#China #Wuhan #Food Security #Africa Oil Crops #China Collaboration

Unlocking the Potential of Africa's Oil Crops

In a groundbreaking initiative, scientists from Africa and China have joined forces to tap into the vast potential of oil crops across the African continent. With a wealth of diverse oil crops, including sesame, peanuts, and soybeans, this collaboration holds the promise to bolster food security, enhance rural livelihoods, and tap into expanding export markets. These developments are more crucial than ever especially as we look to align with the priorities set forth in China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) action plan for 2025-2027.

On November 20, leaders, researchers, and private sector representatives from various African countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Mali, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Tanzania gathered in Wuhan for the "Belt and Road Forum on Oil Crops Science, Technology Innovation and Industrial Cooperation." Organized by the Oil Crop Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (OCRI-CAAS), alongside the Agricultural Information Institute, the forum emphasized strengthening collaboration along the entire value chain, from seed selection systems to processing and trade.

Key discussions at the forum highlighted opportunities for sesame and other oil crops, including joint efforts in developing climate-resilient, high-yield, and high-quality varieties. The conference also showcased demonstrations of legumes rich in protein tailored to fit Africa's agricultural systems, along with advancements in the efficient and value-adding processing of edible oils.

During the event, the OCRI-CAAS formalized partnerships through cooperation agreements with numerous African universities and companies, aiming for sustained collaborations on variety improvement, technology transfer, extension services, and the education of young scientists and agro-industry professionals. The goal is to translate scientific advancements into tangible benefits for farmers and consumers in both Africa and China.

A subsequent technical visit to OCRI-CAAS included a diverse African delegation featuring Edwin Paul Mhede, the Secretary of Commerce and Investment at Tanzania's Ministry of Industry; Nurudeen Abubakar Zauro, Technical Advisor for Economic and Financial Inclusion at Nigeria's Vice Presidential office; Lise Korsten, President of the African Academy of Sciences; Logab Djilali, Vice-President of Tissemsilt University in Algeria; and Erick Vitus Gabriel Komba, Director of the Tanzania Livestock Research Institute.

This delegation engaged with innovation teams focusing on sesame and other specialty oil crops, peanuts, and southern soybeans, while visiting national quality testing sites for oil crops and pilot-scale processing facilities. Professor Korsten and her peers underscored the fast-tracked growth potential within the African oil crop sector, asserting that collaborative research with partners such as OCRI-CAAS could help yield locally adapted solutions that enhance productivity, quality, and compliance with international market standards.

Looking ahead, the partnering African institutions and OCRI-CAAS intend to leverage the China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Alliance (CAASTIA) as a crucial platform to deepen cooperation on joint selection programs, farmer-driven extension methodologies, and talent development. By merging the commercial resources and potentials of Africa with Chinese and African scientific expertise, stakeholders aim to cultivate more resilient and inclusive oil crop value chains, thereby enhancing food security, nutritional outcomes, and sustainable development across the continent.

In summary, this unprecedented partnership between African and Chinese scientists marks a significant leap toward unlocking the capabilities of oil crops in Africa, presenting an invaluable opportunity to secure food resources and bolster economic resilience for generations to come.