In line with European development efforts, a professional conference on the challenges facing African agriculture and sustainable solutions was held at the Hungarian University of Agricultural and Life Sciences (MATE). The central theme of the event was effective action against extreme weather conditions—particularly drought and erratic rainfall.

During the event, experts pointed out that Africa accounts for 60 percent of the world’s uncultivated arable land; however, due to outdated technologies and a lack of irrigation systems, the continent still relies heavily on food imports. The aim of the dialogue was to initiate an exchange of knowledge that brings together European innovations and African practical experience.

 At the opening of the conference, Dr. Zoltán Kovács, Vice Rector for Science and International Affairs at MATE, emphasized that the Hungarian University of Agricultural and Life Sciences, as one of the largest agriculture-focused universities in Central and Eastern Europe, considers it its duty to go beyond education “participate as an active university in sharing knowledge across different regions of the world and respond to the world’s major challenges through third-mission activities. Above all, this can only be achieved through collaboration,” he said, pointing out that challenges such as drought cannot be addressed in isolation. “This is why today’s meeting is so important, as it allows us to discuss these major challenges with our African partners and facilitate a knowledge transfer that is mutually beneficial in both directions. Our university possesses extensive expertise on how to respond to the challenges of climate change, adapting resilient species, and adjusting irrigation technologies; at the same time, we will also hear about the current situation in Africa and how we could adapt this to Hungarian agriculture in the future,” he said.

 Among others, the event was attended by Yohana Yared Iteyo, an agricultural and viticulture consultant and trainer from Tanzania, who is spending a month at the relevant departments of MATE as part of a development cooperation initiative. In his presentation, he provided a detailed overview of agriculture in Tanzania and the consequences of drought, which places a heavy burden on the country’s agricultural sector. As he explained, in addition to water shortages, they must constantly battle increased pest infestations and various plant diseases. At the end of this difficult crop production process, they can only harvest a lower-quality crop at a higher cost. He also spoke about desertification and the unpredictability of rainfall. “In Tanzania, we have been struggling with drought and the difficulties caused by climate change for more than 10 years. The problem persists and is, in fact, becoming increasingly severe,” he said. He added that in combating drought, we must first adopt solutions “that require little water, preserve soil health, and select staple crops that are well-adapted to climate change—especially water scarcity.” He also noted that, in addition, other practices and technologies must be developed to help overcome these challenges, with particular regard to the artificial intelligence already at our disposal.

György Hölvényi, Member of the European Parliament and a member of the Committees on Education and African Development, served as a co-organizer of the professional forum. He provided information about the mutually beneficial cooperation initiative with MATE, through which the partners aim to ensure the effective and sustainable use of European development funds. In his view, this is a tremendous opportunity for Africans to gain vital knowledge by learning from Hungary’s experience in water management, water harvesting, and optimal utilization. “At the same time, it is also very important that Hungary and Hungarian researchers understand the actual situation in Africa. I would be very pleased if an increasing number of Hungarian researchers were to travel to Africa and gain experience there firsthand,” he said. Regarding the Hungarian University of Agricultural and Life Sciences’ commitment, he emphasized that Hungary has taken on a huge task - especially given its size - and has also assumed responsibility for training students who generally come from Africa and other developing countries. “In this sense, MATE offers tremendous opportunities for young African students, doctoral candidates, and future doctoral candidates - including the chance to enter the international academic community,” he emphasized.

 Other speakers at the conference included Dr. István Réthy, mentor of the MATE Future Leaders Program, Dr. József Zsembeli, director of the MATE’s National Research Centre for Climate and Regional Land Management, and Dr. András Halász, a member of the MATE Tropical and Subtropical Development Council, as well as Enoch Brew Amofa, a Ghanaian business executive and economist. Among the invited guests were diplomats, representatives of the FAO and other specialized institutions, and civil society organizations active in the region, who discussed their positions on the issue.

 The professional discussion highlighted that the use of modern agricultural technologies not only supports food security but can also significantly improve employment in the region. A key insight from our collaborations with African partners is that “smart agriculture” does not necessarily mean the widespread adoption of digitalization and AI, but rather the sensible and sustainable application of the most effective combination of technologies, emphasized Dávid Békési, co-organizer of the event. As an integrated knowledge center, MATE offered its extensive research findings on combating drought in the areas of seed breeding, soil conditioning, and crop production, thereby laying the groundwork for future international collaborations.