Agro Business: Interview with Gabriel S. Manyangadze on the Gates Foundation and Africa’s Food Systems

Gabriel S. Manyangadze, SAFCEI Food and Climate Justice Manager, had an interview with Agro Business, about the Gates Foundation’s agricultural programmes in Africa, arguing they harm biodiversity, soil fertility, and farmers’ independence.

Through AGRA, the Foundation promotes commercial seeds linked to fertilisers and pesticides. In countries like Malawi, Ghana, and Kenya, new laws make it illegal for farmers to exchange or replant traditional seeds. This forces poor rural communities to buy expensive commercial seeds, undermining food security.

The use of chemical fertilisers has also degraded soil health, making it harder to grow crops and increasing hunger. At the same time, pressure is growing to adopt genetically modified (GMO) seeds, which Manyangadze says make Africans dependent on foreign seed companies and reduce food sovereignty.

African faith leaders and civil society are resisting what they call “philanthrocapitalism.” They demand that the Gates Foundation stop pushing harmful policies and instead support agroecology—a sustainable farming model that builds resilience to climate change and protects farmers’ rights.

In 2024, African faith leaders went further, calling for reparations from the Gates Foundation for the damage its “Green Revolution” programs have caused to Africa’s food systems.

Read the article here.