Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – As the world grapples with global hunger crises, two leaders stand out with clear visions and actionable strategies to transform agriculture and eradicate hunger: Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil. Both share the belief that hunger is not inevitable—it is a political choice that can and must be reversed.
We live in a world that produces enough food to feed everyone, yet millions still suffer from food insecurity. In Africa, more than 278 million people face hunger. In Brazil, while poverty rates have significantly decreased, food insecurity remains a challenge. Against this backdrop, Adesina and Lula emerge as champions of tackling hunger as a central issue of human dignity and sustainable development.
Adesina firmly believes that Africa must feed itself, rejecting dependence on imports. Under his leadership, the AfDB has invested $15 billion in the Feed Africa initiative, which prioritizes technology, the empowerment of smallholder farmers, and infrastructure development. The approach goes beyond boosting production—it aims to build resilient systems that shield farmers from climate change and economic volatility.
The transformation is already yielding results: between 2018 and 2023, more than 80 million Africans have been lifted out of food insecurity. Yet, this progress marks only the beginning. The ultimate goal is to eradicate hunger by 2025—a dream that demands unwavering political and social commitment.
In Brazil, Lula demonstrated that hunger can be defeated with integrated policies. The Zero Hunger program not only reduced hunger by 82% during his first term but also unified efforts in cash transfers, support for small-scale agriculture, and social programs. By investing R$ 32 billion, Lula transformed the lives of millions of Brazilians, reinforcing the idea that food security is a right, not a privilege.
His success positioned Brazil as a global leader in anti-hunger strategies, inspiring other nations, including several in Africa, to adopt parts of this model.
What unites Adesina and Lula is not just their determination to eradicate hunger but also their shared understanding that smallholder farming is the key. Both view small-scale farmers not as passive recipients of aid but as drivers of economic development. In 2024, this shared vision will be formalized through a partnership agreement worth $1 billion between the AfDB and Brazil. The pact will include agricultural technology transfers, farmer training programs, and the development of joint markets.
This collaboration is expected to benefit over 50 million people in Africa and 10 million in Brazil by 2030. It offers a direct response to a critical question: how can hunger be combated amidst global crises and deepening inequalities?
Hunger is not just a marker of poverty—it is a moral failure in societies that choose to prioritize other issues. As Adesina often emphasizes, “Hunger has no place in the 21st century. Agriculture must be the foundation for creating prosperity and dignity.” Lula encapsulates his philosophy in a powerful statement: “No one can be free if they have nothing to eat.”
Reflecting on the actions of these two leaders, one clear lesson emerges: ending hunger is not just an aspiration—it is a shared responsibility. The future depends on bold political choices by leaders willing to turn the vision of a hunger-free world into a tangible reality.
