Kenya has voiced strong support for a Brazil-led initiative aimed at strengthening global food security and tackling poverty, emphasizing the need for deeper collaboration among developing countries in the face of rising hunger and climate challenges.
Speaking on behalf of President William Ruto at the 2nd Brazil–Africa Dialogue on Food Security, Hunger and Rural Development, National Assembly Speaker Moses Masika Wetang’ula lauded Brazil’s global leadership in food security and called for shared solutions to build resilient food systems.
“We are here because the challenges facing food systems today from climate change and biodiversity loss to economic shocks and conflict are unprecedented and demand urgent, inclusive, and evidence-based solutions,” said Wetang’ula.
The 2025 Global Report on Food Crises revealed that over 295 million people across 53 countries experienced crisis-level hunger or worse in 2024, with climate-related disasters and economic instability cited as primary drivers. In response, the Brazil–Africa Dialogue promotes cooperation and knowledge-sharing among nations in the Global South to shape sustainable agricultural futures.
Wetang’ula underscored Kenya’s shift from emergency food relief to long-term resilience-building, highlighting reforms that reposition agriculture as a driver of inclusive development. Key initiatives include the adoption of digital platforms to provide real-time data to farmers, expansion of agricultural financing, and increased investment in youth- and women-led agribusinesses.
Notable innovations in Kenya’s food system include e-voucher programs for farm inputs, urban hydroponic farming, and school feeding initiatives linked to smallholder farmers all geared toward eliminating hunger and fostering sustainability.
Kenya’s involvement in the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, launched in Rio de Janeiro, was also reaffirmed, alongside calls for enhanced South-South trade partnerships through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Recognizing Brazil as a strategic trade ally, Wetang’ula urged deeper bilateral cooperation. He noted growing trade volumes between the two nations, with Kenya exporting fish, coffee, and tea, and Brazil supporting agricultural revitalization efforts, particularly through the Cotton Victoria Project in East Africa.
Kenya also expressed interest in learning from Brazil’s successes in livestock and sugar industries, with delegations visiting model farms to engage with innovative Brazilian farmers.
