This archive report was first published on 19 December 2019.
December 18, 2019, marked a significant day for Africa's food security as a new report highlighted the need for off-grid energy to meet the continent's growing demand for food.
According to the Malabo Montpellier Panel, a group of 17 leading experts, 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.
The report, released on Tuesday, emphasizes the importance of universal access to energy for the production, processing, and consumption of nutritious food.
Ousmane Badiane, co-chair of the Malabo Montpellier Panel, noted that as demand for food continues to grow globally, access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable sources of energy will become an urgent necessity.
Kenyan Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, the director of African Women in Agricultural Research and Development, is part of the panel and recommends the involvement of women in the formulation of national energy and agricultural policies to ensure that new technologies benefit them, their households, and their communities.
The African Union heads of state committed to ending hunger on the continent by 2025 under the Malabo Declaration.
