FG Seeks Stronger Africa–Brazil Partnership to Drive Livestock Revolution, Food Security
By Pan Afric Reporters
The Federal Government has called for a stronger strategic partnership between Africa and Brazil to accelerate livestock development, strengthen agricultural research and innovation, and transform Africa’s agrifood systems in a move aimed at boosting food security, creating jobs and driving sustainable economic growth across the continent.
The call was made by the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, during the High-Level Ministerial Session on Africa–Brazil Partnership for Agrifood Systems Transformation at the 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW9) and the 10th Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) General Assembly held in Abuja.
The position was contained in a press statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and signed by Henrietta Okokon, Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations Department, on July 29, 2026.
Chairing the ministerial session, Maiha described the engagement as a strategic platform for deepening cooperation between Africa and Brazil through science, technology, innovation and knowledge exchange, noting that both regions possess similar ecological conditions, abundant agricultural resources and enormous production potential.
According to the minister, stronger collaboration is essential to tackling food insecurity, reducing poverty and meeting the continent’s growing demand for safe and nutritious food.
He cited Brazil’s remarkable transformation of the Cerrado into one of the world’s leading agricultural production hubs as evidence of what sustained investment in research, innovation and institutional collaboration can achieve.
“Africa possesses the land, human capital and favourable climatic conditions required to replicate similar success through sound policies, strategic investment and innovation,” Maiha said.
Emphasising the importance of changing attitudes towards agriculture, the minister declared: “There is no infertile land; there can only be an infertile mind.”
He explained that agricultural transformation must be driven by continuous investment in scientific knowledge, adoption of innovative technologies and deliberate efforts to empower young people across the agricultural value chain.
Maiha identified livestock development as a major pillar of future Africa–Brazil cooperation, stressing that collaboration in livestock genetics, pasture development, animal breeding, nutrition, disease control and modern production systems would significantly increase productivity while strengthening livestock value chains.
He said such cooperation would facilitate technology transfer, improve institutional capacity, promote climate-smart livestock production and build resilient food systems capable of meeting Africa’s future food and nutrition demands.
The minister added that enhanced collaboration would create employment opportunities and improve the livelihoods of millions of livestock producers across the continent.
Earlier, the session moderator and representative of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Abdul-Razak Ibrahim, described Africa and Brazil as natural partners with deep historical, cultural and scientific ties.
He noted that South-South cooperation offers a practical pathway for accelerating agricultural transformation through research collaboration, technology transfer and innovation.
According to Ibrahim, Brazil’s emergence from a food-importing nation into one of the world’s largest agricultural exporters demonstrates the transformative impact of sustained investment in science, research institutions, human capital development and innovation.
Representatives of the Government of Brazil reaffirmed their country’s commitment to expanding technical cooperation with Nigeria and other African countries through knowledge exchange, capacity building, agricultural research, livestock genetics and institutional support.
The Brazilian delegation clarified that its objective was not to replicate Brazil’s agricultural model in Africa but to work collaboratively with African countries in adapting proven technologies to local environmental and socio-economic realities.
Similarly, representatives of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) highlighted the institution’s achievements in transforming tropical agriculture through sustained scientific research and strong partnerships among government, academia, producers and the private sector.
The organisation pledged to strengthen collaboration with African countries through joint research programmes, scientist exchange initiatives, specialised training and the adaptation of innovative technologies to improve livestock production, pasture management, soil health and climate resilience.
Participants at the session, which attracted policymakers, researchers, scientists and development partners from Nigeria, Brazil and across Africa, agreed that the continent’s agricultural transformation would depend largely on stronger collaboration among governments, universities, research institutions, development partners and the private sector.
They also advocated increased domestic investment in agricultural research, expanded postgraduate education, stronger public-private partnerships, wider researcher exchange programmes and greater support for the Agricultural Research and Innovation Fellowship for Africa (ARIFA).
The stakeholders maintained that sustained investment in research and innovation remains indispensable for improving agricultural productivity, strengthening livestock production, enhancing food security and delivering long-term economic growth across Africa.
The session concluded with a renewed commitment by participants to deepen Africa–Brazil cooperation in science, research, innovation, technology transfer and capacity development as critical drivers of sustainable agricultural transformation and economic development across the continent.
