Bioeconomy: A path to African food system transformation
In this chapter, we intend to ascertain the current direction of the African bioeconomy pursuit and identify the opportunities for advancing regional adoption and practice to augment the sustainability of the food system. The chapter is structured into three major parts. The first part briefly elaborates on the critical components of the African food system, highlighting current practices, systemic gaps, and bioeconomic actions driving revolutions in these components. The second part entails a region-wide overview of existing and emerging policies, strategies, and commitments to promote bioeconomy practice. The third and concluding part consolidates thoughts from local and global practice to underscore feasible recommendations for regional bioeconomy practice toward sustainable food system transformation. Figure 10.1 provides a graphical summary of the structural flow of this chapter. The findings in this chapter will be of regional interest, especially to African governments, policymakers, the private sector, development institutions, researchers, and other food system stakeholders interested in developing and implementing a robust bioeconomy framework for Africa’s food system transformation and overall economic development.