Nairobi, June 7 -- In 1215, English barons forced King John to sign the Magna Carta, a charter that limited the power of the monarchy and established the principle that no one, not even the king, was above the law. It did not instantly create democracy, but it marked a decisive shift from unchecked authority to accountability, institutions, and rules that constrained power.

Africa's food systems are overdue for a similar moment.

On January 1, 2026, the African Union's new 10-year agricultural development strategy officially began.

Known as the CAADP Kampala Declaration, it sets ambitious targets: a 45 percent increase in agrifood output, a 50 percent reduction in post-harvest losses, a tripling of intra-African agrifood trade, an incre...