Written by A coalition of civil society organisations has urged the African Development Bank (AfDB) to stop channelling development funds into large-scale industrial farming and instead invest in community-led, agroecological food systems across Africa.
The groups, under the Stop Financing Factory Farming Coalition, issued the call Thursday in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, on the sidelines of the AfDB’s 2026 Annual Meetings held from May 25 to 29 at the Kintele International Conference Centre.
In a joint statement, the coalition warned that without stronger safeguards and genuine farmer participation, development finance would deepen rather than resolve Africa’s food crisis.
The groups said decisions made at the meeting would shape African agriculture, land use and economies for decades.
The AfDB’s Feed Africa Strategy estimates that transforming the continent’s agriculture requires between $315 billion (about N519.75 trillion) and $400 billion (about N660 trillion) in investment over ten years. The Bank has already committed $24 billion (about N39.6 trillion) to catalyse additional public and private investment (AfDB, 2026).
For Nigeria, where smallholder farmers produce the bulk of the country’s food, the direction the Bank takes on agriculture financing matters directly. An industrial farming push could squeeze out the community-based systems that feed millions.
The coalition called for greater transparency, accountability and farmer inclusion in shaping Africa’s food future.
