10th U6+ Consortium of African Universities International Conference

African food systems are under increasing pressure from climate change, land degradation, declining soil fertility, biodiversity loss, and rapid population growth, threatening progress towards food security and sustainable development. The emergence of the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR) has introduced human centered technologies including artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, robotics, big data analytics, and precision agriculture that have the potential to transform agricultural systems. However, current innovation pathways largely overlook the rich repository of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) e.g. indigenous seed selection and preservation and traditional weather forecasting), despite their proven relevance in climate adaptation, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable farming. This disconnect limits the development of context specific and socially inclusive agricultural solutions across Africa. Addressing this gap requires a framework that positions indigenous knowledge and emerging technologies as complementary rather than competing systems. By examining their intersections, opportunities exist to imagine resilient food systems that combine technological innovation with locally grounded knowledge and practices. Particular attention is given to opportunities for enhancing climate resilience, sustainable resource use, agricultural productivity, and knowledge co-creation, while recognizing institutional, policy, technological, and socio-cultural factors that influence integration. Such an approach aligns with the human centered philosophy of the Fifth Industrial Revolution and the growing recognition of indigenous knowledge as a critical component of sustainable development. The discourse contributes to ongoing debates on inclusive agricultural transformation by advancing an integrative perspective capable of informing future research, innovation, and policy for resilient African food systems.