Abstract
Although traditional selective breeding has had a tremendous impact on both livestock and crop production in Africa, this has not kept pace with the high demand for animal and plant products on account of increasing urbanization, improved livelihoods and a rapidly growing human population. These challenges justify the need for more innovative and sustainable ways of improving animal and crop production to meet this demand. Over the last two decades the potential of genomics as a key tool to achieve improvement in desirable phenotypic traits has revolutionized the field of applied animal and plant biology. However, well informed use of such techniques has yet to be fully exploited within the context of local resources and capacity-building. The objective of this review is to highlight the rich agricultural biodiversity of sub-Saharan Africa, the potential of genomics in their sustainable use for food security, the challenges of genomic research and the strategies that can be adopted to overcome them in the implementation of agricultural genomic research in Africa. The lack of state-of-the-art laboratory research facilities, skilled human resources, poor funding and non-availability of scientific research resources, paucity of collaborative links between African researchers and a lack of engagement between key stakeholders in the agricultural value chain were identified as major barriers that affect agricultural genomic research in Africa. Finally, the recommended strategies to overcome these challenges will guide policy-makers, researchers, development partners and key stakeholders in the smooth advancement of sustainable agricultural genomic research for improved food security in Africa.
Highlights
Food is one of the basic needs and rights of humanity
Sasson [70] details some of these riots in Africa, but like many human endeavours, establishing casual relationships are very complicated and the same holds true for understanding the food security and conflict nexus
A study conducted by Pouris and Ho [64] to ascertain the importance of collaborative research between Africa and the international community revealed that over the period of five years from 2007 to 2011, the scientific research papers produced as a result of collaborations between Africa and the international community saw a dramatic growth by 66% whereas collaborative publications in country among African researchers only grew by 35%
Summary
Food is one of the basic needs and (arguably) rights of humanity. ensuring that this basic need is met remains one of the greatest challenges faced by the global community. While some developed countries have more than enough, others, especially in developing and low-income countries, are faced with food deficit. Sasson [70] details some of these riots in Africa, but like many human endeavours, establishing casual relationships are very complicated and the same holds true for understanding the food (in) security and conflict nexus. These examples underscore the importance of food security towards, for example, health, democratic governance and development. Addressing issues of food security is a health concern (soft security), but it is connected to and at the same time has farreaching and broader implications for democratic consolidation and development
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