Thursday
February 11
2021

Analysis: EU-Africa Partnership Must Reflect ‘Realities of African Agriculture’

By Natasha Foote

Future agrifood partnerships between the EU and Africa take into account the realities of farming in Africa, especially in the context of a drive for a greener transition, agrifood stakeholders have warned.

The comments come in the context of talks between the two continents aimed at agreeing a new EU-Africa ‘strategic partnership’.

Although discussions between the European Commission and African Union have stalled in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, the pandemic has also underscored the need for stronger cooperation between the bloc and the African continent, highlighting both the growing urgency of the climate crisis and food security, and the interdependence of the two continents.

Portugal, which holds the rotating EU Council presidency until July, is keen to push the agenda, with a Portuguese diplomat stressing back in January that “Africa should and could be a key partner of the EU”.

Photo courtesy of Ivko.

Source: EURACTIV (link opens in a new window)

Categories
Agriculture
Tags
climate change, food security