The 2025 General Assembly of the China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance (CAASTIA) commenced on October 27, 2025, in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. This assembly is centered around fostering collaboration to improve food security and advance agricultural modernization in Africa.
Lise Korsten, the president of the African Academy of Sciences, remarked on China”s significant advancements in agricultural modernization. She highlighted that China has achieved remarkable agricultural productivity through intensive cultivation practices, the development of value chains, and innovations in digital agriculture. With less than 9 percent of the world”s arable land, China successfully feeds nearly 20 percent of the global population, showcasing its expertise in high-yield, technology-driven agriculture.
In contrast, Africa grapples with food insecurity despite possessing 60 percent of the world”s uncultivated arable land. Korsten pointed out this stark contrast, emphasizing the necessity for a synergistic partnership that merges Africa”s vast potential with China”s proven agricultural innovations to strengthen the global food system.
Jiang Feng, head of the Chinese Mission to the African Union (AU), expressed China”s commitment to sharing its agricultural development experiences and strategies for rural poverty reduction with African nations. He stressed that the ongoing agricultural technological revolution, propelled by advancements in biotechnology, digital technology, and intelligent equipment, presents new opportunities for both regions to enhance agricultural productivity and tackle global challenges together.
Jiang further noted that the nature of China-Africa agricultural cooperation is shifting from traditional aid-based models to sustainable partnerships focused on capacity building. He mentioned that this year, the Chinese government introduced a zero-tariff policy applicable to all tariff items for 53 African countries that maintain diplomatic relations with China, significantly improving the prospects for African agricultural exports to the Chinese market.
Gaspard Banyankimbona, the AU commissioner for education, science, technology, and innovation, highlighted potential collaborative efforts between China and Africa. He suggested joint initiatives to develop climate-resilient crops, sustainable soil and water management systems, early warning tools for pests and extreme weather, and digital platforms to empower smallholder farmers across the continent.
Banyankimbona emphasized that the China-Africa alliance is an ideal framework for mobilizing collective efforts to promote research in areas such as climate-smart agriculture, plant and animal health, agro-ecology, food safety, technology transfer, localization, and capacity development through scholarships and innovation ecosystems.
This three-day assembly, co-organized by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the African Academy of Sciences, and the Mission of China to the AU, has gathered over 200 scientists, policymakers, and representatives from agricultural institutions across both regions.
