An analysis of the current agricultural situation in Africa obtains Casa África's Essay Prize.

A complete dissection of the agricultural sector in Africa and its evolution up till today, titled  African agriculture at the crossroads has obtained the Casa África Essay Prize, under its category for Environmental sustainability and development in Africa. Its author, Miguel Ángel Martín López, has a degree in Political Science and a doctorate in law and works as an associate professor for Public International Law at the Hispalense University of Sevilla and is chief of International Development Cooperation at Cordoba Provincial Council . The prize was declared void under the category Culture as inducing development in Africa.

Miguel Ángel Martín López's text analyses the current situation of the neighbouring continent's primary sector, proposes fair development options and warns of certain threats. Amongst the latter, we find the alarming rise of large scale land buying using foreign capital and the possible economic impact of a deregulated biofuel development together with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on African soil. Martín López responds to these threats with proposals such as the promotion of agricultural biodiversity and organic agriculture. The members of the jury emphasised the essay's thoroughness, approach and argument as well as the publication's timing given the current situation.

Casa África's Essay prize is the sum of 4,000 euros for the winning essay together with the later publication of the works. This edition's jury was made up by Donato Ndongo Bidyogo, writer and journalist; Maya García de Vinuesa, professor of the University of  Alcalá; Inmaculada Díaz Narbona, professor of the University of Cádiz, and Rosa Martínez Alfaro, professor of the Universidad Autónoma of Barcelona.