TICAD8 Official Side Event by Ocean Policy Research Institute
Honorable Mr. Elyes Hamza, Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries of the Republic of Tunisia, Professor Hechmi Missaoui, Director General of National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies, distinguished participants.
We, The Nippon Foundation have continued to walk side by side with the people of Africa for more than forty years through our activities such as elimination of leprosy, human resource development including nurturing ocean professionals and increased food production. In particular, our agricultural assistance for increased food production focusing on smallholder farmers began in the wake of the nineteen eighty four famine in Ethiopia. Three men immediately responded: former US President Mr. Jimmy Carter, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and leader of Green Revolution, Dr. Norman Borlaug and my late father, Ryoichi Sasakawa. Our assistance has continued without interruption to this day.
As it was with the great famine forty years ago, today the entire world, including Africa, is facing serious challenges in global food security. The aggression against Ukraine has dramatically worsened the outlook for global food supply, with disruptions to the supply chain leading to a steep rise in food prices and shortages. In addition to this unstable situation, we must contend with the effects of climate change, while here in Africa, the population is estimated to double to 2.5 billion by 2050. Ensuring food security is a matter of urgency. Will not Africa be able to apply its past experiences to play a major role in solving the food crisis that confronts humankind?
It is not only in the agricultural sector that Africa can contribute. Seeing that African nations have recently started to take leadership in the discussions on the blue economy, this would be another likely potential area. For example, Africa has taken a huge step towards the implementation of the blue economy through its united action at both the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in two thousand eighteen and the second UN Ocean Conference, this June. I would ask the African nations to continue to make efforts to adopt the blue economy, and contribute to solving the food crisis facing the world today. For that, The Nippon Foundation will continue to provide support in ocean research and human resource development in collaboration with The Sasakawa Peace Foundation Ocean Policy Research Institute, and the World Maritime University. Let us continue to work for the prosperity of Africa and the entire world with the spirit of “Never Give Up.” Thank you.
*This video message is available at The Nippon Foundation YouTube.