The IAC Panel affirms its vision of an African future where increased agricultural productivity, improved food security and enhanced sustainability of agro-ecosystems will have been realized. The IAC Panel cautions, however, that this vision is achievable only by effective collaboration among the scientific community, farmers, governments, nongovernmental organizations, the international donor community and the private sector.
Five underlying strategic themes should guide the future of agricultural research and development in Africa towards 2015. The first theme is the identification of science and technology options that can make a difference. The full complement of available technologies should be explored, from conventionally bred plants to genetically modified plants, from chemical fertilizers to organic fertilizers, and from integrated pest, soil and nutrient management to irrigation. A second theme to guide the future is to build impact-oriented research, knowledge and development institutions that reflect the needs of the local farmers in identifying new avenues of research. This goal is best accomplished by involving farmers, who very clearly understand the problems. The third theme is creating and retaining a new generation of agricultural scientists to perform future research. The fourth theme is ensuring markets and policies that make the poor prosperous and food secure. The final theme is the need for experimentation in creating effective solutions to the problems of African agriculture, especially those that empower the farmers in Africa to make decisions about their own crops and their own livelihoods.