African Union Representative Ibrahim Assane Mayaki discusses food security

Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, the African Union Special Representative for Food Systems and former Prime Minister of Niger, highlighted Africa's economic growth and food security potential at the TRT World Forum 2026 in Istanbul.

Mayaki noted that while development speeds vary across the continent, regions with strong economic integration find industrialization easier. He observed that weak regional integration hinders the development of common policies and negatively impacts intra-continental trade. Despite these challenges, he expressed optimism for Africa's economic future, noting that the continent currently maintains some of the highest economic growth rates globally and is expected to continue this trend through 2027.

Regarding food security, Mayaki emphasized that increasing agricultural productivity could allow Africa to feed not only its own population but also other parts of the world. He pointed out that significant resources are currently spent on food imports, according to FAO data, and suggested these funds should instead be invested in African agriculture to reduce dependency. He called for better support for farmers, including improved access to seeds, climate change adaptation, scientific knowledge, and specialized financing.