As we begin 2026, I would like to extend my warmest greetings to all our partners, colleagues, and friends of the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA).

A 40-Year Legacy: Honoring Our Roots and Shared Vision
This year marks a significant milestone for our organization. Born out of the devastating famine of the mid-1980s in the Horn of Africa, SAA was founded on a shared determination that such tragedies should never occur. Since 1986, under the vision of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and Ryoichi Sasakawa, we have worked side by side with African farmers, governments, and partners to strengthen food security and agricultural livelihoods across the continent.

Evolving for Impact: Four Decades of Hands-on Progress in the Field
Over the past four decades, our work has evolved as Africa’s realities have changed. While our early efforts focused on increasing food production through farmer-centered agricultural extension, our approach has expanded to address broader and interconnected challenges, including soil health, nutrition, climate resilience, access to markets, youth engagement, and the need for more integrated, pluralistic agricultural extension systems.

At the same time, SAA has remained firmly grounded in farmers’ realities. That grounding is reflected in our guiding commitment to working with farmers. From the very beginning, this has been a shared journey. Through field-based demonstration, agricultural extension, and capacity development, SAA has focused on translating knowledge into action—supporting solutions that farmers can test, adapt, and carry forward within their own communities. We do not take this shared journey lightly, and we remain committed to standing alongside those whose needs are too often unseen.

The Road Ahead: Building Resilient Food Systems through Collective Action
Looking ahead, African agriculture faces growing challenges shaped by climate change, demographic shifts, and global uncertainty. Building on the lessons of the past four decades, and on approaches proven in the field together with farmers, SAA will continue to work with partners and farming communities to co-create sustainable, resilient food systems with farmers at the center, guided by our founding values and strengthened through collaboration.

We are deeply grateful to all those who have walked this journey with us—farmers, staff, partners, donors, and supporters. I look forward to continuing this shared work together in this important anniversary year and beyond.

Amit Roy,
Chair
Sasakawa Africa Association