The Challenge

Agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa remains the lowest in the world, but recent concerns about food security, water security, rapidly expanding global population, rising food prices and unsustainable resource utilization have focused worldwide interest on the role of agricultural production in Sub-Saharan Africa in feeding Africa and the world. Most of the world’s uncultivated agricultural land is in Sub-Saharan Africa, yet the capacity to harness this resource remains limited due partly to the very low application of innovative technologies that are necessary for improved and sustainable food production. Postharvest loss remains high in Sub-Saharan Africa due to inadequate infrastructure, limited agro-processing and other value-addition activities, and the lack of favorable policies. These challenges present unique opportunities for Agricultural Engineers in Sub-Saharan Africa and around the world to form a critical mass of educators, researchers, policy makers, professional engineers and industries to create the required leadership to drive the change needed to transform African agriculture.