The Africa Food Prize Committee, chaired by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, has announced the opening of nominations for the $100,000 Africa Food Prize 2022.

The Africa Food Prize is the foremost award recognising an outstanding individual or institution leading the effort to change the reality of farming in Africa—from a struggle to survive to a business that thrives.

The funding partners of the prize Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and agricultural technology company UPL in a statement, called for nominations from organisations, institutions, and businesses who have created opportunities for Africa’s farmers to gain viable livelihoods from their trade. Nominations will close on Monday, May 16th 2022.

The prestigious $100,000 Prize puts a spotlight on bold initiatives and technical innovations that can be replicated across the continent to create a new era of food security and economic opportunity for all Africans. The winner gets the cash award to implement a project to enhance African agriculture.

Winners will be selected by the Africa Food Prize committee led by Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria, and announced at the AGRF (Africa Green Revolution Forum) Summit 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda, in September.

“The Africa Food Prize celebrates Africans who are taking control of Africa’s agriculture agenda to create wealth and jobs for the continent, its economy and people,” Mr Obasanjo said.

In 2019, Ugandan scientist Dr Emma Naluyima and Senegalese agricultural entrepreneur Baba Dioum picked up the prize at an event held at the Accra International Conference Center with President Akufo-Addo as guest speaker.

In 2021, hundreds of robust nominations were received, and after rigorous evaluation, the prize was awarded to The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) for work that has improved food security across 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.