REMMY NWEKE, in this WeekendSalvo@NaijaAgroNet, explores how Latin America, the Caribbean (LAC), and Africa are redefining agro-food transformation through innovation, resilience, and digital inclusion, as well as bridging continents toward a sustainable future.
Both share deep ties to the land, complex colonial legacies, and an enduring struggle to balance productivity with equity. Yet, their trajectories in agrifood transformation reveal contrasting lessons in governance, innovation, and resilience.
Agriculture has been central to both regions for centuries, shaping livelihoods, cultures, and economies. In Latin America and the Caribbean, colonial powers such as Spain and Portugal built vast plantation economies reliant on enslaved African labour to produce sugar, coffee, cocoa, and bananas for export.
Agriculture has been central to both regions for centuries, shaping livelihoods, cultures, and economies. In Latin America and the Caribbean, colonial powers such as Spain and Portugal built vast plantation economies reliant on enslaved African labour to produce sugar, coffee, cocoa, and bananas for export.
Following independence in the 19th century, many of these nations pursued land reforms and mechanization, setting the stage for large-scale commercial farming.
Over time, scientific research, irrigation, and trade liberalization helped transform agriculture into a high-value, export-driven sector. By the mid-20th century, countries such as Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico had begun integrating modern technologies and policies that strengthened their global competitiveness.
Africa’s agrarian story followed a different path. Colonial authorities established extractive systems designed to supply Europe with raw materials like cocoa, cotton, groundnuts, and palm oil. After independence, African countries prioritized food self-sufficiency and rural development through state-led initiatives that emphasized smallholder farming. However, the sector was hampered by limited infrastructure, inconsistent policies, and low technology adoption.
Even today, agriculture remains the backbone of many African economies, employing over two-thirds of the population, yet contributing modestly to national GDP due to low productivity and post-harvest losses.
While Latin America has leveraged decades of investment in agribusiness, biotechnology, and regional trade integration, Africa is still navigating structural barriers that slow its transformation. Latin America’s success in combining public-private partnerships with data-driven policy frameworks has made it a leader in precision agriculture and climate-smart farming.
The region’s ability to apply geospatial tools and digital platforms for decision-making has strengthened its agrifood systems, making them more resilient to climate shocks and market disruptions.
Africa, on the other hand, faces a more uneven landscape. Efforts such as the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) have sought to harmonize agricultural policy and attract investment, but progress remains uneven across countries.
The continent’s smallholder farmers continue to struggle with access to finance, markets, and technology. Yet, recent developments in digital agriculture, youth-led innovation, and regional trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) signal a turning point. Africa’s transformation, though slower, carries immense potential rooted in its growing population, expanding digital ecosystem, and fertile land resources.
Historically, both regions have endured the impacts of climate change, inequality, and external dependency. Latin America has responded with advanced adaptation strategies such as carbon-credit integration and sustainable land management practices.
Africa, however, continues to experience severe vulnerability to climate shocks, with adaptation measures often underfunded. The result is a widening gap between potential and performance, especially in rural areas where food insecurity and poverty remain prevalent.
Despite these differences, there are striking similarities in the challenges both regions face — from soil degradation to misinformation and policy inconsistency. Misinformation, in particular, has emerged as a silent threat to agrifood development in both contexts.
In Africa, myths surrounding fertilizers, biotechnology, and even disease control hinder scientific adoption and undermine rural progress.
Similarly, in parts of Latin America, distrust of genetically modified crops and confusion about sustainable practices have affected policy coherence. Correct information and early detection of agricultural risks are therefore essential in bridging these gaps and fostering inclusive growth.
The Food and Agriculture Organization’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative (HIH) has become an important bridge between regions, promoting data-driven approaches, geospatial innovation, and south-south cooperation.
The recent HIH Pacific Workshop in Fiji, which trained participants from various island nations in geospatial data and agrifood planning, underscores how digital capacity building can accelerate smarter agricultural decision-making.
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Over time, scientific research, irrigation, and trade liberalization helped transform agriculture into a high-value, export-driven sector. By the mid-20th century, countries such as Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico had begun integrating modern technologies and policies that strengthened their global competitiveness.
Africa’s agrarian story followed a different path. Colonial authorities established extractive systems designed to supply Europe with raw materials like cocoa, cotton, groundnuts, and palm oil. After independence, African countries prioritized food self-sufficiency and rural development through state-led initiatives that emphasized smallholder farming. However, the sector was hampered by limited infrastructure, inconsistent policies, and low technology adoption.
Even today, agriculture remains the backbone of many African economies, employing over two-thirds of the population, yet contributing modestly to national GDP due to low productivity and post-harvest losses.
While Latin America has leveraged decades of investment in agribusiness, biotechnology, and regional trade integration, Africa is still navigating structural barriers that slow its transformation. Latin America’s success in combining public-private partnerships with data-driven policy frameworks has made it a leader in precision agriculture and climate-smart farming.
The region’s ability to apply geospatial tools and digital platforms for decision-making has strengthened its agrifood systems, making them more resilient to climate shocks and market disruptions.
Africa, on the other hand, faces a more uneven landscape. Efforts such as the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) have sought to harmonize agricultural policy and attract investment, but progress remains uneven across countries.
Historically, both regions have endured the impacts of climate change, inequality, and external dependency. Latin America has responded with advanced adaptation strategies such as carbon-credit integration and sustainable land management practices.
Africa, however, continues to experience severe vulnerability to climate shocks, with adaptation measures often underfunded. The result is a widening gap between potential and performance, especially in rural areas where food insecurity and poverty remain prevalent.
Despite these differences, there are striking similarities in the challenges both regions face — from soil degradation to misinformation and policy inconsistency. Misinformation, in particular, has emerged as a silent threat to agrifood development in both contexts.
In Africa, myths surrounding fertilizers, biotechnology, and even disease control hinder scientific adoption and undermine rural progress.
Similarly, in parts of Latin America, distrust of genetically modified crops and confusion about sustainable practices have affected policy coherence. Correct information and early detection of agricultural risks are therefore essential in bridging these gaps and fostering inclusive growth.
The Food and Agriculture Organization’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative (HIH) has become an important bridge between regions, promoting data-driven approaches, geospatial innovation, and south-south cooperation.
The recent HIH Pacific Workshop in Fiji, which trained participants from various island nations in geospatial data and agrifood planning, underscores how digital capacity building can accelerate smarter agricultural decision-making.
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Lessons from Latin America’s success with geospatial systems and Africa’s community-driven resilience can enrich one another, creating a new model for shared progress.
For Africa, the immediate priority lies in harnessing accurate data and digital technology to inform agricultural policy and investment decisions. Governments must work to reduce misinformation that distorts public perception and weakens adoption of scientific innovations.
For Latin America and the Caribbean, sustaining gains will depend on balancing productivity with sustainability, ensuring that growth does not come at the expense of ecosystems or smallholder inclusion.
Invariably, both regions share a common truth: agriculture is more than an economic sector; it is a foundation for identity, innovation, and survival. While Latin America may lead in digital agriculture and export diversification, Africa holds the promise of a youthful, dynamic farming future if guided by sound policy, accurate information, and technological empowerment.
As NaijaAgroNet notes, the time for deeper cross-regional learning is now. From the Pampas of Argentina to the Savannahs of Nigeria, the seeds of agrifood transformation must be nurtured with cooperation, science, and the courage to innovate.
The road may differ, but the destination, a smarter, more resilient, and inclusive food system, remains the same.
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