Background
Food is at the centre of some of the world’s most urgent challenges: one in five deaths globally is due to poor diet, one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions stem from food production, and the number of people living in hunger has doubled since 2020. These challenges affect every stage of the food value chain—from farm to factory to fork—and seriously impact people’s overall well-being and the planet.
In Africa, these challenges are compounded by a critical gap: the lack of a comprehensive and accessible database for the continent’s food systems. This data gap undermines efforts to make informed business, policy, production and processing decisions that could improve productivity, ensure fair distribution, and reduce hunger. AFDATA recognizes this gap as a significant opportunity to drive transformative change across Africa’s food landscape by building a robust data foundation.
Data is critical in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2): Zero Hunger in Africa. By providing the evidence base needed to design effective policies, allocate resources efficiently, and monitor progress, data can help to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture across the continent.
What we do
AFDATA is about more than just data – it’s about making a real impact. We are tackling some of Africa’s most pressing food-related issues by harnessing the potential of data and AI to create a comprehensive food database. Our efforts are centered on empowering food product developers to make informed decisions, optimizing food supply chains, and improving nutrition and health outcomes for millions of Africans. Ultimately, our goal is to build a more resilient, fair, and sustainable food system that can adapt to future challenges and opportunities.
Collaborate
Building an Interdisciplinary Community for African food data
AFDATA brings together experts and passionate individuals from diverse fields across Africa and beyond. Through partnerships with universities, research institutions, and global organizations, we foster networks, share knowledge, and develop the next generation of leaders in food data science.
Build
Pioneering Data Science and AI for African Food Systems
By creating a centralized, open-access food data repository, we aim to provide policymakers, food developers, businesses, and researchers with the necessary information to make informed decisions. Thus, AFDATA will be positioned as a premier centre for data science and AI applications in African food systems.
Train
Building human resource Capability for Data in Food Research
AFDATA will host seminars, workshops, and events that promote knowledge sharing, foster innovation, and build capacity to use data to address food system challenges. This will happen through strategic partnership and collaboration.
Join Us in Our Mission
Whether you are an academic, industry expert, policymaker, or advocate for food security, AFDATA invites you to join us on our journey. Together, we can fill the data gaps, harness cutting-edge technology, and create a brighter future for Africa’s food system—helping to achieve SDG 2: Zero Hunger.
Contact Person
Nicholas Alifa
Phone
07771030527
Project Category
AI in Food System