Author: AGRF Digital

Sep 30, 2025 | Blog

The Next Season of Innovation Is Taking Root in African Agriculture

Deep in the interior of Kano, Nigeria, a tractor rumbles through a field that, just a few years ago, would have been tilled by hand. 

The machine, however, is not owned by the landowner. Instead, it was hired through Hello Tractor, a mobile app that links tractor owners with smallholder farmers in need. For farmers, the service means crops are planted on time, and for the owners, it means income from a machine that might otherwise sit idle.

This innovation is particularly significant in Nigeria, where mechanisation levels remain among the lowest in Africa. The country has just 5–7 tractors for every 10,000 hectares of land, far below the FAO’s recommended levels. With about 80 million hectares of arable land, less than half of which is cultivated, this gap in tractor availability severely limits productivity. Hello Tractor helps bridge that gap by making existing machinery more accessible and efficient.

Scenes like this, where technology is linking farmers to services they would previously struggle to access, are becoming commonplace across Africa. In Kenya, eGranary, a mobile-based platform, gives farmers direct access to buyers, inputs, and even credit. Instead of relying on middlemen who take the lion’s share of profits, farmers can now see transparent prices and negotiate on fairer terms. As a result, what begins with a farmer’s phone leads to higher incomes and stronger bargaining power for rural communities.

Meanwhile, precision farming tools are beginning to change the reality of agriculture being at the mercy of weather and soil. With satellite data and localised weather forecasts delivered via SMS, farmers can now make more informed choices about when to plant or which fertiliser to apply. In regions where a single missed rainfall can determine the fate of a season, such insights mean survival.

These advancements illustrate how technology is steadily reshaping the agricultural value chain, from the way food is grown to how it is traded and consumed. Yet the challenge remains: ensuring innovation reaches the millions of smallholder farmers who sustain Africa’s food systems.

That challenge was front and center at the 2025 Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar, Senegal, where policymakers, businesses, and farmer organisations gathered to take stock of the continent’s progress. Among the strongest revelations was that while digital tools are expanding rapidly, uptake among women and youth remains uneven, creating a new kind of digital divide that risks entrenching inequality. At the same time, delegates celebrated how farmer-led innovations, including youth-led input delivery startups, are proving that when given the right support, African solutions can outpace imported models.

The forum also underscored that technology alone cannot deliver transformation without investment in infrastructure and trust. Roads, storage, and reliable electricity were repeatedly cited as the missing links between farm-level innovation and real market impact. 

Another outcome was a renewed commitment by governments to harmonise policies on digital agriculture, aiming to cut down barriers that prevent tools from scaling across borders. Perhaps most striking was the consensus that Africa’s food future will hinge less on isolated success stories and more on building ecosystems where science, finance, and farmer knowledge converge.

It is in this regard that global and regional partners showcased their contribution in bridging the gap between science and practice. Companies like Yara and OCP Africa, for instance, are developing soil-specific fertilisers that deliver precise nutrients while avoiding waste. At the same time, they are investing in farmer training and digital advisory tools to make sure knowledge translates into real results in the field.

The ultimate task now, as the Dakar forum concluded, is to ensure that progress does not stop at the edge of the village, but penetrates within, so that smallholders are not just passive recipients of technology, but active architects of a modernized African agriculture.

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From Promise to Scale: Building Climate Resilience in African Agriculture

Africa contributes barely 4 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet its farmers are paying the steepest price as rising heat and erratic rains continue to erode their agricultural endeavours. According to the World Bank, climate change could shrink Africa’s crop yields by up to 20 percent by 2050. Such declines imply worsening food security for the continent’s 1.4 billion people, 20% of whom currently face starvation.

Against such odds, the continent is now left with two choices: to invest in resilience now, or to watch as livelihoods and ecosystems collapse. It’s clear that, the continent, which depends on agriculture for most of its sustenance, must select the first choice.

On this path, climate-smart agriculture, an approach that increases productivity while lowering emissions and building resilience, offers one way forward. This was mentioned at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2025 in Dakar, Senegal, held under the theme “Africa’s Youth: Leading Collaboration, Innovation and Implementation of Agri-Food Systems Transformation.” Multiple success stories were cited to back this approach. For example, in Kenya, farmers who adopted drought-tolerant maize varieties reported yielded 20 to 30 percent higher than neighbours who planted conventional seed. Similarly, in Niger, simple soil and water conservation practices have helped restore more than 5 million hectares of degraded land. This shows that practical solutions not only exist but can also be scaled when backed by political will and financial commitment.

Yet resilience is not just about restoring land but also protecting communities when shocks strike. This is where initiatives like the African Risk Capacity (ARC) come in. The ARC pools risk across countries, providing insurance that delivers rapid payouts after disasters. In 2022 alone, for example, it disbursed $14.2 million to drought-stricken Malawi, enabling food and cash transfers for more than two million people. For many families, these kinds of safety nets can be the difference between recovery and destitution.

Research is another pillar of transformation, and CGIAR’s Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security program serves as an ideal link, working with governments to integrate climate resilience into food policies. Notable efforts include breeding heat-tolerant rice in West Africa and modeling water management strategies in the Nile Basin.

However, even as such scientific advancements continue to be documented, the gap between knowledge and implementation often remains wide. Bridging that divide calls for institutions that can translate evidence into action on the ground. One such partner is the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), which has embedded climate risk management across its portfolio. In Burkina Faso, for instance, the organisation is rolling out a new project designed to strengthen smallholder resilience. Similarly, the IKEA Foundation is investing in off-grid renewable energy for agriculture, advancing an integrated model that links energy, food, and livelihoods. This is as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) helps African countries to align their national plans with sustainable land and water use, ensuring ecosystems remain intact even as yields rise.

Such engagements confirm that Africa does not lack ideas, technologies, or partnerships but scale. The challenge ahead is to expand and multiply these efforts so that the continent’s farmers can remain resilient in the face of worsening climatic odds.

Sep 26, 2025 | Blog

From Conference Halls to Kitchen Tables: Building Food Systems That Nourish Africa

In Dakar, Senegal, between the 31st August to the 5th September, under the presidency of H.E. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the Africa Food Systems Forum gathers leaders from across the continent in meetings and dialogue under the theme: “Africa’s Youth: Leading Collaboration, Innovation, and the Implementation of Agri-Food Systems Transformation.” 

Amidst the talk of transformation at the conference was a stark reality: too many Africans remain poorly nourished.

In 2024 alone, more than 307 million Africans were chronically undernourished, representing over one-fifth of the continent’s population. Projections for 2030 suggest that nearly 60 percent of the world’s chronically hungry will be African. On top of that, over 1 billion people on the continent cannot afford a healthy diet. In many households, the cheapest calories come from starchy staples and ultra-processed foods that ease hunger but deepen malnutrition. 

Unfortunately, under these circumstances, children, who will soon define the future of the continent’s food systems, are paying the highest price. Nearly one in three African children is stunted, a condition that locks in physical and cognitive disadvantages before adulthood even begins. Six percent are wasted, thin to the point of danger, and in East and Southern Africa alone, 13 million children suffer from acute malnutrition, many in urgent need of therapeutic food. These figures represent millions of futures compromised before they have had a chance to unfold.

Paradoxically, the crisis is not just about hunger but also excess. As cities expand and processed food becomes cheaper and more available, rates of overweight and obesity are rising across the continent. In the next five years, nearly half of the women in Africa are projected to be obese, as will be 25 percent of the men. This shift is pushing up rates of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and many other lifestyle-related complications in health.

The overlapping crises are driven by forces larger than individual choice. Climate change is distorting seasons, bringing droughts one year and floods the next. Conflict has also driven millions from their fields, cutting them off from both production and markets. This is as global food price spikes continue to force families to make painful choices between nutrition and survival. Unfortunately, when survival wins, nutrition loses.

And yet, despite these pressures, there are reasons for cautious optimism. Across Africa, young people are piloting climate-smart agriculture, experimenting with drought-tolerant seeds, and developing apps that link farmers directly to consumers. Governments are expanding food fortification programs, ensuring that staples like flour and cooking oil deliver essential vitamins and minerals. Meanwhile, school feeding programs are increasingly sourcing from local farmers, boosting rural incomes while improving diets for children.

The challenge now is to move from scattered innovation to systemic transformation, which means aligning policy, innovation, and investment in ways that make healthy diets affordable and accessible for all. Policy is already proving its power in places like Ghana, where taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages, supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), is reducing the consumption of unhealthy drinks while raising revenue for public health programs. The initiative confirms that when governments use fiscal and regulatory tools to shift incentives away from cheap, nutrient-poor calories toward healthier options, they create food environments that favor nutrition instead of malnutrition.

Innovation is equally critical, and Africa is showing the world what is possible. HarvestPlus has led the way in biofortification, breeding staple crops such as maize, beans, and sweet potatoes with higher levels of vitamin A, iron, and zinc. Millions of farming households now consume these crops daily, with measurable improvements in health and resilience. Meanwhile, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is advancing its Smart Food initiative, bringing back traditional crops like sorghum, millet, and legumes that are naturally nutrient-rich and climate-resilient. By training women in Niger and beyond to process and market these foods, ICRISAT has restored sustainable diets while creating pathways for women’s economic empowerment. Such innovations prove that African solutions, grounded in local crops and knowledge, can reshape nutrition for generations.

However, innovation cannot thrive without investment, and this is where partnerships like those led by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) come in.  GAIN has, over the years, invested in small and medium-sized food system enterprises, confirming that nutritious food can be delivered sustainably through market-based models. Its support has led to the production of fortified flours and many other low-cost but nutrient-dense products in underserved communities. Such engagements show that businesses can deliver both profit and public good when backed by the right financing and enabling environment. Unlocking more of this potential will require de-risked capital, blended finance, and investments in infrastructure such as cold chains, rural roads, and digital platforms that can carry nutritious foods all the way to the last mile.

Finally, it is worth reiterating that the energy and ideas of young Africans are already reshaping the food landscape, but to match the scale of the crisis, their innovations need supportive policies and sustained investment. This is where forums like the Africa Food Systems Forum must rise above rhetoric, and must commit to supporting programmes, partners and innovations that make nutritious food affordable and accessible, whether for the boda boda rider in Nairobi, the market trader in Accra, or the student in Dakar itself.

Ultimately, the future of Africa’s food systems will not be decided in conference halls, but on plates in homes across the continent. The challenge is immense, but so is the opportunity to align policy, innovation, and investment in a way that secures nutrition dignity across the continent.

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Du discours à la table : vers des systèmes alimentaires qui nourrissent l’Afrique

Du 31 août au 5 septembre, Dakar a accueilli le Africa Food Systems Forum (le Forum des systèmes alimentaires africains)  sous la présidence de Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Le thème — Jeunesse africaine : Fer de lance de la collaboration, l’innovation et la transformation des systèmes alimentaires africains — était à la fois opportun et urgent. Le Forum a rappelé que l’avenir alimentaire de l’Afrique ne se décide pas dans les salles de conférence, mais dans les assiettes de millions de familles.

Au sein des discours de transformation de la conférence se cachait une réalité frappante : trop d’Africains restent mal nourris. En 2024, plus de 307 millions d’africains étaient sous-alimentés, ceci est 20% de la population africaine. Les prédictions estiment qu’en 2030, presque 60% des personnes qui souffrent de faim chronique seront africaines. Plus d’un milliard de la population mondiale n’ont pas les moyens de se nourrir de façon équilibrée et pour de nombreux foyers, les calories les moins chères se trouvent dans la nourriture ultra-transformée – des aliments qui soulagent la faim, mais qui font augmenter également les taux de malnutrition.

Dans ces circonstances, ce sont malheureusement nos enfants et nos jeunes auxquels la situation coûte la plus chère; la même jeunesse qui formera le futur de nos systèmes alimentaires. Presque un tiers d’enfants africains auront un retard de croissance, ce qui provoque des difficultés physiques et cognitives bien avant qu’ils deviennent adultes. 6% sont dangereusement maigres, et en Afrique de l’Est et l’Afrique subsaharienne, 13 millions d’enfants souffrent de malnutrition aiguë, dont plusieurs ont besoin de la nourriture thérapeutique. Ces données sont représentatives des vies et des avenirs perdus, compromis même avant qu’ils commencent.

Ces défis ne relèvent pas seulement de choix individuels. Le changement climatique détruit les récoltes par des inondations et des sécheresses. Les conflits déplacent les agriculteurs. La hausse des prix pousse des familles à choisir entre manger pour survivre ou bien se nourrir correctement. Quand survivre devient la priorité, la nutrition en souffre.

Mais Dakar a également mis en lumière des solutions qui prouvent que la transformation est possible. Partout sur le continent, de jeunes innovateurs développent l’agriculture intelligente face au climat, des semences résistantes à la sécheresse et des applications reliant directement les agriculteurs aux marchés. Les gouvernements renforcent la fortification alimentaire et les programmes de cantines scolaires qui nourrissent les enfants tout en dynamisant les économies locales.

Les politiques donnent aussi des résultats. La taxe sur les boissons sucrées au Ghana, soutenue par le IDRC ( International Development Research Centre), a réduit la consommation tout en finançant des programmes de santé, un exemple clair de la manière dont les outils fiscaux peuvent orienter les choix alimentaires vers des régimes plus sains.

L’innovation est un autre point fort. Les cultures bio fortifiées de HarvestPlus — patates douces riches en vitamine A, haricots enrichis en fer — sont désormais des aliments de base dans des millions de foyers, améliorant la nutrition à travers le continent. Le mouvement Smart Food de l’ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics) redonne vie à des cultures traditionnelles et résilientes au climat comme le mil et le sorgho, tout en autonomisant les femmes entrepreneures qui les transforment et les commercialisent. Ce sont des solutions africaines avec une pertinence mondiale.

Cependant, l’investissement reste l’élément absent. Des organisations comme GAIN (Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition) ont montré qu’une alimentation nutritive peut être à la fois durable et rentable en soutenant les petites et moyennes entreprises. Mais pour atteindre les populations les plus éloignées, l’Afrique a besoin de davantage de financements mixtes, d’infrastructures et de capitaux à risque pour démultiplier les solutions prometteuses.

Le Forum a été clair: l’Afrique ne peut pas se permettre un nouveau cycle de grandes déclarations. Ce qu’il faut désormais, c’est de l’engagement et de la responsabilité — pour aligner politiques, innovation et investissements afin que les aliments nutritifs soient accessibles et abordables pour tous.

C’est le moment où l’Afrique passe du discours à l’action. Car l’avenir de nos systèmes alimentaires se joue déjà,  dans les foyers des jeunes mères à Lagos, dans les cantines scolaires de Nairobi, dans les champs des petits exploitants du Niger.

Le défi est immense. Mais l’opportunité l’est tout autant: bâtir un système alimentaire qui nourrit, autonomise et soutient l’Afrique pour les générations à venir.

Sep 25, 2025 | Blog

Africa’s Youth and the Future of Food: IFPRI’s Key Takeaways from AFS Forum 2025

Steven Were Omamo, Director, Development Strategies and Governance; Director for Africa, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Over 60% of Africa’s people are under 25. By 2035, more young Africans will join the workforce each year than in the rest of the world combined, underscoring the urgency of the 2025 African Food Systems Forum (AFS Forum) theme: “Africa’s Youth: Leading Collaboration, Innovation, and Implementation of Agri-Food Systems Transformation.”

The spotlight on youth was clear from the outset. Presidents Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal and Paul Kagame of Rwanda engaged in substantive dialogue with young agrifood entrepreneurs from across the Continent.  Their energy was sustained through to a jubilant award ceremony celebrating the “Go-Gettaz” along with other prizes honoring young Africans.

Youth at the Center of Food Systems Transformation

This year’s Africa Food Systems Report (AFSR), produced by AGRA, saw youth playing a key role. For the first time, the report expanded its focus beyond just agriculture to a broader food systems view, stressing that food systems transformation must be driven by and for youth. For young Africans, the report confirms that their role extends far beyond being recipients; they are essential players, farmers, agripreneurs, processors, innovators, and policymakers, whose leadership will decide whether Africa moves past fragmented gains, toward meaningful and systemic change.

Equally encouraging was the signing of the Global Future Foods Memorandum of Understanding between AFS Forum and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which will open new markets for African youth innovators. The Gates Foundation and the World Bank co-authored a white paper on digital public infrastructure for agriculture, emphasizing youth-led tech solutions — another commendable step from two heavyweights in ‘action over rhetoric’.

To sustain momentum, the energy around youth at AFS Forum must translate into concrete initiatives and policies that tackle the opportunities and significant challenges of the African youth bulge.  I was therefore encouraged by the launch of a $6.7 million Food Trade Corridors Partnership by the African Union, AGRA, and the UK, which will boost intra-African trade and support youth-led agribusiness.

Policy Pathways: From AFS Forum to CAADP

Leaders frequently referenced the third phase of CAADP (2026–2035), which the Kampala Declaration initiated. This forward-looking blueprint guides African policymakers in transforming the continent’s agrifood systems in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063. It represents a significant evolution from earlier frameworks by embedding equity, empowerment, and accountability as central principles. The numerous references to the Kampala Declaration at AFS Forum show how seriously decision-makers take it.

The CAADP Kampala Declaration calls for a shift in perspective: youth should be recognized as active co-creators of policy and innovation. It advocates for at least 30% youth representation in agrifood value chains and governance platforms. The third phase of CAADP also aims to promote inclusive financing models, land access reform, and youth-focused investment platforms, while emphasizing technical and vocational education (TVET), digital literacy, and entrepreneurship training. Youth-led agritech, climate-smart agriculture, and data-driven policy engagement are highlighted, all with youth at the core.

I, like many others, strongly support the CAADP framework, whose goals clearly align with CGIAR’s, and its concrete results drive credibility: since its inception in 2003,  CAADP has significantly increased public investments in agriculture, and improved coordination and accountability through a Biennial Review, leaders introduced in 2017 to track progress, compare country performance, and embed a culture of evidence-based and success-driven policymaking.  Nevertheless, while many countries adopted CAADP-aligned plans, weak institutions, funding gaps, and instability slow implementation. I believe these challenges can be addressed through collaborative action, and their resolution promises an even stronger framework.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite progress, there are significant challenges to overcome. With a staggering 26% of African youth currently classified as “Not in Employment, Education or Training” (NEET) and considering recent major youth protests across several African countries, the urgency to advance CAADP’s youth-related ambitions is clear. The responsibility falls on national governments, especially as Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) decreases, and calls mount for African governments to increase their own budget allocations for food systems transformation.

National governments must prioritize implementing, or ‘domesticating,’ the Kampala Declaration. To create real opportunities for Africa’s youth, we need to pay attention to the fundamentals of policymaking and investment prioritization. Governments must integrate youth priorities into National Agrifood Systems Investment Plans (NASIPs). National budgets, rather than declarations, reflect a government’s true priorities.

Concrete steps include providing youth entrepreneurs with faster, affordable business and intellectual property registrations; access to patient capital, mentorship, and peer learning platforms; investments in digital infrastructure and agritech; improved rural connectivity and digital literacy; and expanded vocational training. Equally important is better communication about the CAADP agenda to excite and engage more stakeholders, and developing clearer indicators, so policymakers can ensure accountability, measure progress, and increase transparency.

AFS Forum 2025 brought together ministers, financiers, entrepreneurs, experts, and civil society leaders to elevate African youth. The responsibility now lies with policymakers to sustain commitments, and with youth to seize the opportunities ahead. Those of us in development, research, and innovation stand ready to support them.

Sep 4, 2025 | Blog

How are young people transforming food systems through technology and partnerships?

By Deogratius Magero, Youth Engagement Manager, CABI

Young people in agriculture are transforming the future of food systems and advancing cooperation through technology and partnerships. Across the globe, young people are strengthening food value chains by embracing innovation and collaborating widely across borders.

In Africa, young people are becoming the dynamic engine of agriculture. The World Economic Forum reports that the sector employs more than 50% of the continent’s workforce, and over 60% of Africa’s population is under the age of 25. A tremendous opportunity, therefore, exists to harness the energy and entrepreneurship of young people. From biological control and pest management, promotion of digital advisory tools to pesticide risk reduction and spray service provision, they have the potential to revolutionise food systems in Africa.

This blog explores how young people in agriculture are becoming powerful agents of change. Together, using technology and partnerships, they are paving the way to better farming systems. In turn, their approaches are supporting the realization of important global goals, including climate adaptation, economic growth, and food security.

Driving change through agricultural technology

Young people in Africa are driving innovations in farming. Quick to adopt new tools, many see technology not only as a means of improving food security, but also as a way to build thriving businesses. With access to training initiatives, young people in agriculture are adopting and implementing new, sustainable food systems and ways of growing and selling produce. The results are improving the lives of those trained, their peers as well as others in their larger farmer communities.

The benefits of biocontrol

Take biological control (biocontrol), for example. In Zambia, biocontrol training has helped young people to manage the spread of fall armyworm while improving food safety and security. Climate change has worsened the spread of crop pests and invasive species. Fall armyworm, for example, affects nearly 98% of smallholder maize farmers in Zambia. As a result, the country faces estimated losses of US $159 million each season. Women and poorer farmers are hardest hit.

To address this, in 2023, CABI launched a three-year project with ACIAR, the Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI), and the University of Zambia. The initiative trained young people aged 18-35 in agribusiness. They learned to produce and apply biocontrol products like Fawligen and Metarhizium rileyi – innovative new technologies that offer eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides. Specifically, these products help farmers to control the spread of fall armyworm more sustainably, increasing yields and protecting biodiversity.

Biocontrol is a critical part of building sustainable food systems. It reduces reliance on harmful chemicals, protecting beneficial insects and increasing yields. From farm to fork, it supports safer food production for smallholders and consumers alike.

In July 2024, 20 young people (12 women and 8 men) started training across four districts. In addition to training in agribusiness, the youths shared their skills and training with over 80 peers. Together, they formed four youth cooperatives with over 100 youth members across the four districts and set up local spray services, exploring new sources of income and benefitting around 3,000 farmers in their communities. To scale up the impact of this initiative, 45 young people from the four cooperatives have been trained as trainers in agribusiness in partnership with the University of Zambia, Zambia Agricultural Research Institute and CABI. These young trainers will now work to educate an additional 1,500 farmers on the shift from traditional farming to a more strategic agribusiness approach. Additionally, representatives from the youth cooperatives received training focused on using their cooperatives as tools for generating income. This equips them with the knowledge to leverage the cooperative structure for economic benefit, further enhancing the project’s impact beyond the direct training of individual farmers.

This novel initiative is driving tangible change by empowering youth to lead agribusiness ventures and promote sustainable pest management.

Creating impact at scale through partnerships

Across regions, young people are working in partnership to build successful agribusinesses. By collaborating with local businesses, cooperatives, and development organizations, they are scaling up their efforts and creating a lasting impact. These collaborations are not only boosting youth employment but also strengthening food systems and driving innovation in sustainable agriculture.

Collaboration for sustainable solutions

The PlantwisePlus youth empowerment work is driving a transformative movement of young people in Kenya and Uganda. Here, youths and local agricultural cooperatives are co-creating and spearheading modern agribusiness. In collaboration with a range of partners, CABI trains young people in food production, value chain development and agricultural service provision through the programme. New skills are developed in technical areas such as integrated pest management, orchard management, and spray service provision in addition to business and financial literacy.

Partnership is a central element of effective food systems because they rely on so many interconnected factors. No single actor can solve challenges within food systems alone. From food production to distribution, these systems rely on diverse expertise and knowledge.

Collaborative models like PlantwisePlus are unlocking scalable pathways to sustainable agricultural growth. The programme plays a strategic role by connecting key actors and equipping young people with the tools, skills, and platforms they need to build successful agribusinesses. Through practical training, mentorship, and support from cooperatives and exporters, the initiative empowers youths to lead innovation, strengthen value chains, and contribute to more resilient food systems.

The initiative has gone from strength to strength, boosting business growth and incomes among trainees in Kenya and Uganda. The young service providers who participated now earn up to $115/month in Kenya and $56/month in Uganda. In addition, access to loans has increased their agribusiness ventures. Trained youths are now mentoring peers, up to 4-6 mentees each and some have established agro-shops independently. Moreover, cooperatives have reported increased food production, memberships and market access.

Furthermore, the initiative has had a ripple effect throughout the community, seeing more farmers become active again. Knowledge is being shared informally through community networks, further strengthening local food systems and showing the power of partnership.

Pathways to boost young people’s employment in agriculture

Scalable and sustainable business models across specific pathways can help to drive youth employment, and technology and partnerships form important components of these pathways. These are the findings of a CABI-led review, published in CABI Agriculture and Bioscience in June 2025. The study identified six key routes to employment for young people in agriculture:

1. Agri-dealership
2. Agri-service provision
3. Green entrepreneurship
4. Market facilitation
5. Primary production
6. Value addition

The pathways are characterized by approaches such as certification schemes, collective action, contractual arrangements, and revenue sharing. They help young entrepreneurs overcome challenges that impact food systems such as access to capital and markets.

Technology and partnerships form important parts of these pathways. When it comes to technology, the study argues that digital innovations, for example, allow rapid scaling by expanding value chains into interconnected value networks. Moreover, in relation to partnerships, the study highlights how formal and informal networks are vital for integrating youth into dynamic agricultural value chains. These connections show that youth pathways are not just about employment. They are threads that can be woven throughout food systems to make them stronger and more sustainable.

Investing in young people in agriculture – the future of food security

Young people are a driving force, helping to shape the future of agriculture. Access to training, technology, and partnerships gives a valuable boost to their employment opportunities. Yet, this access also does much more – it strengthens entire food systems and safeguards food security. CABI’s programmes and projects are helping to leverage the opportunity that young people in Africa offer. Their innovation and collective action are addressing urgent challenges such as climate change and pest outbreaks. With continued investment and support, young people in agriculture will remain at the forefront of building a greener, more resilient, and more food-secure future for all.

Sep 1, 2025 | Blog

L’élément manquant pour transformer la Déclaration de Kampala en action? Les recherches basées sur les preuves

Le soutien des dirigeants africains, en Janvier 2025, de la Déclaration de Kampala, a transmis le message bien clair : les systèmes alimentaires africains doivent devenir plus résilients, plus inclusifs et plus durables. Les engagements de cette déclaration, qui mettent en priorité la jeunesse, les femmes et les petits agriculteurs, représentent de fortes ambitions. Le vrai défi se trouve maintenant dans la transformation de ses mots en impact concret, durable et significatif.

Les recherches basées sur les preuves seront indispensables pour réussir une telle transformation. En utilisant les approches prouvées, les gouvernements et les institutions pourront suivre les progrès, et combler l’écart entre l’engagement et la mise en œuvre. En plus de valider les mesures prises, les données permettent d’identifier celles qui produisent réellement des résultats, garantissant la responsabilité et veillant à ce qu’aucun groupe ne soit laissé pour compte.

Le TAAT Policy Enabler de la Banque africaine de développement (BAD) en est un bon exemple. Créé pour enlever les obstacles pour la mise en œuvre des innovations agricoles, TAAT travaille en partenariat avec les gouvernements pour transformer et harmoniser les politiques. Ceci accélère l’adoption des technologies et des méthodes qui renforcent la productivité et la résilience à travers la chaîne de valeur agricole. Le projet a accéléré le processus d’enregistrement de variété de semences, a aligné les normes des engrais et a amélioré l’accès au financement, démontrant la vraie possibilité de traduire les politiques stratégiques sur papier, en action. Une telle preuve est importante, car chaque journée perdue à cause des obstacles bureaucratiques reste un jour où les petits agriculteurs manquent l’opportunité d’améliorer leurs récoltes, et donc, leurs revenus. 

Les recherches de CABI sur l’inclusion des femmes et des jeunes dans l’agriculture offrent un deuxième aperçu important. Ce rapport récent présente, en 10 points stratégiques, des leçons acquises à travers le continent pour les législateurs. De la provision d’accès équitable aux terres, à la mise en place des outils numériques pour les services d’extension, et des voies éclairées pour le développement des leaders jeunes et femmes dans les systèmes agroalimentaires, la priorité est désormais la création des politiques inclusives et pratiques. Aujourd’hui, reconnaître simplement l’importance de la jeunesse dans l’avenir des systèmes alimentaires africains ne suffira plus. Une politique efficace agit en créant des récompenses concrètes, des programmes de mentorat et des partenariats qui encouragent nos jeunes à participer à long-terme. De la même façon, il faut que les femmes puissent remplir davantage de rôles décisionnels, que cela soit chez les organisations coopératives, les producteurs ou dans les agro-business en général. 

Un appel aux connaissances partagées

La Déclaration de Kampala représente un engagement collectif pour transformer les systèmes alimentaires en Afrique. Mais il est important que la transformation ne reste pas une idée abstraite, et que nous voyions ces changements dans un meilleur accès aux ressources clés, l’amélioration significative de la productivité durable, et les revenus plus importants pour nos populations agricoles.

Pour cela, les plateformes telles que l’Africa Food Systems Forum (l’AFSF) sont essentielles. Rendre disponibles les recherches telles que celles de TAAT et de CABI nous permet de renforcer nos connaissances et notre compréhension afin de nous rendre responsables. Cependant, il ne faut pas conclure la discussion ainsi ; il faut continuer à produire les exemples, les recherches et les structures qui assureront que cette Déclaration soit un vrai catalyseur du changement. 

Rejoignez-nous à l’AFSF 2025, pour explorer les raisons prouvées de faire avancer les engagements de la Déclaration de Kampala, sous le thème Jeunesse africaine: Fer de lance de la collaboration, de l’innovation et de la transformation des systèmes alimentaires. L’événement, qui se déroule à Dakar, au Sénégal, vise un objectif incontournable – assurer que de tels engagements se transforment en actions concrètes, pour les jeunes, les femmes et les petits agriculteurs de l’Afrique.

Aug 26, 2025 | News

Quand les jeunes transforment les systèmes alimentaires africains

Promenez-vous dans n’importe quelle ville d’Afrique et vous ressentirez l’énergie d’un continent jeune. Près de 60% de la population africaine a moins de 25 ans: un véritable dividende démographique. Selon la Banque africaine de développement (AfDB), entre 10 et 12 millions de personnes arrivent chaque année sur le marché du travail. Cette dynamique offre des perspectives immenses de transformation. Mais derrière ces opportunités subsistent de profondes inégalités, en particulier pour ceux qui dépendent de l’agriculture. Aujourd’hui, 67% des agriculteurs africains n’ont pas accès aux intrants, outils, terres ou financements nécessaires.

 

Malgré leur potentiel, les innovations agricoles portées par les jeunes peinent à attirer les financements et la reconnaissance qu’elles méritent. À peine 5% des financements totaux vont au secteur agricole. La AfDB estime le déficit de financement à près de 75 milliards de dollars pour les petits exploitants et leurs entreprises, laissant de nombreuses familles dans la pauvreté. Pour inverser cette tendance, il faut bâtir des structures concrètes et mesurables :

  •       des stratégies alimentaires nationales qui intègrent pleinement la jeunesse ;
  •       des budgets dédiés aux entreprises agricoles dirigées par des jeunes ;
  •       des données accessibles au public permettant de suivre:

o   le nombre d’entreprises agricoles financées et fondées par des jeunes ;

o   le nombre d’hectares cultivés en agriculture « intelligente face au climat » ;

o   la couverture des services d’appui priorisant la jeunesse.

 

C’est ainsi que les jeunes passeront de bénéficiaires à architectes de la transformation – en gardant à l’esprit que tout architecte suit des plans en constante évolution. Cette évolution peut s’inspirer des mécanismes de quotas de jeunesse en politique, qui garantissent un financement adapté, réduisent les risques, facilitent l’accès à la terre et renforcent les conseils consultatifs menés par des jeunes.

 

Les politiques doivent utiliser le numérique –  plateformes en ligne, formations mobiles et tableaux de bord conçus avec les jeunes – pour réduire les écarts d’information et d’accès. Imaginez un groupe de jeunes ruraux lançant une entreprise agroalimentaire après une formation gouvernementale suivie sur mobile: inclusion et responsabilisation deviennent réalité. Ce sont ces investissements d’aujourd’hui qui construiront l’Afrique de demain.

 

Le secteur privé et les organisations de développement ont un rôle essentiel dans cette transition. Plusieurs initiatives prouvent déjà l’impact possible lorsque les jeunes sont placés au cœur de la transformation alimentaire. L’ UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), avec son projet « Building Resilient Agricultural Finance and Insurance Markets in Ethiopia », montre comment des systèmes financiers ruraux inclusifs réduisent les risques pour les petits exploitants et ouvrent la voie aux entreprises agricoles dirigées par des jeunes. De son côté, l’ICIPE (International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology) élargit les opportunités avec son programme « Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture » (MaYEA), qui crée des milliers d’emplois dans l’élevage d’insectes et les chaînes de valeur. La Fondation Rockefeller, quant à elle, réinvente les chaînes de valeur grâce à son programme Regenerative School Meals, reliant agriculteurs locaux et écoles pour offrir des repas nutritifs et respectueux du climat. Ces approches améliorent la nutrition des enfants tout en créant des marchés stables pour les entreprises agricoles de jeunes, démontrant que l’innovation et les moyens de subsistance peuvent aller de pair.

Coup de projecteur : Construire des futurs agroécologiques grâce au programme YEFFA

À travers le continent, des initiatives comme le programme Youth Entrepreneurship for Food and Agricultural Transformation (YEFFA) de la Fondation Mastercard et AGRA aident les jeunes Africains à transformer leurs idées en entreprises agricoles florissantes. Le programme YEFFA offre aux jeunes des formations pratiques, du mentorat et des opportunités de financement pour favoriser des systèmes alimentaires durables.

L’une de ses réussites les plus inspirantes vient du Burkina Faso, où le Wendinkonte Consortium redéfinit l’entrepreneuriat vert. Nous avons rencontré Djéneba Pilabré pour en savoir plus.

Entretien : Donner du pouvoir aux communautés grâce à l’agroécologie

À propos du Wendinkonte Consortium
 Le Wendinkonte Consortium est une entreprise d’entrepreneuriat vert basée à Ouahigouya, au Burkina Faso. Nous développons un modèle agroécologique intégré combinant agriculture, aviculture, pisciculture, production de biofertilisants et charbon écologique.

Notre objectif est de protéger la terre tout en nourrissant durablement les communautés. Au-delà de la production, nous soutenons la réinsertion sociale et économique des femmes et des jeunes déplacés internes en leur offrant des formations et des opportunités d’emploi. Cet engagement a contribué à améliorer la sécurité alimentaire locale, à renforcer la résilience des familles et à réduire la pression environnementale liée à l’utilisation du bois de chauffe et des engrais chimiques.

Mon expérience avec le programme YEFFA de la Fondation Mastercard
 Participer au programme YEFFA a été un moment décisif dans mon parcours. J’ai non seulement renforcé mes compétences entrepreneuriales, mais j’ai aussi élargi mon réseau à travers des échanges inspirants avec d’autres jeunes leaders africains. Ce programme m’a donné confiance en mon potentiel, tout en m’équipant des outils nécessaires pour structurer et mieux valoriser mon modèle agroécologique.

Mon conseil aux jeunes qui souhaitent bâtir un avenir dans l’agriculture
 Je leur dirais que l’agriculture n’est pas seulement une profession traditionnelle — c’est une opportunité d’innovation et de transformation. C’est un domaine qui ouvre la voie à la résilience, à la création d’emplois et à la sécurité alimentaire. Avec passion, persévérance et vision durable, les jeunes peuvent créer des solutions innovantes qui répondent aux défis d’aujourd’hui tout en préparant l’avenir.

 

Voici les possibilités qui seront débattus à l’Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) 2025. 

 

Le thème? Jeunesse africaine: Fer de lance de la collaboration, l’innovation et la transformation des systèmes.

 

L’objectif? C’est un appel à l’action. Il ne s’agit plus seulement d’inclure les jeunes, mais de créer des systèmes qui leur donnent la barre.

 

L’Afrique est à un tournant: soit elle laisse des millions de jeunes au chômage, soit elle leur fournit financements, outils et voix pour transformer en profondeur nos systèmes alimentaires. Le choix est clair: emprunter la deuxième voie.

 

À Dakar, au Sénégal, dès le 31 août, nous discuterons du changement quantifiable, et les mesures telles que;

 

  •     La politique idéale pour la croissance des entreprises menées par les jeunes
  •     Les revenus montants des jeunes ruraux
  •     La diminution de jeunes NEET (sans éducation, emploi, formation).

 

Les données seront là, tout comme les leaders. Ensemble, transformons ces données en législation, nos jeunes leaders en décideurs, et les engagements en résultats tangibles.

| News

A Youth-Powered Turn for Africa’s Food Systems

Walking through any African village or city, you’ll immediately sense that Africa is young. 

With close to 60% of its people under 25, Africa stands on the threshold of a demographic dividend. Indeed, 10–12 million young people enter the continent’s workforce each year, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB), holding immense opportunities for transformation.

Yet beneath this opportunity exist many gaps, including a staggering 67% of Africans whose fortunes are tied to agriculture, but who remain locked out of inputs, tools, and land access. Additionally, as it stands, youth-led innovation in African agriculture, despite its promise, struggles for recognition and financing, with the entire agriculture sector attracting only 5% of bank credit. The AfDB estimates a financing gap of roughly $75 billion for farmers and agribusinesses, leaving families trapped in cycles of poverty.

The step-change that will shift the status quo is pegged on data-led accountability structures. Think of national food strategies that don’t just nod to the youth, but measure their involvement, and budgets that earmark funding for youth-led agri-businesses. These may be enhanced further by publicly tracked and published metrics covering, but not limited to, the number of youth-owned enterprises financed, hectares under youth-guided climate-smart farming, and reach of youth-centered extension services.

That’s the beginning point of transitioning young Africans from beneficiaries to architects of a transformation, even as we remain aware that “architecture” requires blueprints that evolve in real time. Guided by data, an evolution may be inspired by accountability propositions requiring every policy to embed youth quotas in decision-making bodies, funding for blended finance and guarantees that de-risk youth agribusiness, legislate land access for emerging young farmers, and empower youth-led advisory councils.

Meanwhile, policy must also constantly strive to bridge, including through digital tools that amplify both reach and evidence, existing agriculture industry gaps. Digital extension platforms, mobile training modules, and data dashboards, when designed in partnership with the youth and linking agritech training to employment metrics and business outcomes, could adequately illuminate what works, for whom, and where. A rural youth launching a small agro-processing unit after government-sponsored training delivered via smartphone, and whose output is tracked in real time, represents both inclusion and accountability in action.

The private sector and development organisations also have a defining role in the transition. Already, several partners are showing what is possible when youth are placed at the center of food systems transformation. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through its Building Resilient Agricultural Finance and Insurance Markets in Ethiopia project, is demonstrating how inclusive rural finance systems can de-risk smallholder farmers, opening avenues for youth-led agribusinesses to thrive. Similarly, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) is expanding opportunities through its Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture Programme (MaYEA)  initiative, which creates thousands of jobs for young people in insect-based farming and value chains, proving that innovation and livelihoods can be mutually reinforcing. On a broader level, the Rockefeller Foundation is reimagining value chains through initiatives such as its Regenerative School Meals program, which connects local farmers to schools to supply nutritious, climate-smart meals. This approach not only improves child nutrition but also creates stable markets for youth-led farming enterprises, ensuring that agriculture delivers benefits across society.

Spotlight: Building Agroecological Futures Through YEFFA

Across the continent, initiatives like AGRA’s and Mastercard Foundation’s Youth Entrepreneurship for Food and Agricultural Transformation (YEFFA) programme are helping young Africans turn ideas into thriving agribusinesses. YEFFA equips youth with practical training, mentorship, and financing opportunities to drive sustainable food systems.

One of its inspiring success stories comes from Burkina Faso, where the Wendinkonte Consortium is redefining what green entrepreneurship can look like, we spoke with Djéneba Pilabré to find out more. 

Q&A: Empowering Communities Through Agroecology

About Wendinkonte Consortium
 Wendinkonte Consortium is a green entrepreneurship company based in Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso. We develop an integrated agroecological model that combines agriculture, poultry farming, fish farming, biofertiliser production, and eco-friendly charcoal production.

Our goal is to protect the land while sustainably feeding communities. Beyond production, we support the social and economic reintegration of internally displaced women and young people by providing them with training and job opportunities. This commitment has helped improve local food security, strengthen family resilience, and reduce environmental pressure linked to the use of firewood and chemical fertilisers.

My Experience with the Mastercard Foundation YEFFA Programme
Taking part in the YEFFA programme was a defining moment in my journey. I not only strengthened my entrepreneurial skills but also expanded my network through inspiring exchanges with other young African leaders. This programme gave me confidence in my potential while equipping me with the tools to structure and better showcase my agroecological model.

My Advice to Young People Aspiring to Build a Future in Agriculture
I would tell them that agriculture is not just a traditional profession — it’s an opportunity for innovation and transformation. It is a field that paves the way for resilience, job creation, and food security. With passion, perseverance, and a sustainable vision, young people can create innovative solutions that address today’s challenges while preparing for the future.

Such are the considerations that will be discussed at this year’s Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF 2025), whose thematic headline is, “Africa’s Youth: Leading Collaboration, Innovation, and the Implementation of Agri-Food Systems Transformation.” This theme is a call to action that we can no longer just speak about youth inclusion and that we must design systems with youth at the helm. Indeed, Africa stands at a demographic crossroads, where we can either allow more young people to drift into underemployment or we can equip them with the tools, funding, systems, and voice to transform food systems from the inside out. We would rather pursue the latter.

In Dakar, Senegal, starting August 31, we will be eyeing measurable change, including the right policy environment for the growth of youth-led enterprises, rising rural youth incomes, and declines in youth NEET (not in education, employment, or training). The data exists, and so do the leaders; together, we will explore strategies for turning that data into law, the youth leaders into decision-makers, and commitments into capital.

–ENDS– 

Aug 19, 2025 | Blog

Evidence-Led Research is the Missing Link for Turning the Kampala Declaration into Action

When African leaders endorsed the Kampala Declaration in January 2025, they sent out the message that Africa’s food systems must be transformed to be more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable. The commitments contained in the declaration, which are largely focused on youth, women, and smallholder farmers, set an ambitious agenda, but the real challenge lies in translating words into a measurable, lasting impact.

That is where evidence-led research becomes indispensable as it grounds decisions in data, using proven approaches to track progress, enabling governments and institutions to bridge the gap between commitment and implementation. In addition to validating action, evidence creates accountability, while highlighting what works, ensuring that no group is left behind.

The African Development Bank’s TAAT Policy Enabler offers a compelling example. Designed to remove bottlenecks that slow the adoption of agricultural innovations, TAAT works directly with governments to reform and harmonise policies. It has been shown to accelerate the uptake of technologies and practices that can improve productivity and resilience across entire value chains. By speeding up seed variety registration, aligning fertiliser regulations, and improving access to finance, TAAT’s work has shown how strategic policy alignment can move from paper to practice. Such evidence matters because every day lost to bureaucratic delays is a day when smallholder farmers miss out on opportunities to improve yields, income, and food security.

Another critical insight comes from CABI’s research on gender and youth inclusion in agriculture. Their most recent report distils lessons from across Africa into 10 practical focus areas for policymakers. These range from ensuring equitable access to land and finance, to integrating digital tools for extension services, to fostering leadership pathways for young people and women in agri-food systems. The emphasis now remains on designing policies that are both inclusive and actionable. For example, simply acknowledging the importance of youth in agriculture is not enough, policies must create tangible incentives, mentorship programs, and market linkages that encourage their sustained participation. Similarly, women’s involvement must move beyond token representation to genuine decision-making roles in cooperatives, producer organisations, and agribusinesses.

A Call for Shared Knowledge

The Kampala Declaration represents a collective promise to transform Africa’s food systems. But transformation is not an abstract concept, and it must be evidenced in better livelihoods, more equitable access to resources, and measurable improvements in productivity and sustainability. 

This is why platforms like the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) are critical. Surfacing research like TAAT’s policy enabler and CABI’s gender and youth inclusion framework allows us to start building the knowledge base required to hold ourselves accountable. However,the conversation cannot stop here. More examples, research, and practical frameworks are needed to ensure that the Kampala Declaration is a catalyst for real change.

Join us at the AFSF 2025, where we will be exploring multiple evidence bases for advancing the commitments of the Kampala Declaration under the theme, “Africa’s Youth: Leading Collaboration, Innovation, and the Implementation of Agri-Food Systems Transformation”. Convening in Dakar, Senegal, the AFSF 2025 will be out to turn commitments into concrete action for Africa’s farmers, youth, and women. 

-ENDS