The Chair of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Strive Masiyiwa, announced today that Dr. Joachim von Braun, an economist and food policy expert known worldwide for his commitment to agriculture as a path out of poverty, has joined the organization’s board.
“We are extremely pleased Dr. von Braun has agreed to actively support our work with partners across the continent to create new opportunities for millions of African farmers,” Masiyiwa said. “We are eager to draw from his extensive experience and distinguished career in agricultural economics in our efforts to give African farmers and African-owned agriculture businesses a bigger role in Africa’s rapidly growing economies.”
Dr. von Braun is Director of the Center for Development Research (known by its German acronym ZEF) and Professor at the University of Bonn. He served from 2002 to 2009 as Director General of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), where he greatly expanded the organization’s work in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. He is widely consulted as an expert in food economics and policy and chairs of the German Government’s Bio-Economy Council.
“I’m very excited to be joining an organization dedicated to harnessing the potential of African farms to become thriving businesses,” Dr. von Braun said. “I share AGRA’s commitment to expanding the opportunities and choices available to African farmers, from the seeds they plant, to the nutrients they apply to their soil, to the financing they need and engaging in markets that can bring income to their families and communities.”
Dr. von Braun has published research probing a number of topics directly relevant to AGRA’s mission, including agriculture policy, food security, and agriculture science and technology. He also serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), and is the former President of the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE). Von Braun has worked extensively in sub-Saharan Africa, Central America, Egypt, Russia, and China.
AGRA was founded in 2006, with initial funding and technical support from the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It has since welcomed support from numerous other international foundations, donor agencies, multilateral financial institutions, corporate donors and banks. AGRA and its funding partners work closely with governments in Africa, farmer organizations and family farmers in a formidable alliance to develop and nurture agriculture’s potential to drive economic growth at all income levels.
African Eye News.com
