In the wake of an unprecedented spike in basic food staple prices alongside a steady growth over the past several years, the world may be facing a new era of higher prices and food insecurity with enormous implications for nations across the African continent and their people.

The shock manifests itself around the globe in individuals’ daily lives – millions are being forced to reduce their consumption to only one meal a day, switch to lower-quality and lower-nutrient foods they can afford, or pursue desperate measures to ensure a source of income steady enough to provide for their families. The World Bank estimates that 100 million individuals around the world could be pushed over the edge into poverty due to the doubling of food prices over the past three years. These pressures and frustrations have sparked riots and general unrest in many parts of the world, including Senegal, Mauritania, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast, whose poor often spend up to 80% of their income on food, often imported.

Could this simply be rhetoric that has been heard before? What role will AGRA really play in small farms in Africa? These concerns form the basis of the campaign by faith-based organizations to ensure that the harmful effects of the green revolution experienced in Asia are not repeated in Africa.