AGRA

Préambule

1. Le Forum africain sur les systèmes alimentaires 2025 (AFSF 2025) s’est tenu à Dakar, au Sénégal, du 31 août au 5 septembre 2025, réunissant près de 6 000 participants venus de 105 pays. Le Forum a réuni 2 chefs d’État et de gouvernement, 6 anciens chefs d’État et de gouvernement, 40 ministres chargés de portefeuilles tels que l’agriculture, l’énergie, la jeunesse, l’élevage et les finances, ainsi que des dirigeants d’agences internationales, des chercheurs, des partenaires de développement, des acteurs du secteur privé, des agriculteurs, des représentants de la société civile et des jeunes leaders.
2. Organisé sous la direction de S.E. le président Bassirou Diomaye Faye, le Forum était imprégné de l’esprit teranga du Sénégal, une culture durable d’hospitalité, de générosité et de solidarité qui a favorisé une atmosphère dynamique et inclusive propice au dialogue, à la collaboration et à des engagements audacieux.
3. Sur le thème « La jeunesse africaine : à la pointe de la collaboration, de l’innovation et de la mise en œuvre de la transformation des systèmes agroalimentaires », le Forum a mis en évidence le rôle central des jeunes dans la transformation agricole de l’Afrique grâce à leur leadership, leur innovation et leur action. Plus de 1 500 jeunes ont participé au Forum, apportant avec eux innovation, idées et urgence.
4. Ancré dans l’architecture politique plus large de l’Afrique, notamment l’Agenda 2063, la stratégie et le plan d’action décennaux du PDDAA et la Déclaration de Kampala du PDDAA sur la mise en place de systèmes agroalimentaires résilients et durables en Afrique (2026-2035) et les objectifs de développement durable (ODD), l’AFSF 2025 a poursuivi sur la lancée des forums précédents afin de relever les défis persistants et émergents qui entravent la transformation des systèmes alimentaires et de tirer parti des opportunités nouvelles et existantes.
5. L’AFSF 2025 a réaffirmé la position du Forum en tant que principale plateforme africaine pour la promotion de l’action collaborative, l’alignement des politiques et l’investissement dans la transformation des systèmes alimentaires, en accord avec les principaux cadres de développement du continent et les objectifs de développement durable (ODD).
6. Le Forum a pris acte de l’évolution du paysage mondial et régional, notamment :

• Un environnement financier international plus restrictif nécessitant une mobilisation accrue des ressources nationales.
• Une urgence accrue à lutter contre la vulnérabilité climatique, la dégradation de l’environnement et la fragilité des systèmes alimentaires, qui menacent tous les vies, les moyens de subsistance et les acquis en matière de développement à long terme.
• Le potentiel de transformation de la population jeune en pleine croissance en Afrique, dont plus de 70 % ont moins de 30 ans, en tant qu’entrepreneurs, innovateurs et décideurs dans les systèmes agroalimentaires.

7. L’AFSF 2025 a souligné l’urgence de tirer parti de la zone de libre-échange continentale africaine (ZLECA) comme une opportunité historique pour renforcer les chaînes de valeur régionales, améliorer la compétitivité et stimuler une croissance économique inclusive, en particulier pour les petits exploitants agricoles, les entreprises agricoles dirigées par des jeunes et les femmes entrepreneurs. L’amélioration des infrastructures liées au commerce, l’harmonisation des normes et la réduction des obstacles à la circulation des biens et services agricoles ont été reconnues comme des facteurs essentiels.
8. Reconnaissant l’urgence de transformer les systèmes alimentaires africains, le Forum a réaffirmé son engagement collectif en faveur d’une transformation inclusive, durable et équitable des systèmes alimentaires, avec le leadership des jeunes et la capacité de mise en œuvre comme moteurs.
9. Tout au long de la semaine, les délégués ont participé à des dialogues de haut niveau, des sessions techniques, des tables rondes ministérielles, des discussions animées par des jeunes, des présentations d’innovations et des « masterclasses » sur le renforcement des capacités, afin de promouvoir un avenir pour les systèmes alimentaires africains axé sur les jeunes, l’innovation et les résultats.

Plateformes thématiques Appels à l’action 

10. Les plateformes thématiques du Forum ont réuni des jeunes, des femmes, des agriculteurs, des décideurs politiques, des chercheurs, la société civile, le secteur privé et d’autres parties prenantes essentielles afin de définir le programme africain en matière de systèmes alimentaires. Chaque plateforme s’est conclue par un appel à l’action qui trace une feuille de route allant du dialogue à la mise en œuvre.

• Jeunesse : le Forum a affirmé que les jeunes ne sont pas la « prochaine génération », mais la génération qui transforme déjà les systèmes alimentaires africains. Les gouvernements, le secteur privé et les partenaires doivent aller au-delà des discours pour adopter des solutions proposées par les jeunes, créer de véritables voies d’accès à un travail décent et garantir la représentation des jeunes dans la prise de décision. Tout retard risque d’entraîner une instabilité ; une action urgente pourrait permettre à l’Afrique de saisir sa plus grande opportunité.
• Résilience climatique : les participants ont souligné la nécessité de mettre l’adaptation sur un pied d’égalité avec l’atténuation avant la COP30. Les priorités comprennent l’intégration de l’adaptation dans les plans nationaux, l’investissement dans l’agriculture résiliente, les infrastructures et les solutions fondées sur la nature, et le triplement du financement de l’adaptation. Le renforcement des capacités locales, la création d’emplois verts et le renforcement des partenariats inclusifs ont été considérés comme essentiels pour protéger les plus vulnérables.
• Accords et financement : le Forum a souligné que l’accès au financement est déterminant pour la transformation des systèmes alimentaires. Les investisseurs, les gouvernements et les partenaires, tant à l’intérieur qu’à l’extérieur de l’Afrique, doivent accroître leur soutien aux PME, en particulier aux entreprises dirigées par des jeunes et des femmes, afin de développer l’innovation et l’impact.
• Numérisation : le Forum a mis en avant le potentiel transformateur des technologies numériques, notamment l’IA, pour accélérer le changement. Les participants ont appelé à la mise en place d’écosystèmes numériques intégrés et collaboratifs, qui soient inclusifs, interopérables et apportent une valeur tangible aux agriculteurs et aux consommateurs.
• Nutrition et santé : le Forum a souligné l’urgence de développer des systèmes alimentaires inclusifs et sensibles à la nutrition qui garantissent une alimentation sûre, abordable et saine. La préservation du patrimoine africain en matière de cultures riches en nutriments et résistantes au climat a été identifiée comme une priorité. Les dirigeants et les experts ont profité du Forum pour élaborer un programme nutritionnel qui sauve des vies et améliore les résultats en matière de santé.
• Politiques et capacités des États : La nécessité de disposer de solides capacités institutionnelles a été réaffirmée comme étant essentielle à la mise en œuvre des engagements pris dans le cadre du PDDAA et de la Déclaration de Kampala. Les investissements dans les cadres de leadership, de capacités et de responsabilité ont été reconnus comme étant essentiels pour accélérer les résultats.
• Production durable : le Forum a appelé à une action audacieuse et coordonnée pour mettre en place des systèmes alimentaires résilients, régénérateurs et équitables. Les gouvernements, les partenaires et le secteur privé doivent promouvoir des politiques favorables, développer les innovations agroécologiques et mobiliser des financements. Les jeunes, les agriculteurs et les chercheurs ont été identifiés comme des acteurs clés dans la mise en place de solutions abordables et évolutives.
• Commerce et marchés : le Forum a mis l’accent sur une transformation des systèmes alimentaires africains axée sur le commerce, grâce à des paniers alimentaires régionaux, des corridors et des politiques alignées sur la ZLECA. Les investissements stratégiques dans les infrastructures, l’harmonisation des normes et la rationalisation des douanes ont été soulignés comme des priorités pour renforcer les chaînes de valeur et stimuler la compétitivité.
• Les femmes dans les systèmes alimentaires : le Forum a reconnu que placer les femmes au centre des systèmes alimentaires est essentiel pour l’égalité des sexes, la sécurité alimentaire et la croissance rurale. Les participants ont appelé à démanteler les inégalités structurelles, à garantir un accès équitable aux ressources et à adopter des approches transformatrices en matière d’égalité des sexes. La réduction des écarts entre les sexes a été identifiée comme un moteur de la productivité et du développement inclusif.

Récompenses et distinctions

11. L’AFSF 2025 a célébré l’excellence en matière de leadership, d’innovation et d’entrepreneuriat à travers une série de prix prestigieux qui ont récompensé et honoré les acteurs du changement en Afrique, en particulier les jeunes leaders dynamiques qui sont à l’origine de la transformation des systèmes alimentaires :

• Prix africain de l’alimentation : largement considéré comme le prix le plus prestigieux du continent pour le leadership dans le domaine des systèmes alimentaires, le prix a été décerné cette année à deux femmes remarquables : le professeur Mary Abukutsa Onyango du Kenya et le Dr Mercy Diebiru-Ojo du Nigeria. Le professeur Abukutsa a montré au monde entier le pouvoir des légumes indigènes africains pour lutter contre la malnutrition et créer des moyens de subsistance résilients. Le Dr Diebiru-Ojo a transformé les systèmes de semences de manioc et d’igname, offrant aux agriculteurs du matériel végétal exempt de maladies et des rendements plus élevés.
• Prix VALUE4HER de la femme agro-entrepreneure de l’année (WAYA) : Dirigé par l’AGRA, ce prix a récompensé des femmes exceptionnelles dans le secteur agroalimentaire africain :
  • Mathildah Amollo, Kenya – Grand prix
  • Juliet Kakwerre N Tumusiime, Ouganda – Championne de l’autonomisation des femmes
  • Julienne Olawolé Agossadou, Bénin – Leader résiliente et inspirante
  • Roberta Edu-Oyedokun, Nigeria – Entreprise à forte valeur ajoutée
  • Joyce Waithira, Kenya – Innovatrice dans le domaine des technologies agricoles
  • Onicca Sibanyona, Afrique du Sud – Jeune femme agro-entrepreneure
• Prix GoGettaz Agripreneur : Le concours GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize 2025 a attiré plus de 2 000 candidatures de jeunes entrepreneurs de toute l’Afrique. Les deux lauréats du grand prix, Naglaa Mohamed P Vita, Égypte (catégorie féminine) et Samuel Muyita Karpolax, Ouganda (catégorie masculine), ont été récompensés pour leurs projets agro-industriels à fort impact et évolutifs et ont reçu chacun 50 000 dollars américains.
• Prix Impact : un prix total de 60 000 dollars américains a été décerné à quatre lauréats – Daniel Wa Mukina, RDC ; Faïçal Abdoul, Burkina Faso ; Editha Mshiu, Tanzanie ; et Fareeda Mustapha, Ghana – en reconnaissance de leur contribution à la valeur sociale, économique et environnementale durable générée par leurs entreprises.

Preamble

1. The Africa Food Systems Forum 2025 (AFSF 2025) convened in Dakar, Senegal, from 31 August to 5 September 2025, bringing together nearly 6,000 participants from 105 countries. The Forum included 2 Heads of State and Government, 6 former Heads of State and Government, 40 Ministers spanning portfolios such as agriculture, energy, youth affairs, livestock, and finance, as well as heads of international agencies, researchers, development partners, private sector actors, farmers, civil society representatives and youth leaders.
2. Hosted under the leadership of H.E. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the Forum was infused with the teranga spirit of Senegal – an enduring culture of hospitality, generosity, and solidarity that fostered a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere for dialogue, collaboration, and bold commitments.
3. With the theme “Africa’s Youth: Leading Collaboration, Innovation, and Implementation of Agri-Food Systems Transformation,” the Forum highlighted the pivotal role of youth in driving Africa’s agricultural transformation through leadership, innovation, and delivery. Over 1,500 youth attended the Forum, bringing innovation, ideas and urgency.
4. Anchored in Africa’s broader policy architecture including Agenda 2063, the 10-year CAADP Strategy and Action Plan and the Kampala CAADP Declaration on Building Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems in Africa (2026–2035) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), AFSF 2025 built on the momentum of previous Forums to confront persistent and emerging challenges hampering food systems transformation and to harness new and existing opportunities.
5. AFSF 2025 reaffirmed the Forum’s position as Africa’s premier platform for advancing collaborative action, policy alignment, and investment in food systems transformation, aligning with the continent’s major development frameworks and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
6. The Forum acknowledged a shifting global and regional landscape, including:

• A tightening international financing environment requiring stronger domestic resource mobilization.
• Heightened urgency to address climate vulnerability, environmental degradation, and food system fragility all of which threaten lives, livelihoods and long-term development gains.
• The transformative potential of Africa’s rapidly growing youth population, over 70% of whom are under 30, as entrepreneurs, innovators and decision-makers in the agri-food systems.

6. AFSF 2025 emphasized the urgency of leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a historic opportunity to strengthen regional value chains, enhance competitiveness and drive inclusive economic growth especially for smallholder farmers, youth-led agribusinesses, and women entrepreneurs. Improving trade-related infrastructure, harmonizing standards, and reducing barriers to the movement of agricultural goods and services were recognized as critical enablers.
7. Recognizing the urgency to transform Africa’s food systems, the Forum reaffirmed collective commitment to inclusive, sustainable and equitable food systems transformation, with youth leadership and implementation capacity as the driving force.
8. A total of 163 plenaries, sessions, workshops, masterclasses and side events were delivered, focusing on digital agriculture, climate-smart technologies, nutrition-sensitive value chains, and youth-led innovations and policies.
9. Throughout the week, delegates engaged in high-level dialogues, technical sessions, ministerial roundtables, youth-led discussions, innovation showcases and capacity-building masterclasses, advancing a youth-led, innovation-driven and delivery-focused future for Africa’s food systems.

Thematic Platforms Calls to Action

10. AFSF 2025 was anchored in a series of dynamic thematic platforms that brought together diverse voices from across the continent, particularly of the youth and other critical constituencies whose leadership is essential to food systems transformation. The thematic platforms served as engines for shaping the Forum’s agenda of inclusive, innovation-driven and youth-led transformation, and each issued a powerful call to action that offered a roadmap for moving from dialogue to concrete commitments and tangible action.
11. The Forum’s thematic platforms brought together youth, women, farmers, policymakers, researchers, civil society, private sector and other critical stakeholder to shape Africa’s food systems agenda. Each Platform concluded with a call to action that charts a roadmap from dialogue to delivery.

• Youth: The Forum affirmed that youth are not the “next generation” but the generation already transforming Africa’s food systems. Governments, private sector, and partners must move beyond rhetoric to embrace youth-led solutions, create real pathways to decent work, and ensure youth representation in decision-making. Delay risks instability; urgent action could unlock Africa’s greatest opportunity.
• Climate Resilience: Participants emphasized elevating adaptation to equal footing with mitigation ahead of COP30. Priorities include integrating adaptation into national plans, investing in resilient farming, infrastructure, and nature-based solutions, and tripling adaptation finance. Building local capacity, creating green jobs, and strengthening inclusive partnerships were seen as essential to protect the most vulnerable.
• Deals and Financing: The Forum stressed that access to finance is decisive for food systems transformation. Investors, governments, and partners – inside and outside Africa – must expand support to SMEs, especially youth- and women-led enterprises, to scale innovation and impact.
• Digitalization: The Forum highlighted the transformative potential of digital technologies, including AI, to accelerate change. Participants called for integrated, collaborative digital ecosystems that are inclusive, interoperable, and deliver tangible value to farmers and consumers.
• Nutrition and Health: The Forum underscored the urgency of scaling inclusive, nutrition-sensitive food systems that ensure safe, affordable, and healthy diets. Safeguarding Africa’s heritage of nutrient-rich, climate-resilient crops was identified as a priority. Leaders and experts used the Forum to shape a nutrition agenda that saves lives and improves health outcomes.
• Policy and State Capability: Strong institutional capability was reaffirmed as central to delivering CAADP and Kampala Declaration commitments. Investments in leadership, capacity, and accountability frameworks were recognized as critical to accelerate results.
• Sustainable Production: The Forum called for bold, coordinated action to build resilient, regenerative, and equitable food systems. Governments, partners, and the private sector must advance enabling policies, scale agroecological innovations, and mobilize finance. Youth, farmers, and researchers were identified as key actors in driving affordable, scalable solutions.
• Trade and Markets: The Forum emphasized a trade-led transformation of Africa’s food systems through regional food baskets, corridors, and AfCFTA-aligned policies. Strategic investments in infrastructure, harmonized standards, and streamlined customs were highlighted as priorities to strengthen value chains and boost competitiveness.
• Women in Food Systems: The Forum recognized that placing women at the center of food systems is vital for gender equality, food security, and rural growth. Participants called for dismantling structural inequalities, ensuring equitable access to resources, and adopting gender-transformative approaches. Closing gender gaps was identified as a driver of productivity and inclusive development.

Awards and Recognitions

12. AFSF 2025 celebrated excellence in leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship through a series of high-profile awards that recognized and honoured Africa’s changemakers – especially its dynamic youth leaders who are driving food systems transformation:

• Africa Food Prize: Widely regarded as the continent’s most prestigious award for food systems leadership, the Prize was this year awarded to two remarkable women: Professor Mary Abukutsa Onyango of Kenya and Dr. Mercy Diebiru-Ojo of Nigeria. Professor Abukutsa has shown the world the power of Africa’s indigenous vegetables to fight malnutrition and create resilient livelihoods. Dr. Diebiru-Ojo has transformed cassava and yam seed systems, giving farmers disease-free planting material and higher yields.
• VALUE4HER Women Agripreneur of the Year Award (WAYA): Led by AGRA, the Award celebrated exceptional women across Africa’s agri-business landscape:
  • Mathildah Amollo, Kenya – Grand Prize
  • Juliet Kakwerre N Tumusiime, Uganda – Women Empowerment Champion
  • Julienne Olawolé Agossadou, Benin – Resilient & Inspirational Leader
  • Roberta Edu-Oyedokun, Nigeria – Outstanding Value-Adding Enterprise
  • Joyce Waithira, Kenya – Female Ag-Tech Innovator
  • Onicca Sibanyona, South Africa – Young Female Agripreneur
• GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize: The 2025 GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize Competition attracted over 2000 entries from youth entrepreneurs across Africa. Two Grand Prize winners – Naglaa Mohamed P Vita, Egypt (female category) and Samuel Muyita Karpolax, Uganda (male category) were recognized for their high-impact, scalable agribusiness ventures and received US$ 50,000 each.
• The Impact Award: A total prize of US$ 60,000 was awarded to 4 recipients – Daniel Wa Mukina, DRC; Faïçal Abdoul, Burkina Faso; Editha Mshiu, Tanzania; and Fareeda Mustapha, Ghana – acknowledging their contribution to sustained social, economic, and environmental value delivered through their enterprises.

Dakar, Senegal, Wednesday, September 03, 2025 — This morning, at Africa’s largest gathering on food and agriculture, Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) in Dakar, Senegal, AGRA unveiled a powerful package of partnerships designed to unlock private capital, strengthen resilience, and elevate the voices of Africa’s youth.

The announcements come as the Africa Food Systems Report 2025 reveals a continent of progress and paradox: agricultural output has grown faster in Africa than anywhere else in the world at 4.3 percent annually since 2000, yet one in three African children is still stunted.

“Africa cannot afford piecemeal progress,” said Alice Ruhweza, President of AGRA. “We must seize this moment to scale inclusive innovations, attract investment, and put farmers, youth, and small businesses at the center of our food systems.”

Investing in Africa’s “Hidden Middle”

AGRA, in partnership with the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), launched Africa100, a catalytic initiative targeting 100 anchor firms across 12 countries. These often-overlooked small and medium sized enterprises, (the “hidden middle”), link farmers to markets, create rural jobs, and drive resilience.

AGRA also announced collaboration with the governments of Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania to establish Investible Flagships, which are national pipelines of bankable projects that advance food security, climate resilience, and youth employment.

Transforming Poultry for Nutrition and Jobs

To boost affordable protein and rural livelihoods, AGRA introduced a Poultry Transformation Package, including:

Poultry Feed Innovation Grand Challenge, with AECF and the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU), to unlock inclusive, cost-cutting feed solutions across Southern Africa.

Southern Africa Poultry Initiative, culminating in the first Poultry Futures Forum in Zambia in November 2025.

 Elevating Youth and Storytellers

Youth are taking center stage with new initiatives:

• A partnership with Global Citizen, the international advocacy organization, to amplify African youth voices transforming food systems and unlocking resources for agricultural-led growth.
• The Africa Media Fellowship Award, co-created with Farm Radio, nurturing the next generation of storytellers.
• A Farm Radio partnership tapping into 1,300+ stations across seven markets to reach millions of smallholder farmers directly.

“Africa’s young people are not just the future,” added Ruhweza. “They are today’s farmers, innovators, and storytellers, and their voices must shape the global food narrative.”

Linking Nutrition to Markets

In collaboration with African First Ladies and the Rockefeller Foundation, AGRA announced a School Meals Coalition that links smallholder farmers with school feeding programs, ensuring nutritious, locally sourced meals while creating steady markets for farmers.

A Call for Systemic Change

The Africa Food Systems Report 2025 warns that progress remains “real but fragmented” and calls for bold systemic transformation. AGRA’s new initiatives respond with catalytic finance, investible value chains, and platforms for youth and advocacy.

“Our message is clear,” said Ruhweza. “Africa’s food future is not just about producing more; it’s about producing better. By investing in SMEs, empowering youth, and building resilient markets, we are building systems that nourish, employ, and prosper.”

Callout Stats

• 4.3 percent: Africa’s annual agricultural output growth since 2000, the fastest globally.
• 1 in 3: African children under five still stunted.
• USD100B+: Africa’s annual food import bill.
• 1,300: Radio stations mobilized by Farm Radio.
• 100 firms: Targeted by Africa100 to unlock the “hidden middle.”

About AGRA
AGRA works with governments, the private sector, and partners to transform agriculture across Africa. Since 2006, it has supported thousands of SMEs and millions of farmers, strengthening markets, improving seed and input systems, and catalyzing investment.

Media Contact
Communications Office – AGRA
Email: communications@agra.org

By Jonathan Said

In every African market, from Dakar to Dar es Salaam, the sounds and smells of trade tell a story that is bigger than food. They are the pulse of Africa’s economic potential. Every sack of maize, every truck of tomatoes, every carton of processed juice reflects the continent’s most powerful yet underutilized driver of prosperity: its agri-food systems.

Agriculture is not simply about subsistence. It is about the structural transformation of Africa’s economies. It is about jobs in rural industries, incomes for smallholders, the growth of agro-processing, and the creation of dynamic export markets. If Africa is to industrialize and compete globally, it must begin with the sector that already employs the majority of its people and anchors rural livelihoods.

The ongoing Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) in Dakar offers a moment to reset this narrative. This is not just a conversation about food shortages or hunger relief. It is a dialogue about how agriculture and food systems can serve as the backbone of development, powering industrialization and creating dignified work for Africa’s youth.

The scale of the opportunity is evident. Africa’s agricultural output has grown at 4.3 percent annually since 2000 — the fastest rate in the world. Yet, as the Africa Food Systems Report 2025 shows, only 12 to 15 percent of agricultural GDP comes from agro-processing, leaving much of the value captured elsewhere. That gap represents billions of dollars in lost jobs, income, and foreign exchange. Closing it is the pathway to transformation.

To seize this opportunity, we must begin with coherence and delivery. For too long, fragmented policies and abrupt shifts in regulation have discouraged investors and left farmers vulnerable. Policy coherence and delivery must come before finance. Governments must anchor agriculture and agro-processing as the backbone of their national development strategies. Meeting the 10 percent budget target agreed under the Maputo, Malabo, and Kampala Declarations is not a bureaucratic box to tick; it is a down payment on Africa’s economic independence.

Finance, while essential, must follow this clarity of vision. The truth is that Africa’s farmers, traders, and processors cannot transform the sector with scraps of credit. Donors and international development partners must step up in ways that crowd in much larger flows from development finance institutions and local investors. Development banks and international partners must be willing to blend their capital, de-risk investment, and support pipelines of bankable projects. Diaspora remittances, pension funds, and sovereign wealth can be channeled into agro-industrial growth, but only if policy and regulatory environments are clear and predictable.

At the same time, infrastructure must be scaled strategically. Less than seven percent of Africa’s cropland is irrigated. Forty percent of food produced in Sub-Saharan Africa is lost before reaching markets because of inadequate storage, poor transport, and unreliable energy. Rural roads remain largely unpaved, and electricity access averages below 30 percent in many rural areas. These are not just agricultural weaknesses; they are constraints on the broader productive economy. Investments in irrigation, logistics corridors, cold storage, and digital connectivity are investments in industrialization itself, because they allow agriculture to supply factories, processors, and exporters at scale.

This transformation must also be inclusive. Africa’s population is the youngest in the world, with nearly 60 percent under the age of 25. Women already form the backbone of food production and trade. Yet both groups remain largely excluded from the commanding heights of agricultural finance, land ownership, and policy decision-making. Unlocking their potential is not a matter of charity; it is a matter of economic necessity. Every youth-led processing venture, every women-run agribusiness, every innovation in digital agriculture is a step toward higher productivity, expanded markets, and jobs with dignity.

The prize is not just to feed Africa. It is to build an economy that exports. This is not about reducing imports, but about increasing the dynamism of Africa’s productive economy to achieve net exports of agricultural and agro-processed products. Already, intra-African agricultural trade accounts for about 43 percent of total exports. With the African Continental Free Trade Area, that share can grow further, stabilizing supply chains, adding value at home, and positioning Africa as a competitive exporter to the world.

The private sector is already stepping up across the continent. From satellite-based credit scoring in Kenya, to renewable-powered irrigation in Senegal, to cocoa processing in Ghana, innovators are showing what is possible. What is required now is for governments and donors to match that entrepreneurial energy with policy coherence, catalytic finance, and infrastructure. The task is to take what works in small pockets and scale it into regional corridors and national industries.

This is not an impossible dream. Ethiopia’s agro-industrial parks, Nigeria’s rice milling industry, and Zambia’s seed system reforms show how policy, investment, and innovation can align to shift entire value chains. Imagine this replicated across Africa’s food baskets — from West Africa’s cassava to East Africa’s horticulture to Southern Africa’s livestock. Each could become a hub of processing, trade, and export, fueling jobs not just on farms but in factories, logistics, and services.

The choice before Africa is stark. A business-as-usual path will keep us dependent on global shocks, leaving millions vulnerable to hunger and poverty. But a path of bold reform and coordinated delivery can build resilience, prosperity, and pride. This is not about aid or relief. It is about mobilizing Africa’s greatest economic asset to drive structural transformation.

Dakar must therefore be more than pledges. It must be the moment when leaders, donors, and development partners commit to pipelines of real projects, real financing, and real delivery. Africa cannot afford fragmented gains any longer. The time is for coherence, scale, and systems-level transformation.

Because this is about more than food. It is about Africa’s rightful place in the global economy. It is about our youth and our women leading industries that feed, employ, and export. It is about prosperity that is shared across rural and urban Africa alike.

We owe it to our farmers and our youth. We owe it to our children.

Said is the Vice President for Technical Expertise at AGRA, an African-led organization focused on putting farmers at the centre of the continent’s growing economy.

By Alice Ruhweza

As the world gathers in Yokohama for the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), Africa arrives not with empty hands but with a bold promise: to reshape its food systems in ways that secure dignity, prosperity, and resilience for generations to come.

The theme of this year’s forum, “Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa,” could not be more timely. Our continent’s food systems stand at a crossroads. We can seize this moment to build resilience and unlock transformation, or we can resign ourselves to a future of deepening food insecurity, growing import bills, and missed opportunities. The latest SOFI report shows hunger levels falling globally to 673 million people (one in 12) for the first time since 2019, unfortunately Africa bucks this trend, with 307 million people affected, representing over 20% of our population, or one in five. The choice before us is stark, but so too is the opportunity.

Japan has long been a trusted partner in this journey, and our collaboration already shows what is possible. In 2008, AGRA joined hands with Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and a wide network of African and international partners to launch the Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD). AGRA plays a critical role in hosting CARD and the goal remains simple yet ambitious: to double rice production in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.

Why rice? Because for millions of African families, rice is not just another crop. It is the meal that fills the pot at night, the comfort food that binds communities, the difference between children going to bed hungry or nourished. Yet by 2023, Africa’s self-sufficiency in rice had fallen to just 54 percent, forcing us to rely on expensive imports that drain scarce foreign exchange.

Against this backdrop, the progress made by CARD is nothing short of remarkable. In its first decade alone, rice production doubled from 14 million tons in 2008 to 28 million tons in 2018. By 2023, output had climbed further to 36.6 million tons. That is not an abstract statistic. It is food on family tables. It is income in the hands of farmers.

Now CARD has set its sights on 56 million tons by 2030. This target is bold, but it is achievable, and it matters. It means stronger rural economies, greater food sovereignty, and more jobs for Africa’s youth. It also means less dependence on imports, insulating our continent from the shocks of volatile global markets.

As CARD prepares for its 10th General Meeting in Madagascar this October, we are sharpening our focus on regional leadership and mobilizing resources from both development partners and the private sector. Japan has shown the way, not only with rhetoric but with real action. Just days ago, JICA issued a $155 million bond to spur new investments in Africa’s agriculture. That is partnership made tangible.

But rice is only part of the story. Across the continent, a wave of innovation is redefining African agriculture. Young entrepreneurs are building digital platforms that connect farmers to markets, while agri-tech start-ups are devising tools to boost productivity and efficiency. With support for 11 youth-led companies, AGRA is demonstrating how innovation can create jobs, fuel entrepreneurship, and give young Africans a stake in feeding their continent.

We are also tackling the twin threats of climate change and malnutrition head on. With the support of the Green Climate Fund, AGRA is working with governments to promote soil health, regenerative agriculture, and nutrition-sensitive farming. These practices are not just environmentally sound, they are essential for protecting Africa’s future and ensuring that progress in agriculture also means progress in human health.

At TICAD 9, we are not only here to share what Africa is doing. We are here to call for greater collaboration and to deepen partnerships. We want to see more Japanese companies bring their world-class technologies in agri-tech, irrigation, and biofuels to African markets. We want to see more concessional financing and innovative blended finance models that allow smallholder farmers and agricultural SMEs to thrive. And we want to reinforce our alignment with African priorities, from the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) commitments to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), so that every step forward strengthens the continent’s own frameworks.

Africa’s challenges are undeniable. But so too are its possibilities. With Japan’s technological expertise and Africa’s vast agricultural potential, we can build a food system that feeds the continent, protects the planet, and powers growth. The only ingredient still in short supply is urgency.

TICAD 9 is a chance to turn ambition into action, to co-create a food-secure and climate-resilient Africa, and to do so now, before the cost of inaction is counted in hunger, instability, and lost opportunity. This year’s TICAD 9 will focus on how Africa and Japan can co-create practical solutions drawing on Africa’s resources and youth potential alongside Japanese innovation, across three urgent priorities: building resilient societies, securing peace and stability, and driving shared economic growth.

The path forward is clear. Let us choose action, and choose to do it now.

Ms. Ruhweza is the President of AGRA, an African-led organization that is focused on putting farmers at the centre of the continent’s growing economy.

By Nana Yaa B. Amoah

Africa stands at a defining moment. The continent has the world’s youngest population, vast arable land and abundant natural resources, yet many families still face food and nutrition insecurity as millions of young people look for work that never comes. This contradiction is alarming but solvable. The answer is to treat agriculture not as a relic or a last resort but as a modern, innovative and rewarding career path for young Africans.

The ongoing Africa Food Systems Forum in 2025 offers a timely platform to reset priorities. Its focus on youth leadership in collaboration, innovation and implementation signals a clear truth. The continent’s future depends on empowering its greatest asset, its young people.

Africa’s population is about 1.2 billion and could double by 2050. More than 400 million people are between 15 and 35, the youngest profile of any region. Yet far too many are unemployed or under employed. Agriculture has the greatest capacity to absorb labour, generate income and spark innovation, but the sector remains unattractive to many. The gap is not opportunity. It is imagination, investment and support.

Youth unemployment has become a failure of imagination. Too often policy is framed around counting jobs rather than unlocking the promise that already sits in our fields, markets and research stations. We must reimagine agriculture as a space of aspiration and impact for young Africans. That shift demands coordinated support from governments, the private sector and development partners to back youth in modern agri-entrepreneurial roles.

Rebranding agriculture as a technology powered enterprise will turn the tide. Across the continent young innovators are building mobile apps that connect farmers to buyers, using drones to monitor crops, applying artificial intelligence to detect pests and creating digital platforms to verify inputs. Farming is becoming digital, data driven and dynamic. Young people are already leading much of this change. But they still face heavy barriers. Land access remains the quiet gatekeeper of opportunity. Legal, financial and customary hurdles keep land out of reach. Without it young people, especially young women, cannot build wealth or invest with confidence. Land reform must be treated as a core youth issue, not only a rural one.

Finance is another hurdle. Many young people lack collateral and formal credit histories. A new wave of digital financial data offers a breakthrough. Mobile money transactions and utility payments can be used to build verifiable records of financial behaviour. Alternative credit scoring then opens the door to loans for inputs, technology and growth. Digital financial inclusion is essential if agriculture is to become a vibrant space for young entrepreneurs.

Education and training often lag behind market needs. Curricula can be outdated. Market access is weak, infrastructure is thin and new technologies are priced out of reach. These challenges feed the myth that farming is only hard work with little reward. To make agriculture a viable career we must remove the obstacles. Reform land tenure. Expand affordable finance. Modernise education and training. Strengthen market linkages. Embed digital tools from production through processing and distribution. Young people should be in front of this innovation wave.

The opportunities run across the value chain. Beyond growing crops or keeping livestock, youth can thrive as agro dealers who supply inputs and offer advice and delivery through digital platforms. More than 40,000 agro dealers already support farmers, reducing distances to inputs and lifting adoption of better technologies, with yield gains reported at up to 40 percent in Nigeria. In seed production, youth work with companies on multiplication, quality control and supply chain management.

As agricultural advisers and extension workers, young professionals train farmers in climate smart practices that raise productivity sustainably. The growing agri-tech sector invites youth to design tools for input verification, market information and farmer training. Youth led small and medium enterprises in processing and value addition create jobs, drive local industry and cut post-harvest losses. Many are building market linkages by brokering deals, running storage and facilitating regional seed trade. Others are advancing regenerative farming and championing drought resistant crops that help communities adapt to a changing climate.

Young people are also shaping policy. They are engaging ministries, regulators and national platforms to push for youth inclusive policies and to monitor delivery, so that decisions reflect the needs of the next generation.

This agenda aligns with the new continental strategy under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme for 2026 to 2035, which calls for reimagining and reinvesting in food systems. Innovative financing is central. Tax reforms, local government bonds, remittances, pension funds and climate aligned investments can be mobilised. Social and environmental bonds, parametric insurance and debt for nature swaps can back youth led agribusiness and climate resilient models.

Inclusive dialogue will make these ideas real. Ministries of finance, agriculture and social development should work together to streamline support for youth and for women across low- and middle-income countries. Only coordinated effort can build a system that supports young people from farm to market.

Any youth strategy that ignores gender is incomplete. Women form the backbone of agricultural production yet remain underserved. There is no path to unlock Africa’s food potential without gender equity. Secure land rights, tailored finance, modern training and a seat at the table are not only fair. They are essential for sustainable growth. If we do not centre young women, we do not centre Africa’s future.

As Africa confronts food insecurity and youth unemployment, the path forward is clear. Agriculture is the future. It is rich with innovation, powered by technology and full of opportunity. With the right investments, policies and vision, it can become a dynamic engine of economic transformation and social inclusion. Africa’s youth are ready to lead. The question is whether we will give them the chance.

Nana Yaa B. Amoah is the Director for Gender, Youth and Inclusiveness at AGRA, an African led organisation that puts farmers at the centre of the continent’s growing economy.

By Alice Ruhweza and Meetu Kapur

Today the global nutrition sector stands at the intersection of aid cuts, scarce resource allocation, the impacts of climate change, and the rising cost of a healthy diet. These contributing factors are holding back progress to improve nutrition. Across Africa, as nations take steps to improve production, economic gains, food trade, and resilience – a glaring gap remains in the very environments where people make food choices daily, with malnutrition of all forms still persistent.

Why? Our current food systems are still not designed or financed to deliver on nutrition. As leaders prepare to gather at the Africa Food System Forum in Dakar from 31st August-September 5th, we must confront a critical truth: food systems that fail to nourish are failing altogether. Our true measure of progress must shift from producing more to nourishing better.

Despite growing more food, many African households remain nutritionally insecure. A farmer may cultivate a high-yield maize field, yet serve children starch-heavy meals lacking vegetables, fruits, or animal-source foods. School feeding programs may scale up, but often procure from large processors focused on volume, not nutrient diversity. These contradictions expose a misalignment. We are transforming systems for outputs and volumes, not for the outcomes that matter most nutrition and health. Yet, we have proven solutions in food systems innovation, large-scale food fortification, and advancing agriculture that have yet to be scaled to reach their full potential.

Nutrition must be recognized as the central performance benchmark of Africa’s food systems. Yet today, nutritious diets remain out of reach for millions. Over a billion people on the African continent cannot afford a healthy diet. Undernutrition hits the poorest families the hardest, and women and children suffer most. Africa is the only region where stunting has increased significantly this past decade – growing from 61.7 in 2012 to 64.8 million in 2024, a reflection of chronic undernutrition and more than half of women of reproductive age are anemic.

Undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies give rise to child mortality and morbidity, impair cognitive development and schooling outcomes, and reduce lifetime productivity. In sub‑Saharan Africa, undernutrition costs governments and economies up to 3-16 percent of GDP annually, with global productivity losses from malnutrition estimated at USD3 trillion per year, of which a substantial share stems from the continent’s undernourished population.

In many low-income settings, the cost of a healthy diet is unaffordable, with nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, and animal-source proteins significantly more expensive than starchy staples or ultra-processed snacks. Estimates show this cost increase is greatest in Africa, demonstrating a 4.41 purchasing power parity (PPP) for a healthy diet per person per day on the continent. In both West and Southern Africa, vegetables and animal-sourced foods account for more than half the cost of a healthy diet, placing a nutritious plate far beyond reach for the majority. Additionally, global shocks have impacted food price inflation, disproportionately burdening low-income countries.

Household dietary diversity surveys reveal what yield data cannot; too few children are receiving the diverse diets they need for healthy growth. In some countries, less than 25 percent of children consume the minimum number of food groups daily. This is a failure of food systems design and a signal that transformation efforts must be judged by whether they deliver nutritious, affordable, accessible diets at scale, for all people.

To correct course, we must mainstream nutrition across all pillars of food systems from production to markets, policy, and procurement. This means investing not only in specific initiatives but integrating proven solutions into existing food systems to reach communities and make an impact. National agricultural plans should include nutrition indicators such as diet quality and food group diversity. School feeding programs and institutional procurement must be redesigned to support smallholder farmers who grow diverse, nutrient-dense foods. Infrastructure development must focus on cold chains and market access for perishable nutritious products. And financing must shift to prioritize and include value chains like pulses, leafy greens, fruits, dairy, and small livestock that deliver the nutrients people need.

Complementary strategies such as large-scale food fortification must also be part of the solution. Adding essential nutrients to staple foods like flours, rice, and edible oils, builds nutrition resilience, especially during times of food insecurity and climate-driven shocks. Fortification bridges dietary gaps in vulnerable populations and strengthens national safety nets against malnutrition by ensuring that people at all income levels have a baseline of vitamin and mineral security built into their diets. It leverages the private sector to deliver a public health benefit in this vastly crowded fiscal space

As the continent stives to mobilize USD100 billion in public and private investments in agrifood systems by 2035 we must not miss this opportunity to integrate nutrition into the business case. For every dollar invested in nutrition, we get USD 23 back. The Gates Foundation is committed to advancing nutrition by integrating evidence-based, high-impact solutions into health, food, and social protection systems to deliver the essential nutrients that people need to live healthy and productive lives, while AGRA is working to improve agricultural innovation and adaptation to ensure resilience that sustainably supports nutrient-rich farming.

Dakar offers an opportunity to elevate this discussion and reorient policies, investments and partnerships to make nutrition the central goal of food systems transformation and sets the stage for collaboration and discussion on how to reshape our food systems by leveraging the demographic dividend to engage the youth population to meet the nutritional needs of our people. Let us track not just yields per hectare, but nutrients per plate by prioritizing nutrition in agricultural and food policies, investing in infrastructure that makes nutrient-rich foods more affordable and accessible, scaling up food fortification into existing systems including school meals and social protection, and supporting smallholder farmers to grow nutritious crops. Together, let’s ensure food systems are built not just to feed but to nourish.

Alice Ruhweza is the President of AGRA and Meetu Kapur is the Director, Nutrition, Global Growth and Opportunity at Gates Foundation

By Hailemariam Dessalegn and C.D. Glin

Africa’s agricultural sector stands at a crossroads. With nearly 70 percent of the continent’s workforce working on farms and agriculture contributing about one-third of GDP, the potential to feed its people and fuel its economies should be within reach. Yet less than 5 percent of commercial credit makes it to the smallholder farmers, youth-led agribusinesses and women entrepreneurs who are pioneering climate-smart practices and digital innovations on the ground. This financing gap of US$ 100 billion is more than a market failure, it is a barrier to prosperity and resilience.

Climate shocks are growing fiercer; supply chains are more unpredictable and global competition more intense. Across rural landscapes—from the highlands of Ethiopia to the plains of Nigeria and the valleys of South Africa—farmers experiment with drought-resistant seeds, regenerative soil practices and mobile platforms to manage risk. They do not wait for permission to innovate, but they do wait for capital. Too often, traditional lenders remain bound by rigid collateral requirements and narrow risk models that overlook the rich social and environmental returns small farms deliver.

This is the reason the recent UN Food Systems Summit +4 in Addis Ababa must be more than a diplomatic milestone. For some, it can mark a turning point from pledges on paper to pipelines of affordable, impact-first capital. This can be an opportunity to consider financing models where concessional public or philanthropic funds support communities, where private investors engage to attain social and environmental benefits, and where resource-constrained farmers can access credit, insurance and technical assistance tailored to their seasons and realities.

Blended finance has already shown its power by strategically pairing public grants or guarantees with commercial capital, unlocking billions in new investment. We’ve seen that channeling funds to women agripreneurs lifts productivity, boosts household food security and spurs economic inclusion. Deal rooms at gatherings like the Africa Food Systems Forum connect youth-led agritech startups with impact investors who value both balance-sheet returns and community transformation. Meanwhile, fintech innovations are expanding micro-credit, insurance and savings products through mobile wallets, driving down transaction costs and reshaping risk assessment for rural users. Unlocking capital is only the first step; translating it into impact requires farmer-led networks and local systems that deliver the tools, knowledge, and support farmers need to act.

Yet isolated triumphs cannot substitute for systemic change. When governments and the private sector unite around shared strategies, finance follows. Ethiopia’s Youth Agripreneur Platforms have galvanized young farmers to form cooperatives, develop processing ventures and secure blended funding aligned with national goals. Nigeria’s Agriculture Investment Plans pair credit guarantees with tax incentives to de-risk lending for agro-SMEs. Rwanda’s digital credit schemes and Ghana’s agricultural development bank underscore the power of country-led coalitions to marshal domestic and international capital for inclusive growth.

PepsiCo and the PepsiCo Foundation bring this partnership ethos to community-based agriculture, collaborating with smallholder associations in Ethiopia, South Africa and Latin America to help strengthen local potato and sunflower industries and provide market access. PepsiCo sees regenerative and inclusive agriculture as essential for a sustainable and resilient food system, benefiting both the planet and people, and seeks out opportunities for investment and collaboration to help achieve these goals. A food systems approach requires the whole of the supply chain, which means it is essential that farmers share in this value and receive both the returns and investment needed to help them be full participants.

Private sector investments should be additive, tied to practically measurable, on-farm improvements and complementary to public support. By aligning investments with national food system pathways and co-financing alongside donors, philanthropic funds and development banks, PepsiCo demonstrates how corporate capital—when guided by local stakeholders and impact-first metrics—can help scale sustainable agribusiness and build climate resilience at the farm level.

Crafting an enabling environment for resilient, productive and inclusive food systems requires regulatory reforms that unlock agri-lending, such as credit guarantees and tax credits. These reforms should be paired with investments in robust data infrastructure that shifts risk evaluation from land-based collateral to climate and agronomic performance; and a rapid scale-up of digital financial services to extend banking, insurance and payment platforms to remote communities. Interoperable systems for climate forecasting, soil health monitoring and credit scoring will help empower lenders to underwrite loans based on transparent performance data, not solely on land titles or formal collateral.

As climate change accelerates and global hunger edges upward, directing capital toward smallholder resilience emerges as one of the highest-impact investments worldwide. PepsiCo’s pep+ agenda— including a recently expanded goal to drive the adoption of regenerative, restorative, or protective agricultural practices across 10 million acres by 2030—illustrates how a food and beverage company dependent on agricultural raw materials can drive transformation by lowering barriers for farmers to adopt climate-smart practices.

Post UNFSS +4, we must convert rhetoric into reality by committing to a pan-African blended finance facility, forging data partnerships among governments, tech providers and financiers, earmarking a defined share of agriculture funding for women-led enterprises, and formalizing public-private coalitions backed by transaction-level guarantees. These pillars of action will help create the financial scaffolding that smallholder innovators need to scale their solutions.

Africa’s fields are sown with ingenuity, perseverance and ambition. What they lack is a financial architecture built for their realities, one that transforms good ideas into thriving enterprises and subsistence into sustainable prosperity. By uniting around innovation, inclusion and community leadership – investors, governments and development partners can cultivate a future that feeds the continent, fuels its economies and empowers generations to come. Let us seize this moment in Addis Ababa to sow the seeds of Africa’s prosperity and watch them flourish.

Hailemariam Dessalegn is the Chair of the Board, AGRA and Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia while C.D. Glin is the President, PepsiCo Foundation and Global Head of Social Impact at PepsiCo Inc.

Dakar, Senegal – September 1, 2025: The Africa Food Systems Forum opened in Dakar today with leaders from across the continent and globe gathering. The afternoon carried with it the launch of the Africa Food Systems Report (AFSR) – formerly the Africa Agriculture Status Report – underscoring the urgency of transforming Africa’s food systems while spotlighting innovations and opportunities for resilience, prosperity, and nourishment for 1.4 billion people.

The 2025 edition of AFSR, themed “Drivers of Change and Innovation in Africa’s Food Systems”, paints a vivid picture of immense potential. It highlights how African farmers, entrepreneurs, scientists, and policymakers are pioneering solutions that can generate jobs, nourish communities, restore ecosystems, and unlock new markets. From climate-smart farming to digital credit platforms, and from resilient infrastructure to regional trade under Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) the report underscores Africa’s capacity to lead a food systems transformation rooted in equity and sustainability.

Yet the report also makes clear that this transformation is urgent. Despite billions of dollars in commitments to agriculture and food systems, hunger and malnutrition remain alarmingly high. In 2023 alone, nearly 300 million Africans were undernourished, more than one in five people on the continent. Without decisive action, Africa is projected to overtake Asia by 2030 as the region with the highest number of undernourished people.

Key Findings

Governance as the Gamechanger: Countries with strong governance and policy coherence consistently show lower hunger and better nutrition outcomes. By contrast, fragile states with weak governance report food insecurity rates above 80 percent. It stresses that good governance is not just an enabler but the foundation of resilient food systems.

Sustainable Farming Under Pressure: African crop yields remain far below global averages. Cereal yields stand at just 1.7 tons per hectare compared to 4.2 tons globally. While Eastern Africa recorded a 30 percent rise in cereal productivity in the last decade, other regions stagnated or expanded farmland at the expense of forests and soil health. Vegetables and oil crops remain underproductive, with worrying signs of “extensification” – (farming more land instead of producing more per hectare).

Climate and Demographics as Drivers: Climate shocks, from droughts to floods, combined with rapid population growth and urbanization, are reshaping African food demand and supply. The report calls for urgent scaling of climate-smart and regenerative farming, integrated soil management, and water efficiency to safeguard Africa’s future.

Finance as the Missing Link: Despite agriculture’s central role in African economies, the sector receives less than 5 percent of commercial bank lending. Public investment averages just USD8 per rural inhabitant. The report urges governments, development partners, and private investors to scale up innovative instruments like blended finance, digital credit, and agricultural insurance to unlock growth and resilience.

Infrastructure as the Backbone: Africa loses up to 30 percent of its food before it reaches markets, largely due to poor roads, weak storage, and inadequate cold chains. Closing the annual infrastructure financing gap of USD67–USD108 billion could halve post-harvest losses and boost farmer incomes by up to 40 percent.

The report argues that the transformation of Africa’s agrifood systems is no longer optional, it is existential. With the African population projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, the cost of inaction will be measured not only in hunger but also in economic stagnation, social unrest, and lost opportunities for the continent’s youth.

The 2025 CAADP Kampala Declaration of 2025, endorsed by African Union member states, provides a blueprint for this transformation. It calls for policies that put farmers, especially women and youth, at the center, integrate sustainability and resilience into every step of the value chain, and harness the AfCFTA to unlock intra-African agricultural trade.

Voices from the Report

“The evidence is clear: Africa cannot feed its future with the tools of the past. We must invest not just in seeds and soil, but in governance, finance, and infrastructure that empower farmers as entrepreneurs and innovators,” the report states.

Dr. John Ulimwengu, Lead Author of the 2025 AFSR, added: “This year’s AFSR is more than a call to action — it is a roadmap for systemic transformation. Africa has the vision, capacity, and collective leadership to shift from fragmented progress to integrated, resilient food systems. By aligning investments, strengthening institutions, and leveraging innovation, the continent can build inclusive agrifood systems that deliver decent jobs, healthy diets, and sustainable growth for all”

It adds: “The transformation of Africa’s food systems will define the prosperity, health, and stability of the continent for generations. The choice before us is stark; act boldly now, or risk locking millions into cycles of hunger and poverty.”

About the Report

The Africa Food Systems Report (AFSR) is the continent’s leading annual review of food and agriculture systems. Produced with contributions from African researchers, policymakers, and international partners, it provides evidence, data, and policy pathways to guide Africa’s journey toward resilient, sustainable, and inclusive food systems.

Nairobi, Kenya: Monday 21^st July 2025: AGRA has announced the launch of the Africa Digital Crop Variety Catalogue, a transformative digital platform, developed in partnership with Ministries of Agriculture, the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and National Regulatory Authorities across six (6) countries. The African Digital Crop Variety Catalogue provides the first comprehensive, interactive, and searchable database of released crop varieties for the initial cohort of countries, Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

AGRA has been working on seed systems for 20 years developing robust seed business and enabling better policies that support advanced seed systems.  AGRA’s impact on Africa’s seed systems is enormous through a significant contribution to the release of 688 crop varieties released and the strengthening of 114 African seed companies.

Together with the empowerment of 38,000 Agro dealers, this is supporting 33 million farmers to access high yielding seed.  “The digital seed catalogue is an important milestone to strengthen the seed market and therefore further scale high yielding and nutrient dense seed access by smallholder farmers,” said Jonathan Said, Vice President, Centre for Technical Expertise, AGRA.

This landmark innovation is developed through CESSA – the Centre of Excellence for Seed Systems in Africa, AGRA’s one-stop platform for advancing seed systems on the continent. CESSA offers an integrated suite of tools, training, data, analysis, and digital solutions aimed at ensuring equitable access to high-quality seed for farmers.

The digital catalogue addresses long-standing challenges in seed system development, particularly the fragmentation, outdatedness, and limited accessibility of national crop variety lists. Despite hundreds of improved crop varieties being developed and released in Africa over the last decade, no single, up-to-date platform existed where governments, National Agricultural Research Institutes, seed companies, and other stakeholders including non-governmental organizations, and farmer organizations could access comprehensive information on available varieties.

“In many African countries, vital data on crop varieties is incomplete, inaccessible, or absent altogether,” said Alice Ruhweza, President of AGRA. “This has hindered farmers from accessing resilient, climate-smart, and nutrient-dense crop varieties. The Africa Digital Crop Variety Catalogue fills this critical gap by offering a centralized and transparent digital resource,” added Ms. Ruhweza.

Anchored by findings of AGRA’s Seed Systems Assessment Tool (SeedSAT), the Seed investment plans and report of the Seed System Performance Index (SSPI)—which is now adopted by the African Union as a continental benchmark—the new platform reflects AGRA’s commitment to actionable, data-driven reforms in Africa’s agricultural transformation.  The digital catalogue is a milestone in the implementation recommendations of the Seed Investment Plan a blue print for advancing seed systems in Africa.

The absence of such a platform has previously hampered compliance, seed quality and certification processes, and investments in seed systems, resulting in low adoption rates and a huge seed gap. Furthermore, the gap in information disproportionately affects women and young people, who often lack the networks and resources to access knowledge and business opportunities in seed systems.

“This platform is not just a digital catalogue – it is a game-changer for seed sector transparency, equity, and growth,” said Dr. Jane Ininda, Interim Director, CESSA at AGRA. “By consolidating variety data from across the continent, we’re enabling smarter investment, research prioritization, and ultimately, improved livelihoods for farmers,” added Dr. Ininda.

With this launch, AGRA calls on governments, seed companies, researchers, and development partners to adopt and contribute to the Africa Digital Crop Variety Catalogue, making it a living tool for Africa’s agricultural resilience and prosperity.

The Africa Digital Crop Variety Catalogue significantly improves agriculture and seed systems across Africa by providing an up-to-date, comprehensive list of officially released crop varieties from multiple countries. Its searchable, user-friendly interface serves breeders, regulators, seed companies, and policymakers, enabling quick access to detailed data that supports commercialisation and better decision-making in variety choices, seed production, selection, and marketing.

The platform promotes inclusivity by engaging both local and national seed stakeholders, strengthening grassroots participation. It also advances gender equity and youth inclusion by improving access to vital agricultural information for underserved groups, addressing past challenges in compliance and certification.

With this launch, AGRA calls on governments, seed companies, researchers, and development partners to adopt and contribute to the Africa Digital Crop Variety Catalogue, making it a living tool for Africa’s agricultural resilience and prosperity.

The catalogue can be accessed via https://varietycatalogues.com

​About AGRA

AGRA is an African-led organisation focused on putting farmers at the centre of our continent’s growing economy. AGRA advances uniquely African solutions to sustainably raise farmers’ productivity and connect them to a growing marketplace. Together with its partners—including researchers, donors, African governments, the private sector, and civil society—AGRA seeks to create an environment where Africa sustainably feeds itself.

For media inquiries, please contact:  Humphrey Chola – HChola@agra.org