In Ethiopia, like much of Africa, the challenge for ensuring food security is to strengthen a fragile small-holder agricultural system to help prevent future famines and build sustainability.
One way to achieve this goal is to boost agricultural productivity. This is the centerpiece of a pilot project led by the Government of Ethiopia and involving the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and DuPont. Founded in 2013, the Advanced Maize Seed Adoption Program (AMSAP) is an innovative public-private partnership that takes a holistic approach to improving maize farmer productivity:
In his March 2015 talk at TEDx Wilmington, Jim Borel, Executive Vice President of DuPont, outlined the important role that AMSAP plays in boosting yields and, as a result, improving smallholder farmers’ well-being:
"Maize is one of the most important grain crops in Ethiopia, and about 8 million farmers are involved in raising and harvesting it. Despite the way it may look here in the US – where we’re used to seeing vast expanses of lush cornfields spring up almost automatically every year – growing maize, particularly in Africa, is difficult and risky. If a farmer doesn’t have access to quality seeds, yields can be reduced significantly. Post-harvest, maize is extremely vulnerable to loss from mold, vermin and theft."
Borel goes on to note that:
"Based on its initial success in Ethiopia, the AMSAP model is being customized for use in other African countries where increased agricultural productivity is essential to food security as well as economic development. This coincides with a special focus of the African Union on agricultural and food security that acknowledges the vital role of small holder farmers, along with the need of governments, NGOs and the private sector to work together to strengthen them.”
Watch Borel’s TEDx talk “From Farm Gate to Dinner Plate” to learn more about the AMSAP partnership, or visit DuPont's website.
The Advanced Maize Seed Adoption Program: Improving Productivity from Farm to Fork
About
The Global Food and Agriculture Program aims to inform the development of US policy on global agricultural development and food security by raising awareness and providing resources, information, and policy analysis to the US Administration, Congress, and interested experts and organizations.
The Global Food and Agriculture Program is housed within the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, an independent, nonpartisan organization that provides insight – and influences the public discourse – on critical global issues. The Council on Global Affairs convenes leading global voices and conducts independent research to bring clarity and offer solutions to challenges and opportunities across the globe. The Council is committed to engaging the public and raising global awareness of issues that transcend borders and transform how people, business, and governments engage the world.
Support for the Global Food and Agriculture Program is generously provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
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1,000 Days Blog, 1,000 Days
Africa Can End Poverty, World Bank
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Bread Blog, Bread for the World
Can We Feed the World Blog, Agriculture for Impact
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Institute Insights, Bread for the World Institute
End Poverty in South Asia, World Bank
Global Development Blog, Center for Global Development
The Global Food Banking Network
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The Hunger and Undernutrition Blog, Humanitas Global Development
International Food Policy Research Institute News, IFPRI
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center Blog, CIMMYT
ONE Blog, ONE Campaign
One Acre Fund Blog, One Acre Fund
Overseas Development Institute Blog, Overseas Development Institute
Oxfam America Blog, Oxfam America
Preventing Postharvest Loss, ADM Institute
Sense & Sustainability Blog, Sense & Sustainability
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Archive
Growing Food for Growing Cities: Incentivizing Private Sector Investment
The next installment in the Growing Food for Growing Cities recommendation series outlines opportunities for the U.S. government to enable private sector investment in agricultural development.Guest Commentary – Ending Global Malnutrition: Opportunities for American Leadership
In the latest from the Agri-Pulse and Council column series, Shawn Baker of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation discusses opportunities for US engagement to address global malnutrition.Guest Commentary – Precision Agriculture: Can Smallholders Participate?
Robert Paarlberg of the Harvard Kennedy School discusses applications for precision agriculture in developing countries.Global Data, Global Agriculture, and the Universal Age of Information
Research Associate Marcus Glassman discusses the big data revolution that is transforming agricultural development.Big Ideas and Emerging Innovations
Highlighting approaches, technologies, and ideas that have the potential to radically advance global food security.Guest Commentary – Helping Africa’s Youth Find Opportunity in a Changing Climate
Esther Ngumbi of Auburn University discusses measures to help African youth find innovative ways to feed growing urban populations.Guest Commentary – How Trade and Infrastructure Will Help Feed Tomorrow’s Cities
Jason Clay of the World Wildlife Fund discusses key innovations in trade and infrastructure necessary to feed growing cities.Growing Food for Growing Cities: US Leadership Essential to Feed an Increasingly Urban World
Beginning this week, the Council will highlight the recommendations from the new report, Growing Food for Growing Cities: Transforming Food Systems in an Urbanizing World, in a weekly blog series.
Guest Commentary – Trees as Economic Drivers
In light of last week's celebration of Arbor Day, Jack Payne of the University of Florida discusses the economic value of trees.Big Ideas and Emerging Innovations
Highlighting technologies, approaches, and ideas that have the potential to radically advance global food security.Guest Commentary: Food Insecurity Coming to Life
Madeline Poole, a student at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, describes how she became inspired to pursue a career in food security.Guest Commentary – Addressing Time and Resource Constraints on Smallholders in a Rapidly Urbanizing Rwanda
Anne Wanlund of Gardens for Health International discusses mechanisms to improve the health and food security of vulnerable populations.Guest Commentary – Gro Intelligence: Deciphering a Drought with Data
Sara Menker of Gro Intelligence discusses the importance of timely agricultural data for smallholder production.Guest Commentary – The Cost of Leaving Women Farmers Behind
Niklas Buehren and Rachel Coleman of the World Bank discuss approaches to reducing the gender gap in agricultural productivity.