The 2012 RUFORUM Biennial Conference is the third in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholers in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. The third Biennial Conference was attended by 657 participants. This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme of Coordinated Action for Agricultural Innovation.
Global Change and the Future of African Agriculture: What Role for Higher Education?
Abstract:
Agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa is confronted with multiple
dimensions of global change, from the atmospheric to the political
and economic, from environmental to the demographic and
cultural.Change is continuous, and largely unpredictable.
Despite decades of innovative agricultural research and learning,
broad, long-lasting impacts on food availability, income and
economic development remain elusive. This paper examines
some of the mainchallenges and stresses that confront African
agriculture today. Implications for Higher Education are drawn
from this analysis. The paper argues that responding effectively
to complexity depends on changes in higher education,to
promote the application of systems thinking and inter-disciplinary
research, more effective collaboration, asking the right questions,
building trust in institutions, and fostering innovation
L’agricultureen Afrique sub-saharienne est confrontée àde
multiples dimensionsdu changement planétaire,des changements
atmosphériques aux changements politiques et économiques,
des changements environnementaux aux changements
démographiques et culturaux. Le changement est continu,et
largement imprévisible. Malgré des décennies derecherche
agricoleinnovatriceet d’apprentissage, largeset durablesimpacts
sur la disponibilitéalimentaire, les revenuset le développement
économiquedemeurent insaisissables.Cet article examinedes
contraintes et défis principaux qui confrontent l’agriculture
africaineactuellement.Les implications pourl’enseignement
supérieursont tirées de cetteanalyse.L’article fait valoir quela
réponse efficaceà la complexitédépend des changements
dansl’enseignement supérieur, afin de promouvoir l’application
dela pensée systémique etde la recherche interdisciplinaire, une
collaboration plus efficace, en posant les bonnes questions, en
développant la confiancedans les institutions, et en favorisant
l’innovation.
Mots clés: Afrique, défis
Language:
English
Extended Abstract for Coordinated Action for Agricultural Innovation
Date of publication:
2012
Region Focus:
Central Africa
East Africa
Southern Africa
West Africa
Collection:
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agris Subject Categories:
Agrovoc terms:
Additional keywords:
Licence conditions:
Open Access
Form:
Printed resource
Publisher:
Notes:
