Sasakawa Peace Foundation Hosts High-Level Event, Highlighting Africa’s Food Security, the Blue Economy (2)

At the official side event to the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, on August 20, President Atsushi Sunami of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) stated: "Strengthening the resilience of food systems is the top priority," citing three challenges faced by Africa－population growth, climate change and geopolitical tensions. 

 

In my speech at the event under the theme of “Building Sustainable, Resilient, and Inclusive Food Systems and Local Economies in Africa: Perspectives from the Blue Economy and Agriculture,” I referred to the history and activities of the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), which co-hosted the event with the SPF.

 

The SAA was launched in response to the devastating famine that struck Ethiopia in 1984 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and champion of the “Green Revolution” Dr. Norman Borlaug, and my late father, Ryoichi Sasakawa, whose goal was to increase food production for Africa’s smallholder farmers. 

 

“Since then, we have kept this effort going without interruption and continued it to this day,” I said, noting that based on these experiences in Africa, “we arrived at a shared understanding that Africa’s sustainable development depends on two pillars, strengthening food security and advancing the blue economy. And for this the most essential key lies in the development of capable and dedicated human resources.” 

 

We have trained more than 12,000 agricultural extension workers in the field in more than 30 countries across the continent and, through cooperation with the United Nations and others, nurtured many African ocean experts.

 

“The strength of Japan is that our stance is not to give orders as the leader but share in the hard work with our African partners,” adding: “We will continue to use this strength to our utmost in developing the human capacity required to ensure food security and promote the blue economy.” 

 

On August 21, I attended a dinner hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his wife at the InterContinental Hotel Yokohama Grand for heads of state visiting Japan for TICAD 9.

 

On August 22, the SAA hosted another side event to TICAD 9 under the theme of 

“Transforming African Food Systems through Regenerative Agriculture－Strategies, Policies, and Alliances to Empower Youth and Farmers” in collaboration with the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA).

 

The event aimed to explore critical challenges and opportunities in achieving the sustainable and inclusive growth of agriculture in Africa, focusing on regenerative agriculture and soil health as key entry points.

 

In his remarks, Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi noted that Japan has helped African nations enhance agricultural productivity and cope with climate change by improving and spreading new farm breeds and technologies as well as sending experienced experts to train young farmers in Africa.

 

“With our expertise, experience and technology, we will continue to contribute to sustainable development of agriculture, fisheries and forestry and promote economic growth in Africa,” he said.

 

During the TICAD 9 meetings, we had candid exchanges of views on how Japan and Africa can and should work together to enhance food security and promote a sustainable blue economy across the continent. 

 

I believe what’s important for Japan now is to faithfully deliver on what was discussed and agreed upon during the events in Yokohama for the coming years and decades.

(End)