(Ecofin Agency) - During the Industrial Revolution, mechanization played a key role in boosting agricultural production. Africa, however, did not fully benefit from this. Now, in the era of digitalization, the continent has a new opportunity to seize.

Digital agriculture, if fully embraced in Africa, has the potential to lift 282 million Africans out of hunger by 2030. This approach can help address production challenges and, more importantly, the growing climate-related issues such as droughts, floods, and extreme temperatures that threaten food security. According to the Brookings Institution, nearly 118 million people in Africa could face severe hunger by 2030 if these challenges are not addressed.

In its "Foresight Africa: Top Priorities for the Continent 2025-2030" report, the American think tank emphasizes that despite the challenges faced by African agriculture, "the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) also has the potential to transform Africa’s agricultural sector, supporting the continent’s progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by enhancing food security, resilience, and sustainability. Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and the Internet of Things are beginning to address age-old challenges in agriculture such as low productivity and market inefficiencies in the face of climate change”.

Brookings notes that "Through data-driven insights and automated tools, digital innovation enables improved decision-making, precision targeting, and resource efficiency, which are essential to bolstering Africa’s agricultural productivity and ensuring food security for its growing population."

The impact of digital technologies on African agriculture is evident, with CGIAR (Global Partnership for Agricultural Research) playing a key role in this transformation. CGIAR was the first to use digital tools to address agricultural challenges, introducing innovations like digital soil mapping and AI-powered systems to detect crop diseases.

These technologies have helped farmers identify and treat diseases early, leading to higher yields and reduced crop losses. For example, in Nigeria, the Cassava Disease Monitoring Platform developed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), along with tools like the Cassava Seed Tracker and the AI-based Plant Village Nuru app, have enabled small-scale farmers to quickly diagnose and manage cassava diseases.

CGIAR has also developed precision agriculture tools such as smart irrigation and climate forecasting systems. These technologies optimize water usage and help farmers prepare for unfavorable weather conditions. Digital tools like RiceAdvice and NextGen Agroadvisory provide location-specific recommendations for fertilizers and planting, which have resulted in a 25% increase in wheat and rice yields, improving the profitability of small-scale farmers in Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Mali.

The bad side of this optimistic picture is the low level of engagement from both the public and private sectors in Africa. Few countries on the continent have developed digital agriculture strategies, which are crucial for identifying the specific objectives and actions needed to move forward.

In its "AU Digital Agriculture Strategy (DAS) and Implementation Plan 2024–2030", the African Union (AU) points out Africa’s slow adoption of digital agriculture, even though a continental strategy has been in place. Countries were expected to develop their own national strategies based on this framework, but only a few have done so. According to the 2022 Digital Agriculture Readiness Index, which evaluates countries on indicators like digital infrastructure, access to technology, digital skills, business environment, regulations, e-payment services, and national agricultural data portals, only nine countries scored above 45 points. Mauritius and South Africa are leading with scores of 61.4 and 60.5, respectively.

Even within the private sector, progress in developing digital agriculture has been slow, though notable strides have been made over the past decade. According to AgBase's "State of AgTech Investment in Africa 2024: From Burst Bubble to New Baseline" report, 131 AgTech companies raised $215 million across 158 deals in the last 12 months. This represents 11% of the total funding volume and 23% of the number of deals in Africa's digital and technology sectors. However, funding from within Africa dropped by 59%, while outside the continent, the decline was only 2%.

Agriculture is a vital sector for African economies, critical for both food security and wealth creation. It can no longer function without fully integrating digital technologies. According to the Brookings Institution, African governments and stakeholders must prioritize policies that enable digital transformation, ensuring ethical use of technology and equitable access for all. This includes implementing data governance policies, promoting digital literacy programs, and fostering public-private partnerships. Moreover, more investment is needed in digital infrastructure to transform African agriculture and ensure food security, sustainable development, and resilience in agro-food systems.

Despite significant challenges, African agriculture can be transformed, and food security can be assured through the adoption of digital technologies, supported by favorable policies and strategic investments.