The Russia-Africa Summit 2023 will discuss partnerships for food sovereignty, strategies to realise the potential, and how Russia can help Africa develop its agricultural infrastructure.

Oleg Ozerov, Ambassador at Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, said in a statement released Tuesday in St. Petersburg that the federation would discuss ways to establish its production in the continent.

Mr Ozerov said that though the issue was related to food security, it would be discussed within the political summit’s framework and the Economic and Humanitarian Forum.

“Russia is a supplier of products that ensure food security: grains, fertilisers, and their components.

“This issue is becoming more and more acute. According to the latest UN report, the number of hungry people in Africa is growing.

“But, during the summit, we will also discuss establishing our own production on the continent, and African countries would like to receive agricultural technology and equipment from Russia,” he said.

He said Africa was one of the most vulnerable regions in the world in terms of food security, despite agriculture employing more than 60 per cent of its labour force and contributing about a third of the continent’s GDP.

“Experts estimate that 60 per cent of Africa’s fertile land is underutilised.

“The only way to solve this problem is to achieve food sovereignty. This is a realistic possibility due to the continent’s immense agricultural potential,” he said.

The Integrated Security and Sovereign Development block of the business programme of the Second Russia-Africa Summit and Economic and Humanitarian Forum will hold the panel session on food sovereignty.

The session, which will start on July 27 at 9:00 a.m., is titled “Russia and Africa: Partnership for Food Sovereignty.”

The second Russia-Africa Summit and Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, which will be held from July 27 to 28, is being organised by the Roscongress Foundation.

(NAN)