Critiquing The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA): A Neocolonial Project?

This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" presents a scathing critique of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), an organization founded in 2006 by the Rockefeller and Gates Foundations. Hosts Elliott and Andy challenge AGRA's stated goals of empowering African farmers and reducing food insecurity, arguing that it instead perpetuates a neocolonial model that benefits Western interests at the expense of African livelihoods. AGRA's Funding and Questionable Accountability: The hosts emphasize that AGRA's primary funding sources, the Gates Foundation and the U.S. government, raise concerns about its agenda. They point out that AGRA received approximately one billion dollars in funding, with the Gates Foundation alone contributing two-thirds of that amount. The hosts question the accountability of such an organization, especially given its complex structure and the involvement of major players in the "non-profit industrial complex". They draw parallels to past philanthropic endeavors by Bill Gates, suggesting a pattern of prioritizing Western solutions over local knowledge and needs. Challenging AGRA's Claims of Success: The hosts cite the work of researcher Tim Wise, who analyzed AGRA's documentation and found little evidence to support its claims of success. Wise concluded that despite AGRA's 15-year investment in promoting commercial seeds and fertilizers, there was "little evidence that...[it] has improved farmers yields income or food security". Wise's analysis revealed that yields in AGRA's focus countries had risen only 18% over 15 years, falling far short of the promised 100% increase. Additionally, AGRA's emphasis on monoculture crops like GM corn has led to a decline in crop diversity, threatening food security and resilience. AGRA's Model: Benefiting Western Corporations, Not African Farmers: The hosts argue that AGRA's model, focused on commercial seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, only benefits Western corporations while increasing African farmers' dependence on expensive inputs and long supply chains. This dependence undermines farmers' resilience and increases their risk of debt, particularly in the face of climate change. The African Union and the Influence of External Funding: The discussion expands to critique the African Union (AU), highlighting the influence of external donors on the organization's priorities. The hosts note that while African member states agreed to prioritize the AU's stability, they only contribute about 27% of the spent budget, leaving donors to fill the gap. This reliance on external funding, primarily from former colonizers and the European Union, has led to concerns about skewed accountability and a prioritization of donor interests over those of African member states. Safeguarding Food Sovereignty and Embracing Agroecology: The episode concludes with a call for a paradigm shift in agricultural development in Africa. The hosts highlight a public letter from the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), a confederation of 35 organizations, urging donors to cease funding for AGRA and instead support "African-led efforts to expand agro-ecology and other low-input farming systems". The letter criticizes AGRA's approach as harmful to farmers, the environment, and long-term sustainability. Conflict of Interest and Unanswered Concerns: The hosts raise concerns about the conflict of interest posed by AGRA's president leading the UN Food System Summit. They also point out that despite extensive criticism from faith leaders and civil society organizations, the Gates Foundation has failed to acknowledge or address concerns about its approach to agricultural development in Africa. Concluding Thoughts: The episode leaves listeners with a strong critique of AGRA and a call for a more just and sustainable approach to agriculture in Africa. The hosts argue that true food sovereignty requires prioritizing local knowledge, agroecological practices, and empowering African farmers to control their own food systems. For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For PPA Restoration Content, visit: www.restorationagroecology.com For PPA Merch, visit: www.poorproles.com For PPA Native Plants, visit: www.nativenurseries.org To hear Tomorrow, Today, our sister podcast, visit: www.tomorrowtodaypodcast.org/