Using agroecology markets to inform diet analyses and community-led nutrition

Due to the colonial legacy that has looked down upon indigenous food for decades, diet and nutrition analyses in most African countries is based on data collected in supermarkets and other formal shops. Rarely is data collected from territorial mass food markets from which the majority get their food. That means data on nutrition is Read more about Using agroecology markets to inform diet analyses and community-led nutrition[…]

How agroecology is quietly formulating food ingredients of the future

Although formal advertisements might be spreading the impression that fast foods are taking over African food systems, social media channels are showing how future-oriented African food scientists and indigenous food formulators are quietly using agroecology ingredients to alter the global food landscape. In addition to extending some indigenous food ingredients to the diaspora, this movement Read more about How agroecology is quietly formulating food ingredients of the future[…]

The value of bringing dignity and respect back to the farming profession

If developing countries treated farming like other professions, many farmers would have graduated from smallholder farming to large-scale farming in line with growth-oriented changes related to land size and markets. By now, millions of farmers have become extension officers and agricultural lecturers. Agricultural colleges would be training farmers as opposed to training extension officers on Read more about The value of bringing dignity and respect back to the farming profession[…]

When and why capacity to produce is more important than land ownership

If owning land and related natural resources was a panacea to development, communities and people who own fertile land would be enjoying better living standards than the landless. Evidence in many African countries is beginning to show that capacity to produce commodities and control the market is more important than owning land, water and the Read more about When and why capacity to produce is more important than land ownership[…]

Circumstances under which flexible bridging finance makes all the difference

The seasonal nature of most African food systems implies there are times when indigenous fruits, tubers, tomatoes and other commodities ripen at once. This presence challenges in harvesting and storing these commodities in ways that extend shelf life and preserve nutritional elements. When indigenous fruits are in season, they are too abundant such that very Read more about Circumstances under which flexible bridging finance makes all the difference[…]

Increasing potential for promoting indigenous food through supply chains

Although many Africans living in rural people still think what comes from the city is superior, on the contrary, demand for indigenous food grown in rural areas is increasing in many African cities. Triggered by rising consumer awareness about the value of eating health and natural remedies, this trend is an opportunity for enterprising Africans Read more about Increasing potential for promoting indigenous food through supply chains[…]

It is time to recognize how African MSMEs are decolonizing Manufacturing

While economic planners in most African countries still associate manufacturing with big corporates rooted in colonial legacies, Micro, Small and Medium (MSMEs) have quietly moved the manufacturing cheese. This trend has been accompanied with silent commercialization of indigenous food.  A few years ago, many urban consumers were too shy to be seen eating sweet potatoes, Read more about It is time to recognize how African MSMEs are decolonizing Manufacturing[…]

Superficial value addition may not transform indigenous food systems

Supeficial value addition may not transform indigenous food systems Adding value to indigenous foods has, for decades, focused on general processes like adding salt, adding sugar, sun drying, boiling and processing food into liquid.  However, these processes have remained too superficial to lead to any meaningful industrial transformation that can change lives. It appears modern Read more about Superficial value addition may not transform indigenous food systems[…]

Communities can conduct their own baseline studies if properly empowered

For a very long time, the development sector has used external consultants to gather baseline information before implementing a new project in a new community.  While the main advantage of that approach is that an outsider can see what community members may not see about themselves, there are more advantages in empowering communities to conduct Read more about Communities can conduct their own baseline studies if properly empowered[…]

How informal economies and mass markets fight poverty and destitution

How informal economies and mass markets fight poverty and destitution If there was no informal sector most Africans would be destitutes. African territorial markets and the informal sector are the real unsung heroes of the African continent. For decades, these self-organized institutions have quietly embraced the burden of helping poor people move up the economic Read more about How informal economies and mass markets fight poverty and destitution[…]