Pan-African Declaration Charts Bold New Path for Africa’s Digital Future in Food and Agriculture
The declaration raises serious concerns about the convergence of biology and digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, robotics, sensors, data platforms, lab-grown proteins, and geoengineering, which participants argue are deepening social inequalities, exacerbating ecological harm, and threatening traditional knowledge systems
ADDIS ABABA, October 6, 2025 — In a historic gathering held from October 2–4, 2025, more than 130 delegates from 33 African countries convened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to address the growing influence of biodigital technologies on the continent’s food and agricultural systems. The First Pan-African Convening on the Future of Biodigital Technologies in Food and Agriculture culminated in a powerful declaration that challenges the corporate-driven digitalisation of African agriculture and calls for a people-centred, agroecological future.
The event, co-organised by the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa [AFSA], the African Technology Assessment Platform [AfriTAP], and ETC Group, brought together farmers, fisherfolk, pastoralists, women, youth, faith-based communities, scientists, Indigenous peoples, policymakers, and civil society organisations in a united front to confront what they described as a new wave of “digital colonialism.”
Biodigital technologies: A double-edged sword
The declaration raises serious concerns about the convergence of biology and digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, robotics, sensors, data platforms, lab-grown proteins, and geoengineering, which participants argue are deepening social inequalities, exacerbating ecological harm, and threatening traditional knowledge systems.
“These technologies are not neutral,” the declaration asserts. “They reproduce systems of power and facilitate the extraction of Africa’s genetic resources, minerals, data, and knowledge.”
Participants pointed to AI-driven agriculture platforms, biometric subsidy schemes, and the patenting of indigenous seeds as examples of “biopiracy 2.0” – a continuation of centuries-old patterns of exploitation dressed in the language of innovation and efficiency.
A Vision rooted in sovereignty, justice, and agroecology
Despite the stark warnings, the convening was not solely a space of critique. Delegates affirmed their commitment to an alternative vision rooted in agroecology, community knowledge, food sovereignty, and grassroots innovation. Many highlighted existing efforts across the continent: from community seed banks and farmer-led research to territorial markets and farmer-to-farmer knowledge exchanges.
“Africa must not be a testing ground for high-tech experiments that do not serve our people,” said one participant from Uganda. “We need technologies that are co-created with our communities, respect our sovereignty, and are anchored in human rights.”
Core demands and a Pan-African call to action
The declaration outlines a wide-ranging set of demands directed at governments, regional institutions, civil society, corporations, and international bodies.
Key calls to African governments include:
- Developing policies to support agroecological food systems;
- Protecting farmers’ data and seed sovereignty;
- Ensuring democratic participation of women, youth, and marginalised groups in tech-related decision-making.
To the African Union and regional bodies, the declaration urges the development of digital governance frameworks rooted in human rights instruments such as the African Charter and the UN Declarations on the Rights of Peasants and Indigenous Peoples.
Civil society groups are called on to raise awareness about data extraction, build community-led tech assessment tools, and promote alternative data governance rooted in local traditions and collective rights.
Importantly, the declaration throws strong support behind the July 2025 decision by African environment ministers at AMCEN20 to reject solar geoengineering, calling for an international ban on its deployment, experimentation, and patenting.
Digital sovereignty as a continental imperative
At the heart of the declaration is a demand for digital sovereignty – the right of African people and nations to control their data, technologies, and innovations. Participants warned that without urgent action, Africa risks becoming a “digital plantation” for powerful tech companies and foreign governments.
“Pan-African solidarity and South–South cooperation are essential,” the declaration concludes. “We must resist corporate capture and build a future grounded in justice, dignity, and sovereignty.”
As Africa faces the crossroads of technological transformation, the Addis Ababa declaration offers a bold and unflinching roadmap for ensuring that digital innovation serves people – not profits.
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