Scholarlink

<p>Africa faces a paradox of vast agricultural potential alongside persistent food insecurity. With the population projected to reach 2.5&#xa0;billion by 2050, food demand is expected to rise by 60 to 70% compared with 2020 levels. Meeting this challenge may require locally driven scientific innovation; however, Africa continues to underproduce and underutilise doctoral-level scientists in food security-related fields. At present, fewer than 1,500 PhDs are awarded annually in agricultural and related sciences across the continent, far below the estimated requirement of 8,000 per year to meet projected needs by 2050. This study examines the current state of doctoral training in Africa, the quantitative gap between the supply of and demand for food security expertise, and the institutional, policy, and funding constraints that limit research capacity. Drawing on comparative data and case studies, it argues that Africa must train at least 100,000 new PhD scientists in food security-related disciplines by 2050. Recommended priorities include raising investment in research and development to at least 1% of gross domestic product, strengthening regional research infrastructure, expanding partnerships between universities and industry, and implementing retention policies to curb the loss of highly skilled scientists. The future of food security in Africa will depend not only on producing more food but also on generating more knowledge, with doctoral-trained scientists playing a central role in this transformation.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Science for Africa’s future food security: the future of PhD graduates in food security-related research in Africa

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月22日

查看全文
  • Abdul Salami Bah,
  • Yongqiang Wang

摘要

Africa faces a paradox of vast agricultural potential alongside persistent food insecurity. With the population projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, food demand is expected to rise by 60 to 70% compared with 2020 levels. Meeting this challenge may require locally driven scientific innovation; however, Africa continues to underproduce and underutilise doctoral-level scientists in food security-related fields. At present, fewer than 1,500 PhDs are awarded annually in agricultural and related sciences across the continent, far below the estimated requirement of 8,000 per year to meet projected needs by 2050. This study examines the current state of doctoral training in Africa, the quantitative gap between the supply of and demand for food security expertise, and the institutional, policy, and funding constraints that limit research capacity. Drawing on comparative data and case studies, it argues that Africa must train at least 100,000 new PhD scientists in food security-related disciplines by 2050. Recommended priorities include raising investment in research and development to at least 1% of gross domestic product, strengthening regional research infrastructure, expanding partnerships between universities and industry, and implementing retention policies to curb the loss of highly skilled scientists. The future of food security in Africa will depend not only on producing more food but also on generating more knowledge, with doctoral-trained scientists playing a central role in this transformation.