Rome, Italy — President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, has delivered a keynote address at the World Food Forum 2024 in Rome, Italy, urging international leaders to adopt urgent and decisive measures to address the global food insecurity crisis. Speaking on the theme “Good Food Today, Good Food Tomorrow,” President Boakai emphasized the need for collective action to improve the world’s agrifood systems, particularly in Africa, which faces acute food shortages and rising levels of hunger and malnutrition.
President Boakai highlighted the alarming rise of hunger globally, with Africa bearing the brunt of the crisis. Despite its abundant natural resources and agricultural potential, the continent continues to struggle with food insecurity due to climate change, conflict, economic instability, and insufficient investments in agricultural infrastructure. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), millions of people in Africa are facing food shortages, with one in five people going to bed hungry each night.
In his speech, President Boakai underscored the need for concrete, impactful action to address these challenges. “We are not here today simply to highlight the problems but to call for urgent, impactful steps that will drive tangible change on the ground,” he said. He emphasized Liberia’s commitment to contributing to global efforts for food security by sharing its vision of building an inclusive, resilient, and transformative agrifood system.
Located in the Upper Guinea Rainforest region, Liberia boasts one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, and with its significant annual rainfall, the country is well-positioned to support sustainable agriculture. President Boakai noted Liberia’s commitment to environmental sustainability, referencing the country’s revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 64% by 2030, with 10% of the reduction unconditional and 54% contingent on international support.
As a vital net carbon sink, Liberia plays a critical role in combating climate change. However, President Boakai acknowledged the delicate balance between addressing global warming and ensuring food security and economic development. “While we remain proud of our contributions to addressing global warming, we must also recognize the importance of our dependence on the soil for our food security and economic development,” he said.
Liberia’s agricultural sector, which accounts for nearly 29% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provides livelihoods for over 68% of its population, is key to achieving food security. The President outlined Liberia’s strategy for sustainable agricultural development, focusing on food crops, fisheries, and organic cash crops such as palm oil and cocoa. He stressed the importance of investing in sustainable farming practices, agricultural innovation, and infrastructure to support farmers and reduce food loss.
A major point in President Boakai’s speech was the need for technology transfer and development within agricultural value chains. “The tragedy in our food insecurity lies not in our inability to produce raw agricultural materials, but in our inability to transform these materials into stable food products that can be traded over time,” he said, calling for the establishment of an engineering subsector to produce the machinery and equipment necessary to develop agricultural value chains.
In addition to advancing agricultural production, Liberia is embarking on an ambitious Agro-Industrial Development Program centered on oil palm and cocoa. The initiative aims to develop a robust oleo-chemical industry, with an initial focus on oil palm cultivation to meet local and regional demand. Liberia currently faces a deficit of 40,000 tons of palm oil, while West Africa as a whole is short by 1.8 million tons. President Boakai emphasized that this program is critical not only for food security but also for the economic prosperity of Liberia.
As part of Liberia’s broader agricultural vision, the President outlined plans to cultivate 100,000 hectares of land initially, with a goal to increase cultivation to 300,000 hectares to serve the West African market. This initiative will be complemented by investments in processing, refining, and marketing of agricultural products. Technology, digitization, and strengthened agricultural research and extension services will play a crucial role in achieving these objectives.
President Boakai also urged the international community to support Liberia’s efforts to build a sustainable agrifood system. He called for targeted action in four key areas: supporting local food systems, promoting climate resilience, strengthening social safety nets, and fostering global collaboration. By investing in rural infrastructure, adopting climate-smart agricultural practices, and
