Trends

Spore: highlighting impact and innovation in agricultural transformation across the years

by Susanna Cartmell-Thorp and Busani Bafana

For over 34 years, CTA’s flagship magazine, Spore, has offered guidance to smallholder farmers across the ACP, enabling greater productivity and income generation. As a tool contributing to sustainable agricultural transformation, its influence has been widely felt and is well recognised. In this final Trends article, as Spore comes to an end, we review its legacy and how the magazine has evolved from a short technical bulletin to a comprehensive online and print magazine.

Small-scale farmers gain policymaking clout

by Vincent Defait

ACP farmers’ concerns are being more effectively addressed as they become better organised and trained, and hence, increasingly involved in shaping agricultural policies and strategies.

Decoding the potential of agricultural digitalisation in Africa

by Yanne Boloh

For the first time, a landmark report on digitalisation for agriculture in Africa compiles and highlights contemporary data on digital solutions that are enabling African agriculture to meet the challenges of its transformation.

Blended finance funds impact African agriculture

by Helen Castell

Impact investment funds are fast becoming the vehicle of choice for governments and donors looking to invest in African agriculture and encourage private sector investors to do the same.

Agriculture – a keystone for sustainable development

by Vincent Defait

In order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, small-scale farmers in developing countries must be involved in the transformation of agri-food systems.

Climate-smart agri-finance: A more resilient approach

As climate change poses fresh challenges to farmers across ACP countries, donors, development banks and private lenders are developing innovative blended finance and risk-sharing solutions.

New opportunities for agribusiness in e-commerce

As the popularity of online shopping continues to rise, local e-commerce and trade platforms provide increased visibility for smallholder producers in global markets.

Leveraging agriculture to build resilience

by Stephanie Lynch

With the global number of undernourished on the rise since 2014, the international community has identified agricultural development as an effective tool to boost the resilience of vulnerable communities in fragile states.

How technology is transforming supply chains

Technology is bringing innovation to food supply chains across the developing world, especially in Africa.

A competitive challenge for agribusiness

Multinational corporations in the agrifood sector are increasingly including social and environmental aspects as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR). However, although significant progress has been achieved in favour of farmers, more needs to be done.

Is the Internet of Things the future of farming?

In ACP countries, the use of smart ‘connected’ devices in agriculture is still at an experimental stage. Yet new projects are emerging, and global trends show how this new technology offers vital development opportunities.

Angel investors give agripreneurs wings to take off

by Yassir Islam

Alternative finance in the form of angel investors is providing important seed money to jumpstart agripreneurs and push them to profitability.

Next-generation farmers: Digitally connected and business-minded

by Bénédicte Châtel

Numerous initiatives are emerging in the agricultural community that illustrate the potential profile of future African farmers – as informed business leaders, who make a good living and are connected online – and prove that agriculture offers exciting opportunities for young people.

Agriculture - a promising market for the diaspora

Over the last decade, remittance flows from diaspora communities to their countries of origin have been steadily increasing. With government support and agriculture-friendly legislation, agriculture could benefit from this substantial source of funding and expertise.

Energising African agriculture

by Olivia Frost and Pius Sawa Murefu

Africa is home to the world’s youngest population with 226 million people aged 15 to 24. This young workforce has the potential to drive innovation and transformation in agriculture, yet 72% of young Africans are living on less than €1.85 per day.

Combatting malnutrition

by Magali Reinert

Developing more nutritious crops through biofortification is providing much needed nutrients and helping to provide better quality diets for rural communities.