AGRA faces criticism over 20-year agricultural impact in Africa

As the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) marks its 20th anniversary, new reports are challenging the effectiveness of its agricultural model. Research published by the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) and Tufts University researcher Timothy A. Wise suggests that the number of undernourished people in countries targeted by AGRA programs increased by 58% since 2006.

The findings indicate that while fertilizer use more than doubled, the progress in yields for major crops has slowed. Authors suggest that increases in food production may be largely attributed to a 46% expansion in cultivated land area rather than sustainable intensification.

In contrast, the reports highlight Senegal—a country not targeted by AGRA—as an example of success, having reportedly halved hunger levels during the same period. Advocates are calling for a shift toward agroecology, emphasizing soil regeneration, local seed protection, and crop diversification to reduce dependence on external agricultural inputs.