21 Proposed Research, Science, Technology and Innovation …
491
Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa (AIDA) was adopted (UNEP 2016),
which builds on the momentum created to industrialize as well as focus on the
need for African researchers to perform cutting-edge research to produce strategies
for solving challenges of climate change and water resource management. These
research themes will contribute to enabling African communities to mitigate their
existing problems, improve their position to leverage opportunities, and adapt to and
increase resilience against the threat of climate change. This would be expected to
position Africa to be an active player in global markets.
In order to be competitive in the long term in the global economy, African communities facing adverse effects of climate change must urgently embrace policies and
development programs that promote effective and sustainable management of water
and land resources. Vulnerability to the adverse impacts of climate change may be
mitigated through meticulous management of water demands, eradicating waterborne
diseases and controlling water stresses caused by droughts and floods. Experiments
on cost-effective coordinated management of freshwater and saltwater, treatment and
reuse of polluted water for irrigation, and artificial recharge of aquifers at catchment
scales are essential. This can include cost-effective urban wastewater and sludge
treatment systems for nutrient and water recycling for agricultural use and urban
water supply. Strategies to build national food security can examine the commercialization of indigenous African small-scale farming and enhance reforestation, pasture
revitalization and diversified animal production and breeding techniques. Further efficiencies can be pursued through cost-effective mechanization of smallholder farms
with low-cost technology for supplementary irrigated agriculture, tillage, environmentally friendly crop protection, and improvements to harvesting and post-harvest
processes.
Forging sustainable and effective technology for rural African areas by adopting
renewable energy technologies for these communities may save forests and economically empower people living in rural environments. African researchers and development partners should be at the forefront of producing and implementing effective
socioeconomic models that diversify agricultural and industrial production systems,
strengthen capacities of urban and rural African communities, eliminate unnecessary
institutional constraints, and control economic and socio-political conflict. African
communities should be producers of new, innovative products that compete and/or
complement existing products in international markets. New products require new
production systems that must be developed, tested, and commercialized, and hence
the input of international research collaborators and institutions is indispensable.
491
Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa (AIDA) was adopted (UNEP 2016),
which builds on the momentum created to industrialize as well as focus on the
need for African researchers to perform cutting-edge research to produce strategies
for solving challenges of climate change and water resource management. These
research themes will contribute to enabling African communities to mitigate their
existing problems, improve their position to leverage opportunities, and adapt to and
increase resilience against the threat of climate change. This would be expected to
position Africa to be an active player in global markets.
In order to be competitive in the long term in the global economy, African communities facing adverse effects of climate change must urgently embrace policies and
development programs that promote effective and sustainable management of water
and land resources. Vulnerability to the adverse impacts of climate change may be
mitigated through meticulous management of water demands, eradicating waterborne
diseases and controlling water stresses caused by droughts and floods. Experiments
on cost-effective coordinated management of freshwater and saltwater, treatment and
reuse of polluted water for irrigation, and artificial recharge of aquifers at catchment
scales are essential. This can include cost-effective urban wastewater and sludge
treatment systems for nutrient and water recycling for agricultural use and urban
water supply. Strategies to build national food security can examine the commercialization of indigenous African small-scale farming and enhance reforestation, pasture
revitalization and diversified animal production and breeding techniques. Further efficiencies can be pursued through cost-effective mechanization of smallholder farms
with low-cost technology for supplementary irrigated agriculture, tillage, environmentally friendly crop protection, and improvements to harvesting and post-harvest
processes.
Forging sustainable and effective technology for rural African areas by adopting
renewable energy technologies for these communities may save forests and economically empower people living in rural environments. African researchers and development partners should be at the forefront of producing and implementing effective
socioeconomic models that diversify agricultural and industrial production systems,
strengthen capacities of urban and rural African communities, eliminate unnecessary
institutional constraints, and control economic and socio-political conflict. African
communities should be producers of new, innovative products that compete and/or
complement existing products in international markets. New products require new
production systems that must be developed, tested, and commercialized, and hence
the input of international research collaborators and institutions is indispensable.