What is it about?
This research explores the growing role of agribusiness in Africa’s agricultural sector, focusing on its potential to improve food security, reduce poverty, create youth employment, and drive economic growth. It highlights the contribution of higher education institutions, particularly those in the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) and public universities in Ghana. The study shows that while agribusiness is still in its early stages, it is gaining momentum due to various initiatives such as agribusiness incubation, education, and partnerships between governments, international groups, and the private sector. Some universities are making strides in supporting agricultural entrepreneurs through curriculum improvements, intellectual property policies, and technology commercialization. The report also identifies challenges and offers recommendations for policies and practices that can sustain the growth of agribusiness in Africa.
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Why is it important?
This research is important because it sheds light on the critical role agribusiness can play in Africa’s development. By focusing on the contributions of higher education institutions, the study highlights how education, innovation, and partnerships are driving positive changes in the agricultural sector. Agribusiness has the potential to address key challenges like food security, poverty, and youth unemployment, which are pressing issues across the continent. Understanding how agribusiness is evolving and identifying successful initiatives can help inform policies and practices that support sustainable growth in the sector. This research provides valuable insights for fostering a thriving agribusiness ecosystem that can contribute to long-term economic development in Africa.
Perspectives
This research highlights the growing role of agribusiness in Africa’s development, emphasizing the importance of higher education institutions, like those in the RUFORUM network, in driving agricultural innovation. It underscores how agribusiness can address key challenges such as food security, poverty, and youth unemployment. The study also stresses the need for partnerships between governments, international organizations, and the private sector to foster sustainable growth. For grant investigators, this research provides valuable insights into where funding can have the greatest impact, particularly in areas like education, entrepreneurship, and technology commercialization, shaping more strategic investments in Africa's agribusiness sector.
Dr. Jane Payumo
Michigan State University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Transforming Sub-Saharan Africa’s Agriculture through Agribusiness Innovation, Global Journal of Agricultural Innovation Research & Development, July 2017, Avanti Publishers,
DOI: 10.15377/2409-9813.2017.04.01.1.
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