Africa imports $115 billion food despite vast farmland – UN

Africa holds more than 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land and abundant water resources, yet the continent imported food worth up to US$115 billion in 2024, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

ECA is a United Nations (UN) regional commission established in 1958 to promote economic and social development, intra-regional integration, and international cooperation in Africa.

It serves as the only UN agency with a mandate to operate at the regional and subregional levels in Africa, providing policy research, statistical data, capacity development, and advisory services to address the continent’s development priorities and goals, such as the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

The commission said Africa has abundant sunlight and biodiversity, yet climate change threatens our fields and forests more than any other region, even though the continent contributes less than 4% of global climate emissions.

In addition, Africa is home to the youngest population in the world, with energy and ideas to drive transformation, yet too many of our youth remain unemployed.

This, according to the commission, is the paradox of Africa: a continent with extraordinary potential but still marked by persistent hunger and heavy dependence on external markets.

“How can it be that a continent that should be the breadbasket of the world remains unable to feed its own people”? the commission queried.

Hunger still rising

After more than a decade of Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) implementation, Africa has seen stronger institutions, better policy alignment and agricultural growth, yet progress has fallen short, with hunger still rising.

In addition, ECA said it is a welcome development that the newly adopted CAADP Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2035) seeks to increase agrifood output by 45% and to reduce post-harvest losses by 50% by the end of 2035.

The declaration also seeks to increase the share of locally processed food to 35% of agrifood GDP within the same period, noting that financing is therefore crucial as the era of abundant aid is over.

“In a post-ODA world, domestic resources and private capital must lead the way. Pension funds, remittances, diaspora bonds and innovative instruments like green and resilience bonds offer vital opportunities.” the commission stated.

In its recommendations, ECA posited that beyond policies, Africa needs implementation and delivery.

“We must align budgets with commitments, strengthen accountability and measure progress transparently. Implementation, not intention, will feed our people.

“We must mobilize domestic resources and private investment to cut our huge food import bill. By expanding our tax base, digitizing the economy to reduce illicit financial flows, reforming expenditure and leveraging assets like pension funds and remittances, we can finance transformation from within.” the commission further suggested.

The UN agency equally stressed the need for the private sector including our farmers, processors, and agri-entrepreneurs to be also empowered with affordable finance and risk-sharing instruments.

“We must implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), dismantle the barriers and build regional agricultural value chains. ECA projects that with full implementation, intra-African exports of agrifood products could rise by nearly 60% by 2045, equivalent to US$58 billion.

“By harmonizing standards, reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers and developing food corridors, we can connect Africa’s farmers to Africa’s markets. This will feed the continent, boost our economies and build resilience against external shocks.” the commission added.

Who said what

While speaking at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2025 held in Dakar, Senegal, the UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA, Mr. Claver Gatefe noted that by 2050, one in three young people in the world will be African.

“If given land, finance, technology and markets, they can not only feed Africa, but the world,” he stressed.

He also observed that food systems are under immense pressure globally as conflicts, climate shocks, disrupted supply chains and trade wars have exposed vulnerabilities everywhere.

“Rising costs of food and inputs have left millions hungry, even in countries that once enjoyed relative stability. In Africa, these global crises amplify our own structural challenges.” he further stated.