As Africa’s youth population surges, with an estimated one billion young people aged between 15 and 35 by 2063, the food processing industry emerges as a vital sector for sustainable employment. Currently, it already accounts for nearly one-third of total manufacturing jobs in sub-Saharan Africa.
A new report by the Malabo Montpellier Panel highlights how the growing “triple pull” in food demand creates tremendous opportunities for Africa’s food processors, provided they enhance their competitiveness. The report, titled VALUE-UP: Policy Innovations to Advance Africa’s Food Processing Sector for Growth, Jobs, and Health, dives deep into the transformative potential of food processing in Africa, with a specific focus on Ghana, Kenya, and Senegal. These nations have enacted policy and institutional reforms to foster a thriving environment for the food processing sector.
The report offers a strategic framework for African governments to capitalize on changing market demands, allowing them to strengthen domestic food processing rather than relying on food imports.
“A vibrant food processing sector creates jobs,” said Prof. Joachim von Braun, a leading academic from the University of Bonn’s Center for Development Research (ZEF). “If carefully developed, Africa’s food processing industry can provide nutritious, convenient, and shelf-stable foods, improving well-being, especially for women and children, while driving sustainable economic growth.”
Dr. Ousmane Badiane, Co-Chair of the Malabo Montpellier Panel, echoed this sentiment, pointing to Africa’s rising urban population and wealthier middle class, which increasingly demands ready-to-eat, ready-to-cook, and easy-to-prepare processed foods. He emphasized that the food processing sector must rapidly evolve to meet these changing demands.
Africa’s population is projected to grow by 2.5% annually, doubling from 1.2 billion in 2016 to 2.4 billion by 2050. Urbanization is set to surge, with 60% of Africans expected to live in cities by mid-century, and the middle class could account for 42% of the population by 2060.
Josefa Sacko, Commissioner for Agriculture at the African Union Commission, urged governments to implement robust strategies to fully develop Africa’s agro-food processing sector, emphasizing its potential for job creation. “Africa’s agricultural transformation has been slower than expected due to challenges like climate change and global economic disruptions. We must align with global trends, particularly the SDGs, to make meaningful progress,” she noted.
During the 14th Meeting of the Malabo Montpellier Forum, African ministers, senior representatives, and development partners convened to discuss the report and its recommendations. The forum stressed the need for collaboration between governments and stakeholders to overcome challenges in the food processing sector and to promote the production of healthy, safe, and high-quality processed foods across the continent.
The Malabo Montpellier Forum serves as a critical platform for dialogue among decision-makers in African agriculture, nutrition, and food security, leveraging evidence from the Malabo Montpellier Panel, a group of 17 leading experts in these fields, to drive policy innovation and sustainable development.
With Africa’s youth poised to become a powerhouse, the food processing sector stands as a beacon of hope, ready to create jobs, drive growth, and ensure a more prosperous future for the continent.
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