The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing science, innovation, and strategic partnerships as critical pillars for achieving sustainable agricultural transformation and food security across Africa.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, made the commitment while delivering the opening address at the Science and Partnership for Agriculture Conference (SPAC) 2026, held on Tuesday in Abuja as part of the 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week (9AASW) and the 10th General Assembly of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA).
Abdullahi described the conference as a landmark platform bringing together researchers, policymakers, development partners, farmers' organizations, universities, the private sector, and other stakeholders to develop innovative solutions to Africa's agricultural challenges and advance the continent's transformation agenda in line with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration.
He noted that SPAC has evolved into Africa's leading platform for promoting agricultural science and innovation by uniting National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), the African Union, Sub-Regional Organizations (SROs), CGIAR Centers, and other key institutions to shape the future of agricultural research and development across the continent.
The minister said that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Government is implementing far-reaching reforms focused on strengthening food security through research, mechanization, digital agriculture, climate resilience, and stronger collaboration among research institutions, farming communities, and the private sector.
According to him, Africa has made significant progress in establishing National Agricultural Research Systems, universities, specialized research institutes, and centres of excellence, which have developed technologies that continue to improve crop production, livestock, fisheries, forestry, natural resource management, and the livelihoods of millions of farmers.
Despite these achievements, Abdullahi stressed that greater institutional collaboration is required to effectively address emerging agricultural challenges.
He said scientific excellence already exists across Africa, but stronger coordination and alignment among institutions are needed to maximize research impact and accelerate agricultural transformation.
"The Science and Partnership for Agriculture Conference was conceived by FARA to provide a unique continental platform where researchers, policymakers, development partners, universities, farmers' organizations, and the private sector can collectively shape Africa's agricultural research agenda and strengthen partnerships for greater impact," he said.
The minister observed that agriculture is being reshaped by emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, genomics, robotics, digital agriculture, and big data, while climate change, soil degradation, water scarcity, and rapid population growth continue to place increasing pressure on Africa's food systems.
He called for the development of a new generation of scientists equipped with multidisciplinary knowledge capable of delivering climate-smart, technology-driven, and commercially viable solutions to the continent's agricultural needs.
Abdullahi also urged African governments to increase investment in frontier sciences, accelerate the commercialization of research findings, establish sustainable financing mechanisms for agricultural research, promote responsible scientific data sharing, and strengthen partnerships between public research institutions and the private sector.
He emphasized that the success of agricultural research should ultimately be measured by its impact on farmers' incomes, job creation, agribusiness development, environmental sustainability, and national economic growth.
The minister challenged participants at SPAC 2026 to ensure that the conference produces stronger partnerships, evidence-based policies, and innovative solutions capable of improving the lives of millions of African farmers and consumers while positioning science at the centre of Africa's agricultural transformation.
Earlier, FARA's Director of Research and Innovation – Emeritus, Dr. Irene Annor-Frempong, said the vision of SPAC is to transform agricultural productivity and sustainability by converting scientific discoveries into practical, scalable solutions that directly benefit farmers across Africa.
She explained that the initiative reflects Africa's commitment to collective action in tackling common agricultural challenges through innovation, strategic partnerships, knowledge sharing, and climate-resilient agricultural development.
The conference also featured the official launch of the book, Reimagining Agricultural Research in Africa: Demand, Innovation and Transformation, performed by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, the Minister of Livestock Development, and other dignitaries.