The Chapter reviews the “agricultural development paths” in West Africa from the 1950s, using Nigeria and Ghana as case studies. It notes that the smallholder farmer production practices in the 1950s and 1960s were generally resilient and sustainable and the countries were food and nutrition secure. Africa’s food insecurity dilemma has been mainly due to the shift of focus to export crops, combined with inappropriate “agricultural modernization” methodologies, and globalization, as well as the sidelining of indigenous knowledge of food systems. The result has been non-resilient and unsustainable food systems, increasing food and nutrition insecurity and negative environmental consequences. Based on historical and field research information, we argue that, to ensure production of adequate, healthy, safe and nutritious foods for all people, especially in West Africa, a shift must be made back to indigenous and local African knowledge of food production, preservation, processing and consumption, but enriched with new and appropriate environmentally friendly and adaptive knowledge systems, such as agroecology, which has its roots in indigenous production systems. The appropriate blending of traditional and new knowledge that is based on “responsible science” (science that enhances the elements of the natural environment and people) is what the plug-in principle is all about.