
Water and Sanitation in African Agriculture: Business Must Not Shy Away
There is a strong economic argument for companies to invest in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). For every $1 invested in WASH, $4 is returned in increased productivity, according to the WHO. The WASH issue is particularly pertinent for food and drink businesses whose agricultural supply chains extend to water-stressed regions in Africa. To provide support, WaterAid has delivered WASH services to some of Africa’s poorest, most marginalized communities and has been tracking this progress since 1990.
One Restaurant’s Recipe for Social Good: Same Meals, Different Prices
A restaurant chain that charges twice as much for a meal in one location as it does in another? You would think that's a recipe for angry customers. But Everytable in Los Angeles is betting that this will prove a successful business model, while also serving up a hefty side of social mission. Customers walk in and grab a to-go container of pre-made, healthful meals. And everything is priced affordably—though the price changes, depending on the neighborhood. The goal is to make nutritious food more available to everyone.
Agriculture Investment Yields Growth and Nutrition Gains for Africa
African countries that took early action in the past decade to invest in agriculture have reaped the rewards, enjoying higher economic growth and a bigger drop in malnutrition, according to a major farming development organization. In a report, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa said countries that adopted the policies promoted by the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program not long after it was created by African Union governments in 2003 saw productivity on existing farmlands rise by 5.9 to 6.7% per year.
Bringing the Blue World into the Green Economy
With fisheries and aquaculture emerging as transformational forces for African economies, more needs to be done to mitigate the impacts of climate change and illegal fishing on oceans and coastal communities. This was the key message FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva delivered to leaders at the African Ministerial Conference on Ocean Economies and Climate Change in Mauritius. The conference will identify opportunities to enhance Africa's ability to build climate-resilient ocean economies.
