The new harvest : agricultural innovation in Africa

This book argues that Africa can feed itself in a generation and help contribute to global food security despite its history of persistent food shortages and the rising threat of climate change. To achieve this, the continent must harness scientific and technological advances, invest in infrastructure, foster higher technical training, and create regional markets. It must also foster a new crop of entrepreneurial leaders dedicated to the continent's economic improvement.This new edition provides ideas on how to place agriculture at the center of the continent's long-term economic transformation. It demonstrates how policy coordination can help realize agriculture's full potential as a motherboard for other economic activities. Incorporating lessons from academia, government, civil society, and private industry, __The New Harvest__ outlines how African countries can work together at regional levels to generate new knowledge and resources, harness technological advancement, encourage entrepreneurship, increase agricultural output, create markets, and improve overall economic performance. This book argues that Africa can feed itself in a generation and help contribute to global food security despite its history of persistent food shortages and the rising threat of climate change. To achieve this, the continent must harness scientific and technological advances, invest in infrastructure, foster higher technical training, and create regional markets. It must also foster a new crop of entrepreneurial leaders dedicated to the continent's economic improvement. This new edition provides ideas on how to place agriculture at the center of the continent's long-term economic transformation. It demonstrates how policy coordination can help realize agriculture's full potential as a motherboard for other economic activities. Incorporating lessons from academia, government, civil society, and private industry, The New Harvest outlines how African countries can work together at regional levels to generate new knowledge and resources, harness technological advancement, encourage entrepreneurship, increase agricultural output, create markets, and improve overall economic performance. African Agriculture Is Currently At A Crossroads, At Which Persistent Food Shortages Are Compounded By Threats From Climate Change. But, As This Book Argues, Africa Can Feed Itself In A Generation And Can Help Contribute To Global Food Security. To Achieve This Africa Has To Define Agriculture As A Force In Economic Growth By Advancing Scientific And Technological Research, Investing In Infrastructure, Fostering Higher Technical Training, And Creating Regional Markets. The Growing Economy -- Advances In Science, Technology, And Engineering -- Leapfrogging In Biotechnology -- Agricultural Innovation Systems -- Enabling Infrastructure -- Human Capacity -- Entrepreneurship -- Governing Innovation -- Conclusions And The Way Ahead. Calestous Juma. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Filled with case studies from within Africa and success stories from developing nations around the world, The New Harvest outlines the policies and institutional changes necessary to promote agricultural innovation across the African continent. -- From publisher's description. Content: The growing economy -- Advances in science, technology, and engineering -- Leapfrogging in genetic technologies -- Agricultural innovation systems -- Enabling infrastructure -- Human capacity -- Entrepreneurship -- Governing innovation -- Plowing ahead.