Episode 32

Africa imports $70–80 billion of food each year—even for products it could often produce competitively. This episode revisits dialogues held at the inaugural Africa Growth and Opportunity: Research in Action conference (AGORA 25) to explore why.

We examine a key shift: viewing agriculture not as a sector, but as a system shaped by markets, infrastructure, technology, finance, institutions and people. The discussion highlights the “hidden middle”—where much of the value addition and job creation actually happens—and why weak market linkages continue to limit impact.

We also unpack persistent barriers, from financing gaps and climate risks to policy uncertainty, and what it takes to build more connected, functioning and resilient agrifood systems.

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