrates (71.88g/100 grains), fibre (2.1g/100 grains), potassium (286mg/100 grains), calcium (10mg/100 grains), sodium (15.9mg/100 grains) and iron (2.3mg/100 grains).

What sets sweet sorghum apart from a crop like maize is that it’s also resilient in arid climates and has multiple other uses. For instance, it produces a lot of plant material (biomass) as it grows, which is left over after harvest. That’s why it’s useful as animal feed too.

Animal feed is made from what remains once the sweet sorghum crop has been harvested and its grains and stem juice stripped off. The residue is high in nutritional content, which can improve the quality of diets of animals, including cattle. The grains can also be used for animal feed.

The sweet juice in the crop’s stalks is what’s used to create bioethanol. Sweet sorghum contains sucrose, glucose and fructose, which are essential for bioethanol production. Of the conventional biofuel crops I’ve mentioned, only sugarcane yields more ethanol. Studies in the United States have shown that sweet sorghum far outstrips maize when it comes to bioethanol production: it yields 8,102 litres per hectare planted, while maize yields just 4,209 litres per hectare.

Resilient

Perhaps most importantly given the southern African region’s current drought struggles, sweet sorghum is well-suited for cultivation in the sorts of adverse conditions that are typically challenging for conventional biofuel crops.

One of the key characteristics of sweet sorghum varieties is their drought resistance. It allows them to enter a dormant state during extended periods of dryness and resume growth afterwards. Research has shown that, under intense water scarcity conditions, sweet sorghum makes use of its stalk juice to supplement its plant needs.

Sweet sorghum’s ability to withstand low water and nitrogen inputs, as well as its tolerance for salinity and drought stress, makes it an ideal crop for farmers in arid regions. This is why it’s widely used in other parts of the world, including the US, Brazil and China.

Investing in sweet sorghum

The continent’s current agriculture value chain is dominated by major crops like maize, wheat and rice, which all originate from outside Africa. Not enough attention is given to crops of African origin, like sweet sorghum, even though it is a multipurpose, hardy crop with great potential for farmers. People are more familiar with sorghum, not the sweet variety, and it is also under-researched.

Governments should be using their agriculture extension services to raise awareness among farmers and consumers about the benefits and practical applications of sweet sorghum in people’s diets.

Developing recipes and secondary or industrial products can enhance the feasibility and awareness of sweet sorghum farming. By investing in research and development, the full potential of sweet sorghum cultivation can be unlocked through governments and the private sector.

Hamond Motsi is a PhD Student in Agriscience, Stellenbosch University

Courtesy: The Conversation

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