Addis ababa: There is an urgent need for Africa to ensure food sovereignty that reflects its rich cultural and ecological heritages, according to Hakim Baliraine, Chairperson of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA).
According to Ethiopian News Agency, AFSA Chairperson Hakim Baliraine emphasized this need while speaking at the first-ever Pan-African Convening on the Future of Biodigital Technologies in Food and Agriculture, which opened today in Addis Ababa. Baliraine highlighted AFSA's dedication to empowering African communities and promoting sustainable, just, and equitable agricultural practices.
The membership of AFSA includes smallholder farmers, pastoralists, fisherfolks, indigenous peoples, faith-based organizations, women and youth networks, activists, civil society, and consumers. This diverse group represents a collective act of resistance and imagination against technologies developed away from local food systems, Baliraine stated.
He further noted that digital tools, artificial intelligence, and new bio-digital technologies, often touted for their efficiency, can pose threats to indigenous knowledge and diversity by serving corporate interests.