New Year forecasting of trends to watch out for in Africa tends to disproportionately focus on elections due to concerns about political stability, diverting attention from equally or more important issues such as food security. Fortunately, 2025 promises fairly muted political activity, with only three countries – Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon – set to hold presidential elections later in the year.

PEST and disease outbreaks are becoming more frequent and severe, as climate change and shifting weather conditions accelerate the proliferation and spread of vectors. Due to increased rainfall and rising temperatures, for instance, pests are spreading to non-traditional areas, posing a big threat to economically important crops such as coffee.