Socio-environmental Challenges in Lusophone Africa and the Role of Plant Breeding for Agricultural Sustainability in the Post-Independence Period

Abstract

Abstract: This article explores the agricultural socio-environmental challenges faced by Portuguese-speaking African Countries following independence, highlighting the crucial role of plant genetic improvement in agricultural sustainability. The colonial legacy, by incentivizing export-oriented monoculture, hindered productive diversification and contributed to soil degradation. However, even after independence, the scarcity of investment in research and infrastructure prevented agriculture from adequately adapting to local conditions and the effects of climate change. Thus, plant genetic improvement emerges as a fundamental alternative, enabling the development of more resilient and productive cultivars capable of withstanding impoverished soils and hydrological variations. Nonetheless, the implementation of this strategy still faces obstacles, such as the lack of specialists and the fragility of public policies. Investments in research, infrastructure, and effective policies are essential to ensure food security and promote agricultural resilience.

Keywords: Climate Change, Food Security, Technological Innovation, Genetic Improvement, Biotechnology.