Despite numerous challenges, smallholder farmers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have unprecedented opportunities to supply local, regional and export markets. Innovation is a driving force in transforming food systems, promoting sustainable agriculture and leveraging investment.
The private sector has a key role to play in shaping more sustainable, inclusive and profitable food systems, driven by innovation, knowledge co-creation, and support for a green transition.
You can consult the programme here or the speakers biographies here.Despite limitations, Africa has a wealth of successful and innovative entrepreneurs who invest in local value chains, work hard to meet consumers’ expectations and convince them to buy local, and create employment, especially for youth and women agripreneurs. Smallholder farmers, cooperatives and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are upgrading their skills to supply local markets and get their businesses to scale.
Key points for discussion on serving local markets were:
- In serving local markets in value-added products, what are the main challenges encountered by business and SMEs and how innovation helps them to grow?
- Are changes by consumers towards buying local products perceived?
- How should public and private sector support investment in local processing facilities and growth look like from a business perspective?
- What are the main business development skills and capacities barriers for entrepreneur to serve local markets and examples on how to overcome them?
- What are the key drivers to capture more added value in local market for local businesses?
- To overcome the immediate pressures created by COVID-19, what short-term emergency financing and targeted technical assistance are needed.
Speakers:
- Moderator: Isolina Boto, Head of Networks and Alliances, COLEACP
- Jeremy Knops, General Delegate COLEACP
- Escipión Oliveira Gómez, Assistant Secretary-General, Dept Sustainable economic transformation and trade, OACPS
- Affiong Williams, CEO, Reelfruit, Nigeria
- Catherine Krobo Edusei, Managing Director, Eden Tree Limited, Ghana
- Komi Agbokou, President and Founder, Choco Togo
- Bertille Guèdègbé Marcos, CEO, Les Jus Tillou, Benin
- Discussant Escipión Oliveira Gómez, Assistant Secretary-General, Dept Sustainable economic transformation and trade, OACPS
- Discussant Debisi Araba, Managing Director, AGRF, Kenya
- Discussant Dimitry Van Raemdonck, AgriFI Fund Manager, Belgium
- PAFO Conclusion: Fatma Ben Rejeb, CEO, PAFO
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