Agriculture continues to be a vital pillar of Africa’s economy, accounting for around 23% of sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP and supporting the livelihoods of over 60% of the population (World Bank). However, despite its importance, the sector faces structural obstacles — most notably, Africa’s reliance on food imports. The continent currently spends about $35 billion each year on imported food, and, according the the African Development Bank, this could rise to $110 billion by 2025 if current patterns persist.

This situation reveals a major opportunity: Africa’s agribusiness sector holds immense untapped potential. With 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, the continent is uniquely placed to lead in sustainable food production. According to the World Bank, Africa’s agribusiness market could grow to $1 trillion by 2030, offering enormous prospects for investment and development.

To achieve this, Africa must overcome a range of pressing challenges — including climate volatility, land degradation, limited infrastructure, and financial exclusion. Fortunately, momentum is building around innovative approaches and cross-sector collaboration. Notable developments include:

• Sustainable agriculture techniques that can improve productivity by up to 58% while safeguarding the environment.

• Climate-smart farming practices that enhance resilience and cut emissions.

• Digital financial tools and mobile money platforms, which are enabling millions of smallholder farmers to access services previously out of reach due to weak financial infrastructure.

With over 33 million small holder farmers contributing more than 70% of Africa’s food supply, empowering them with the right tools, financing, and technology is essential to transforming the agricultural landscape.

This upcoming event will convene key players from the agriculture, finance, and development sectors to exchange ideas and explore real-world, scalable solutions for building a more inclusive, sustainable, and investment-ready agribusiness environment in Africa. Through interactive discussions and fireside conversations, participants will uncover strategies to close existing gaps, mobilize capital, and reshape Africa’s food future.