Taking Stock of Africa’s Agrifood Processing Sector

9 February 2023. Taking Stock of Africa’s Agrifood Processing Sector. Key findings of the 2022 ReSAKSS Annual Trends and Outlook Report on Agrifood Processing Strategies for Successful Food Systems Transformation in Africa

A high-performing, resilient, and competitive agrifood processing sector can create remunerative employment opportunities, link producers to growing and lucrative urban markets, and help to ensure that consumers have access to sufficient and healthy food. Africa’s food processing sector is growing in response to growing demand for processed and high-value foods in the continent. However, processing firms, many of them small and informal enterprises, still face serious constraints. The 2022 Annual Trends and Outlook Report (ATOR) examines Africa’s agrifood processing sector and its role in sustainable food systems on the continent. The report examines available evidence on the current status and performance of the sector, discusses key challenges, and identifies required policy actions to maximize its contribution to achieving sustainable food systems for all.

• Johan Swinnen, Managing Director of Systems Transformation, CGIAR and Director General, IFPRI
• Godfrey Bahiigwa, Director of Agriculture and Rural Development, African Union Commission
• Setting the Scene Ousmane Badiane, Executive Chairperson and Acting Managing Director, AKADEMIYA2063
• Key Research Findings and Recommendations Getaw Tadesse, Director of Operational Support, AKADEMIYA2063 (presentation)

Panel Discussion

• Janet Edeme, Head of Rural Development Division, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (DARBE), African Union Commission
• Dejene Tezera, Director of Department of Agribusiness Development, UNIDO
• Ashish Pande, Country Head, Olam Nigeria
• Atsuko Toda, Director of Agricultural Finance and Rural Development, African Development Bank
• Thomas Reardon, Nonresident Fellow, IFPRI

Resource:

RESAKSS (2022) Annual trends and outlook report: Agrifood processing strategies for successful food systems transformation in Africa,  236 p.

The 2022 Annual Trends and Outlook Report (ATOR) examines policies to enhance the contribution of the agrifood processing sector to successful food systems transformation in Africa. The agrifood processing sector is expanding and increasing in importance as the role of processed food in diets grows. Increasingly, processing constitutes an essential link between producers and consumers and is a vital element for strategies to promote smallholder commercialization and rural development.

Related: 8 - 9 February 2023. AFRICA AGRI EXPO
The Africa Agri Expo gathered Agriculture Companies, Service Providers, Machinery & Equipment Companies, Technology Companies, Agro Chemical and Fertiliser companies, Seed Companies and Investors to build valuable connections.