Africa climate summit urges investment in climate-smart agriculture to safeguard food security, News Desk reports
The third Climate Change Global Business Summit on Africa began in Nairobi on Monday, with Kenya calling on global investors to increase financing for climate smart agriculture to improve food security across the continent, according to Xinhua.
The two day summit, hosted by The European House Ambrosetti, has brought together global leaders, private sector players and investors to promote climate finance, environmental stewardship and a just transition, Xinhua reported.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mutahi Kagwe, warned that failure to invest in climate resilient agriculture in Africa could have serious implications for global food systems.
“Climate shocks are no longer future risks. They are present disruptions. If agriculture in Africa fails, global food systems will feel the shock,” Kagwe said, as cited by Xinhua.
He noted that climate change is already disrupting traditional farming systems in Kenya, with extreme weather patterns becoming more frequent. The country’s reliance on rain fed agriculture, which accounts for about 98 percent of farming, leaves millions vulnerable to climate variability.
According to Xinhua, Kenya has suffered significant impacts in recent years, including five failed rainy seasons between 2020 and 2023, pushing 4.4 million people into food insecurity and resulting in the loss of more than 2.5 million livestock.
Kagwe said the crisis persists in 2026, with some regions experiencing severe floods while others face drought and extreme heat. More than two million people currently require emergency food and livestock support.
The summit aims to drive global discussions on the role of industry in building a climate resilient Africa. Participants, including more than 150 CEOs, institutional leaders and stakeholders, are expected to explore policies, innovations and best practices to address climate change challenges on the continent.
Kagwe also stressed that Africa must play a leading role in shaping climate solutions, warning against externally imposed approaches.
“There is no one size fits all solution. Climate change is a lived experience for our farmers. The answers must come from the ground, not from boardrooms in Brussels, New York or Paris,” he said, according to Xinhua.
