The German government should reconsider its agricultural cooperation model for Africa and prioritise food sovereignty and agroecological practices, urge Kenyan climate and development policy think tank, Power Shift Africa, and German environmental and human rights organisation, Germanwatch, in a joint policy brief titled ‘‘What is the Missing Ingredient? The German Agriculture and Food Strategy for Africa 2025’’.

Despite numerous multilateral interventions, Africa remains in the grip of a debilitating food crisis. In 2023, 868 million people across the continent experienced food insecurity, including 342 million suffering from severe hunger. This figure has been made worse by the growing impacts of climate change, which is severely disrupting food production through more frequent and intense droughts, floods and heatwaves.

‘‘Decades of investments in industrialised agricultural systems have not yet shifted the global food system from multinational corporations and have left Africa’s smallholder farmers vulnerable and dependent on external inputs such as seeds and agrochemicals controlled by just a few global players,” says Amy G Thorp, the programmes manager at Power Shift Africa.

She stresses: “The German Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) has to shift its approach, ensuring that African nations have the right to control their agricultural future, particularly in light of the growing food insecurity crisis on the continent. In addition, the effects of the escalating climate crisis must always be considered in programmes to combat the food crisis.”

The policy brief emphasises that food sovereignty – the right of communities to control their food systems – is essential for countering corporate capture in agriculture and ensuring that African farmers have the tools, resources and autonomy to determine their agricultural practices.

‘‘Food sovereignty is also the pre-requisite to secure the right to food, which is enshrined in international law and has been legally adopted by over 160 states,’’ notes Lazarus Nanzala, the policy and advocacy advisor at SDG2 Advocacy Hub.

‘‘Germany and other global partners must prioritise African-led solutions, such as CAADP, and not repeat colonial frameworks. It is important to dismantle extractive trade structures and invest in climate-resilient, farmer-driven food systems. Only then can Africa cultivate dignity, self-reliance, and justice at the heart of its agri-food systems transformation,” adds Nanzala.

To Nanzala, Africa’s food future hinges on reclaiming and owning it not just in policies, but also in practice: ‘‘Decades of neglect and a lack of concerted direct has left our smallholder farmers shackled to external interests. True resilience lies in direct investment by our governments in local knowledge and equitable systems that empower communities to steward their land, seeds and future.’’

On a positive note, BMEL’s strategy reflects a move in the right direction by incorporating agroecology — the practice of integrating ecological principles, social equity, and cultural values, as well as promoting sustainability and the protection of biodiversity — in its agriculture strategy for Africa. However, the CSOs caution that while agroecology is a promising framework, BMEL’s strategy fails to fully integrate food sovereignty as a core guiding principle.

Food sovereignty is crucial for addressing the underlying issues of land rights, seed sovereignty, and local control over food systems, which are all essential components of sustainable agricultural practices.

Amy, who was among the authors of the policy brief, says food sovereignty is not just an alternative model but a necessary principle for Africa’s food future.

“Without food sovereignty, the power dynamics that have led to widespread hunger and food insecurity will persist. If Germany’s strategy is truly committed to empowering African farmers, it must put food sovereignty at the center and create a space for African countries to reclaim their food systems from the grip of multinational corporations.”

In addition to advocating for food sovereignty, the policy brief calls for a more robust approach to addressing the climate crisis through agricultural policy. It warns that focusing solely on food production without integrating a deeper climate-resilience lens could further degrade the environment, reduce agricultural capacity, and exacerbate food insecurity. The brief suggests that Germany’s strategy should focus on creating synergies between agricultural productivity, ecosystem restoration, and carbon sequestration.

Lina Adil, Policy Advisor on Climate Adaptation and Loss and Damage at Germanwatch, says: “Agriculture stands on the frontlines of climate change — but it is also a key part of the solution. Neglecting the link between land use and climate action risks undermining long-term sustainability. The German Ministry of Food and Agriculture must implement its strategy in a way that harmonises food production, adaptation, and carbon sequestration, transforming agricultural landscapes into powerful allies in the fight against climate change.”

The policy brief stresses that Germany’s strategy should be informed by the lessons of past policies, including its previous strategy on food and agriculture for Africa, that failed to address the root causes of food insecurity in Africa. It also highlights Germany’s pivotal role in supporting the advancement of Africa’s agricultural future, ensuring that Africa’s food systems are rooted in sustainability, equity, and resilience.

“While the strategy highlights the impact of agricultural imports on local production and food security, it completely overlooks the power of territorial markets in advancing food sovereignty and resilient livelihoods,’’ notes Bridget Mugambe, the programmes coordinator at Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA). ‘‘Across Africa, mega supermarkets are flooding shelves with imported, ultra-processed foods; convenient, but at the cost of local farmers, nutrition, and sustainable food systems.”