Nigerian Agricultural Stakeholders Urge Better Food Safety, Processing and Technology to Tackle Hunger

By Simpson Global Media News Desk

Date: Friday, 30 October 2026
Time: The conference was reported on Thursday, 29 October; its exact start and closing times were not stated in the available report.
Location: Lagos, Nigeria. The report did not specify the conference venue.
Event: World Food Day 2026 stakeholder conference.
Theme: “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future.”
Event date: The report describes the conference as taking place on a Friday but does not give a confirmed calendar date.
Reporting date: 30 October 2026.

Stakeholders Seek Practical Solutions to Food-System Challenges

Agricultural experts, food regulators, researchers and technology professionals have called for stronger food-safety measures, improved food processing and practical technology to help Nigeria tackle hunger and strengthen its food systems.

The recommendations emerged from a conference organised by the Hope for Life Initiative (HFLI), in partnership with the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), in Lagos.

The event was held to commemorate the 2026 World Food Day under the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future.”

Participants argued that increasing agricultural production alone would not be enough to address hunger if food continued to be lost after harvesting, processing capacity remained inadequate and nutritious products remained unaffordable to many households.

The discussions brought together representatives of food regulation, agricultural technology, research and export promotion. They emphasised the need to connect farmers with practical innovations, strengthen standards across the food chain and improve the ability of local producers to preserve and process their harvests.

The conference also highlighted the contributions of women farmers and the importance of collaboration among government agencies, research institutions, private organisations and farming communities.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported the discussions on Thursday, 29 October 2026. <Cite refs={["turn728099search0","turn606861view0"]}/>

Hunger Is Not Only a Production Problem

A central message from the conference was that food security involves more than producing enough crops.

A country may harvest large quantities of food but still experience hunger if produce is damaged before reaching markets, processing facilities are inadequate, distribution is inefficient or households cannot afford nutritious meals.

The challenges can occur at different stages of the agricultural value chain.

At farm level, farmers may lose produce because of poor harvesting methods, inadequate storage, pests, disease or unpredictable weather. After harvesting, insufficient transport and processing facilities can cause further losses.

Food that reaches markets may also become expensive when transport costs, storage expenses, handling charges and other business costs accumulate.

For consumers, the final issue is whether available food is affordable, safe and nutritious.

The conference therefore focused on improving the entire system, from production and handling to preservation, processing, regulation, distribution and consumption.

This approach recognises that farmers, food processors, regulators, researchers and retailers have connected responsibilities. Weaknesses in one part of the chain can affect the performance of the entire system.

Hope for Life Initiative Calls for Collective Action

The Executive Director of Hope for Life Initiative, Kendi Aig-Imoru, said the organisation's focus was on achieving zero hunger and ensuring that families could feed themselves.

He stressed the importance of community-based action and partnerships that could produce lasting benefits.

Aig-Imoru also encouraged households to consider growing food in available spaces, including small gardens, as one way of contributing to food availability.

The suggestion does not replace the need for large-scale agricultural production or public food-security policies. However, household and community gardens can provide supplementary food and encourage people to participate directly in local food production.

He also called for greater recognition of women farmers, describing their contributions as important to food production and household nutrition.

Women participate across many parts of Nigeria's agricultural system, including crop production, processing, trading and food preparation. Their access to land, finance, equipment, training and markets can influence both farm productivity and household welfare.

Aig-Imoru argued that cooperation among farmers, government agencies, research institutions and private organisations was necessary to make progress towards zero hunger.

The message reflects a broader challenge: food security cannot be achieved through isolated projects when the problems affecting farmers and consumers are interconnected. <Cite refs={["turn728099search0"]}/>

NAFDAC Highlights Digital Tools and Food-Safety Standards

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, was represented at the conference by regulatory officer Jangnan Amos.

Adeyeye urged farmers and food processors to follow appropriate standards and best practices to improve food safety.

She also highlighted digital systems introduced by the agency to simplify regulatory processes, improve services and support compliance among businesses.

One of the platforms identified was the NAFDAC Automated Product Administration and Monitoring System (NAPAMS), which provides an online process for product registration.

She also referred to the agency's digital regulatory information-management services and the Post-inspection Data Capture and Risk Management System (PCAMS), which supports regulatory processes involving imported products.

The systems are intended to improve the efficiency of regulatory administration and strengthen oversight.

Digital registration can make it easier for businesses to submit information and follow administrative processes. However, the effectiveness of such platforms also depends on accessibility, technical reliability, user awareness and the ability of regulators to respond to applications.

For food producers and processors, compliance involves more than registering a product. Businesses must also follow appropriate production, handling, packaging, storage and labelling requirements.

Food safety is important because contamination can occur at several stages between production and consumption. Poor hygiene, unsafe water, inappropriate storage temperatures, contaminated equipment and improper handling can expose consumers to foodborne illness.

The conference's emphasis on standards reflects the need to protect consumers while creating confidence in products made and sold in Nigeria.

Adeyeye's message was that producers, regulators and consumers all have responsibilities in building a safer food system. <Cite refs={["turn728099search0"]}/>

Technology Must Solve Real Problems for Farmers

Technology was another major focus of the discussions.

Yen Choi, President of Netcom Africa and a board member of Ignitia, said agricultural technology should address practical problems facing farmers rather than concentrate only on devices and digital applications.

He identified reliable weather information as particularly important for agricultural planning.

Farmers need to understand likely weather conditions when deciding when to plant, organise labour, plan transport and arrange storage. Uncertain rainfall can affect crop establishment, growth, harvesting schedules and the quality of produce.

Accurate forecasts can help farmers prepare for changing conditions, although forecasts cannot eliminate the risks associated with extreme weather.

Choi said Ignitia provided weather-forecasting information to farmers in Nigeria to help them prepare for changing weather conditions.

His comments highlighted the importance of making agricultural technology useful and accessible to the people expected to benefit from it.

A digital platform has limited value if farmers cannot afford to use it, understand its information or translate the advice into practical decisions.

For technology providers, this means working with farmers to understand their needs before developing solutions. It also means considering language, connectivity, the cost of devices and the reliability of information.

The conference's discussion suggests that agricultural innovation should be judged by its practical contribution to productivity, risk management and farmers' incomes rather than by the sophistication of the technology alone. <Cite refs={["turn728099search0"]}/>

Weather Forecasts Can Influence Planting and Harvest Decisions

Weather information is particularly relevant to farmers whose production depends heavily on rainfall.

The timing of planting can influence whether crops receive sufficient moisture during important stages of development. If rainfall starts late, stops unexpectedly or becomes unusually intense, farmers may face reduced yields or higher production costs.

Weather forecasts can help farmers make more informed decisions about planting windows and the timing of agricultural activities.

They can also support decisions about when to harvest and how to move produce to storage or markets.

For example, a farmer expecting heavy rainfall may need to consider whether harvested crops can be transported safely or whether temporary storage arrangements should be made.

Livestock farmers may also use weather information to plan water access, animal movement and feed management.

However, forecasts must be communicated in ways that farmers can understand and act upon. A technical prediction is not useful if it arrives too late, covers an area too broadly or is not presented in a practical format.

Agricultural technology providers therefore need to work with local institutions, extension workers and farmer organisations to make information relevant to specific farming communities.

The discussion at the Lagos conference reinforced the importance of linking technology to the decisions farmers make every day.

NEPC Calls for Better Standards to Expand Agricultural Exports

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) also highlighted the importance of meeting quality requirements to improve the export potential of Nigerian agricultural products.

Its South-West Regional Coordinator, Benedict Itegbe, was represented by lawyer Temitope Hassan.

Itegbe urged farmers and agro-processors to comply with relevant standards so that Nigerian products could compete more effectively in international markets.

Export opportunities depend on more than the availability of agricultural produce. Buyers may require evidence of quality, traceability, safe handling, appropriate packaging and compliance with the rules of the destination market.

Producers who cannot meet those requirements may struggle to secure contracts or maintain access to overseas buyers.

For Nigerian agribusinesses, improving standards can therefore support both consumer protection and commercial opportunities.

The requirements differ according to the product and destination. Exporters need to understand the applicable rules before production and shipment rather than wait until goods are ready for sale.

Support from regulators, research institutions and export-promotion agencies can help businesses understand documentation, quality-control procedures and market requirements.

The NEPC representative reaffirmed the council's commitment to supporting exporters and promoting innovation as part of efforts to strengthen food security and diversify the economy.

Improved export capacity could create opportunities for farmers and processors, but it must be balanced with the need to ensure adequate domestic food availability and affordability. <Cite refs={["turn728099search0"]}/>

FIIRO Warns About Post-Harvest Losses and Processing Gaps

Adeola Akanbi, a research officer at the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, identified post-harvest losses, inadequate processing capacity and the rising cost of nutritious food as major challenges affecting Nigeria's food systems.

These issues are closely connected.

When farmers cannot preserve harvested crops properly, produce may deteriorate before it reaches consumers. If processing facilities are insufficient, agricultural products may have to be sold quickly, sometimes under unfavourable market conditions.

Processing can help extend the useful life of agricultural produce and create products that are easier to store, transport and distribute.

Depending on the crop, this may involve drying, milling, packaging, preservation, fermentation or other appropriate methods.

Akanbi said FIIRO was promoting food processing, preservation, product development and technology transfer to turn locally available raw materials into useful products.

The institute's work is intended to help connect research with practical industrial applications.

The challenge is ensuring that technologies developed by researchers can be adopted by businesses and farmers at a realistic cost.

Small-scale processors may need access to affordable equipment, training, reliable electricity, quality inputs and suitable premises. Without these conditions, promising technologies may remain limited to demonstrations or research settings.

Akanbi said stronger collaboration among research institutions, government agencies, businesses, development organisations and communities was necessary to improve food security and nutrition.

He emphasised that research should translate into practical solutions capable of improving people's lives. <Cite refs={["turn728099search0"]}/>

Why Post-Harvest Losses Matter

Post-harvest losses reduce the amount of food that remains available for consumption or sale after harvesting.

Losses can occur during harvesting, handling, drying, storage, transportation, processing and marketing.

Crops may be damaged by moisture, pests, mould, poor packaging or delays in moving them to suitable storage facilities.

Perishable products such as tomatoes, vegetables, fruits and fish can deteriorate rapidly when temperature control and transport systems are inadequate.

For farmers, the consequences include lost income and reduced returns on the money spent on seeds, fertiliser, labour and other inputs.

For consumers, losses can reduce market supply and contribute to price pressure, particularly when they occur during periods of limited availability.

For the wider economy, food that is produced but never reaches consumers represents a loss of resources, labour and investment.

Reducing these losses can improve food availability without requiring every increase in supply to come from expanding cultivated land.

It can also help farmers earn more from the harvest they already produce, provided that savings and improvements are passed through the value chain.

The Lagos conference therefore placed processing and preservation alongside production as important parts of food-security policy.

Processing Can Increase the Value of Local Produce

Food processing can create additional economic value by converting raw agricultural materials into products with longer shelf lives or wider market applications.

Cassava, for example, can be processed into several food and industrial products. Grains can be milled into flour, while fruits and vegetables can be dried, packaged or processed into other products.

The choice of technology depends on the crop, market demand, available infrastructure and the capacity of the business.

Processing can also create employment outside primary farming, including in equipment maintenance, packaging, logistics, quality control and distribution.

However, investment in processing must be commercially sustainable. Businesses need reliable access to raw materials, suitable equipment, energy, finance and markets.

Food-safety controls are essential throughout the process. Poorly managed processing can introduce contamination or reduce product quality rather than improve it.

The conference's call for stronger collaboration between FIIRO, farmers, regulators and private businesses reflects the need to connect research with commercial realities.

Women Farmers and Household Nutrition

The conference also highlighted the contribution of women farmers to food production and household nutrition.

Women work across agricultural value chains, from cultivation and harvesting to processing, marketing and food preparation.

Their access to productive resources can influence the amount of food produced and the income available to households.

When women farmers have access to appropriate equipment, quality inputs, training, finance and markets, they may be better positioned to increase productivity and improve the returns from their work.

However, the needs of women farmers vary by location, crop and household circumstances. Programmes must be designed around actual constraints rather than assume that all women have the same responsibilities or access to resources.

Recognising their contributions also requires attention to the conditions under which agricultural work is performed, including access to land, safe working environments and opportunities to participate in decisions affecting farming communities.

The conference's focus on women farmers placed these issues within the wider discussion about food security and community resilience.

Food Affordability Remains a Central Challenge

The conference participants also identified the rising cost of nutritious food as a concern.

Food availability does not automatically mean that households can afford it.

A family may live near a market with a range of products but still be unable to purchase sufficient quantities because of income limitations and competing household expenses.

The affordability challenge can affect dietary quality when families reduce purchases of more nutritious foods or rely heavily on cheaper alternatives.

This makes food security closely connected to household incomes, employment, transport costs and the wider cost of living.

Improving production and reducing post-harvest losses can support supply, but affordability also depends on the ability of households to earn enough to meet their food needs.

The conference's emphasis on processing, local innovation and partnerships reflects an effort to address different parts of the problem rather than focus on production alone.

Collaboration Across the Food Value Chain

The participants repeatedly stressed the need for cooperation among public institutions, private businesses, researchers and farmers.

Agricultural problems often cross institutional boundaries.

A farmer may need better weather information, access to credit, suitable storage and a reliable market. Each requirement may involve a different organisation or level of government.

A research institution may develop a preservation technology, but farmers and processors must be able to access it. Regulators may establish standards, but businesses need clear guidance and practical ways to comply.

Export agencies may identify international markets, but producers must meet the requirements of buyers and destination countries.

This makes coordination important.

Partnerships can help align research priorities with farmers' needs, improve access to technical knowledge and support the development of products that have commercial potential.

However, collaboration needs clear responsibilities, reliable funding and measurable outcomes. Meetings and policy statements must be followed by practical support and implementation.

The Lagos conference provided a platform for discussing these connections, but the impact will depend on what participating organisations do after the event.

What Happens Next?

The stakeholders' recommendations point to several areas requiring continued attention: stronger food-safety practices, improved processing and preservation, practical agricultural technology, reliable weather information and better support for farmers and agro-processors.

NAFDAC's digital regulatory systems are intended to improve registration and regulatory administration. FIIRO's research and technology-transfer work is focused on processing and preservation, while NEPC's export-promotion role includes encouraging compliance with relevant standards.

Technology providers and agricultural organisations will also need to ensure that farmers receive useful information in forms they can apply to their operations.

For households, the wider objective is to improve access to safe, affordable and nutritious food.

For farmers, reducing losses and improving market access could help increase the value of their harvests. For processors, better technology and standards could create opportunities to develop products and reach new markets.

The conference did not announce a single nationwide programme or a new funding commitment. Its main outcome was a call for stronger cooperation and practical solutions across the food system.

The challenge now is to turn those recommendations into measurable improvements in food safety, processing capacity, agricultural productivity and household access to nutritious food.

Nigeria's food-security efforts will depend not only on how much the country produces, but also on how effectively food is preserved, processed, regulated and delivered to the people who need it.