By Reinhard Lotz
| The G20’s Agriculture Working Group has stressed the urgency of food security through sustainable agriculture, climate resilience and regional trade. This aligns with Africa’s rapid shift towards self-sufficiency in food production. From bustling markets to expansive farmlands, the drive to reduce import reliance, strengthen local agricultural systems and build resilience against global disruptions is no longer a long-term ambition – it is an immediate necessity. With rising food crises, supply chain disruptions and climate volatility, Africa must rethink its agricultural future. The African Agri Investment Indaba 2025, taking place November 23-26 in Cape Town, will address this challenge with the theme “The New World Order: A Self-Sufficient Africa.”The event will explore how investment, innovation, and policy reforms can drive sustainable food systems. Climate change is disrupting African agriculture, demanding urgent adaptation. The recent El Niño, which impacted maize production in Southern Africa, highlights the need for drought-resistant crops and improved water management. South African farms, as well as other countries, are ramping up irrigation investments and adopting climate-smart strategies. “With the new geo-political and climatic realities today, funding will become ever more challenging. Take into consideration, too, that most food production in Africa is undertaken by smallholder farmers, already underserved communities that are largely financially excluded by funders,” says Susan Payne, Board Member, African Agri Council (AAC). Agri-tech is transforming farming across Africa. Hello Tractor is linking smallholder farmers with mechanisation services via IoT solutions, while South Africa is leading in AI-driven precision agriculture. The Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI) reports ongoing modernisation efforts. Africa’s necessary self-sufficiency is tied to intra-African trade. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is easing agricultural trade across borders, reducing reliance on imports and uniting fragmented markets. New commodity aggregation hubs and regional storage facilities are strengthening food security by curbing post-harvest losses. Yet, challenges remain. Foot-and-mouth disease and avian influenza outbreaks highlight the need for stronger biosecurity measures. Governments and the private sector are investing in veterinary services, disease control and resilient livestock systems to safeguard food supplies.“ With financing becoming harder to secure], collectives and co-operatives are increasingly important to create critical mass in order to attract financing, one clear example in the form of credit extension from input providers, a vital source of support for growers,” Payne added. “Agribusinesses like Corteva, FSG, Syngenta and Green Belt provide essential support mechanisms for growers, without which food production often flounders.” Collaboration between investors, policymakers, local credit providers and agribusiness leaders is key to Africa’s agricultural transformation. The African Agri Investment Indaba 2025 will focus on how we collectively can and must help shape the future self-sufficiency in the food and agriculture sector across the African continent. Join us as we highlight Africa’s agricultural potential, its opportunities, its key challenges and the solutions to drive the continent toward self-sufficiency at the pace now required. Visit www.agri-indaba.com for more information *** ABOUT SUSAN PAYNE Susan Payne is a green entrepreneur and NED with a 30 year career that started as a lawyer, moved into senior management securities trading roles in global emerging markets with JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs, and is now focused on building businesses in sustainable agri in Africa. Susan co-owns and operates large commercial farms in Zambia and Mozambique as well as a plant protein business and a gender lens investment vehicle. She was voted Woman of the Year in African Agriculture 2024; a company she co-founded, Sustainable Planet, won United Nations Innovation of the Year and Sub-Saharan Africa Start up of the Year 2023. ABOUT THE AFRICAN AGRI COUNCIL NPC The African Agri Council (AAC) is a pan-African institution dedicated to promoting sustainable food and agriculture development across the continent. Serving as a comprehensive network, the AAC connects key stakeholders throughout Africa’s entire food and agriculture business value chain, including governments, investors, project owners, developers, and agrifood buyers and sellers. The Council’s initiatives aim to accelerate investment into viable agricultural projects and enhance market accessibility. Aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG2): Zero Hunger by 2030, the AAC implements several key programs to combat hunger and promote sustainable agriculture through: * Market Access Africa * African Agri Investment Indaba * Food Security Strategy Meeting * Nexus of AgriAgro-Industrial Parks Forums * Athari Africa. |
| With these initiatives, the African Agri Council NPC plays a crucial role in driving agricultural industrialization and enhancing food security across Africa, contributing significantly to the global effort to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030. |