This archive report was first published on 18 December 2019.
On December 17, 2019, the Malabo Montpellier Panel released a report highlighting the importance of off-grid energy in achieving food security in Africa.
The report emphasizes that African governments should invest in energy innovations such as solar systems in rural areas to reduce the drudgery of farm work, improve farm productivity, and enhance the distribution of food.
As part of the Malabo Declaration, African Union heads of state committed to ending hunger on the continent by 2025.
The Malabo Montpellier Panel, comprising 17 leading experts, aims to guide policy decisions on food security and improved nutrition in African governments.
According to Ousmane Badiane, co-chair of the Malabo Montpellier Panel, universal access to energy will become an urgent necessity for food production, processing, and consumption as global demand for food continues to grow.
“Access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable sources of energy will ensure that Africa's agricultural sector can respond to this demand, all within the context of climate change and increasingly scarce natural resources,” Badiane said.
The report also recommends involving women in the formulation of national energy and agricultural policies to ensure that new technologies benefit them, their households, and their communities.
