Agriculture experts have called for stronger, coordinated action to bridge the gap between research, policy, and implementation in Africa’s agricultural sector. The call was made during the opening of the 12th Africa Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ANAPRI) Conference, which runs from November 4 to 6 in Kigali.
The three-day conference brings together policymakers, researchers, and agripreneurs to discuss how Africa can accelerate food systems transformation through strategic investments, resilient policies, and global partnerships.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Telesphore Ndabamenye, Minister of State for Agriculture and Animal Resources, urged African nations to move beyond analysis and take bold, coordinated action to translate research into tangible results.
“What we need now is not just more analysis but strategic action that bridges research and implementation, policies and investment, science and markets,” said Dr. Ndabamenye. “This is where ANAPRI should play a catalytic role—turning rigorous policy into practical solutions that work for farmers, agripreneurs, and consumers. That’s where we have to push.”
He further emphasized the importance of enabling policies that stimulate private investment rather than hinder it, saying Africa must prioritize the creation of a favorable environment for agribusiness growth.
“We need to stimulate private sector growth while addressing gaps in infrastructure, skills, and technology,” he added. “Boosting productivity, improving market access, embracing e-commerce, and leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area are essential for modernizing agriculture and enhancing regional food trade.”
In his remarks delivered virtually, FAO’s Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, Abebe Haile Gabriel, echoed the same call for coordinated transformation across the continent.
“Africa has what it takes to build more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems to achieve better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life—leaving no one behind,” Gabriel said. “What the transformation requires of us is to move beyond short-term, fragmented interventions toward integrated approaches rooted in systems thinking. This calls for adaptive, evidence-informed policies and strategic investments supported with the right tools for implementation.”
Gabriel also underscored ANAPRI’s role in fostering data-driven decision-making and regional dialogue, noting that such collaboration strengthens the bridge between research, policy, and practice.
“ANAPRI’s role in supporting data-driven decision-making and regional dialogue is commendable, as it helps create a stronger bridge between research, policy, and implementation—a bridge that Africa desperately needs,” he said. “Collaboration in Africa must focus on forward-thinking and systems-oriented approaches that ensure transformation toward more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems.”
The conference continues with sessions exploring how Africa can align research, policy, and practice to achieve long-term goals such as sustainable development and food security across the continent.
Image: EAMG News
