This event outlined a report prepared by a panel of 18 experts for the Inter-Academy Council on science and African agriculture, which was presented in June 2004 to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

In brief the report argues that Africa is rich in both natural and human resources, yet nearly 200 million of its people are undernourished because of inadequate food supplies. Comprehensive strategies are needed across the continent to harness the power of science and technology in ways that boost agricultural productivity, profitability, and sustainability; and ultimately ensuring that all Africans have access to enough safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs.

There is no single technological solution for the many problems facing agriculture in Africa. The report, therefore, offers a number of concrete steps that the scientific community, working closely with farmers and representatives from Governments and private industry, can take to avert famine and relieve suffering for millions of Africans in the future.