Nairobi, April 9, 2025 – A new policy brief from Power Shift Africa (Kenya) and Germanwatch (Germany) urges the German government to rethink its agricultural cooperation strategy with Africa. The brief, titled “What is the Missing Ingredient? The German Agriculture and Food Strategy for Africa 2025,” calls for a shift toward food sovereignty and agroecological practices to address Africa’s deepening food crisis.

Despite multiple international interventions, Africa remains trapped in a severe food crisis. In 2023, 868 million people across the continent faced food insecurity, with 342 million suffering from acute hunger. Climate change has only worsened the situation, with frequent droughts, floods, and heatwaves disrupting food production.

Amy G Thorp, Program Manager at Power Shift Africa, states: “Decades of investment in industrial agriculture haven’t changed the global food system, which multinational corporations still dominate. Smallholder farmers in Africa remain vulnerable, dependent on external inputs like seeds and agrochemicals controlled by a few global players.”

She stresses, “The German Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) must change its approach. African nations need the autonomy to control their agricultural future, especially as food insecurity worsens. Climate change must always be factored into these strategies.”

The policy brief highlights food sovereignty—the right of communities to control their food systems—as crucial for empowering African farmers and ensuring they have the resources to make independent decisions about agricultural practices.

Lazarus Nanzala, Policy and Advocacy Advisor at SDG2 Advocacy Hub, notes: “Food sovereignty is key to ensuring the right to food, recognized in international law and endorsed by over 160 nations. Germany and other global partners must support African-led solutions like CAADP and reject colonial-era frameworks.”

Nanzala adds, “Africa’s food future depends on reclaiming it not just in policy but in practice. Governments need to invest directly in local knowledge and equitable systems, empowering communities to take charge of their land, seeds, and future.”

While BMEL’s strategy does incorporate agroecology—an approach that blends ecological principles with social equity—the policy brief argues it falls short by not fully integrating food sovereignty. The brief stresses that food sovereignty is vital for addressing issues like land rights, seed sovereignty, and local control over food systems—critical components for sustainable agriculture.

Amy G Thorp, who co-authored the brief, explains: “Food sovereignty isn’t just an alternative—it’s a necessity. Without it, the power dynamics that fuel hunger and food insecurity will remain. If Germany’s strategy aims to empower African farmers, it must place food sovereignty at the center and help African countries reclaim control over their food systems.”

The brief also calls for a stronger climate adaptation focus in agricultural policies. Simply focusing on food production without considering climate resilience could harm the environment, reduce agricultural capacity, and worsen food insecurity. It suggests that Germany’s strategy should integrate agricultural productivity with ecosystem restoration and carbon sequestration.

Lina Adil, Policy Advisor on Climate Adaptation and Loss and Damage at Germanwatch, warns: “Agriculture is both vulnerable to and a potential solution for climate change. Ignoring the link between land use and climate action undermines long-term sustainability. BMEL must harmonize food production with climate adaptation and carbon sequestration, turning agricultural landscapes into powerful allies in the fight against climate change.”

The policy brief also stresses that Germany’s agricultural strategy should learn from past mistakes. It points out that previous strategies failed to tackle the root causes of food insecurity in Africa. Germany’s role is pivotal in supporting Africa’s agricultural future, ensuring it’s rooted in sustainability, equity, and resilience.

Bridget Mugambe, Programs Coordinator at the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), highlights the need for attention to territorial markets: “Germany’s strategy overlooks the potential of local markets to foster food sovereignty. Across Africa, supermarkets are flooding shelves with imported, processed foods, undermining local farmers and sustainable food systems.”