Africa’s growing push to modernise agriculture, attract investment and strengthen food security will take centre stage in Kigali later this month, as policymakers, entrepreneurs and investors gather for the launch of the 2026 summit of the AFS Forum, marking 20 years of continental dialogue on food systems transformation.
AFS Forum confirmed that the summit will be held 31 March 2026 at the Kigali Convention Centre, bringing together leaders and innovators to discuss how Africa can accelerate investment in one of its most critical economic sectors: agriculture.
The theme of this year’s gathering, “Investing in Africa’s Agri-Food Systems: Nourishing Nations, Growing Jobs, Building Resilience,” reflects mounting urgency across the continent to transform agriculture from a largely subsistence-based activity into a modern, investment-driven industry capable of feeding a rapidly expanding population.
“We are thrilled to announce the official launch of the AFS Forum 2026 Summit, marking a monumental milestone: celebrating 20 years of food systems transformation in Africa,” AFS Forum announced.
The forum has, over two decades, evolved into one of the continent’s most influential platforms for shaping agricultural policy and investment, convening governments, development institutions, agribusiness leaders and emerging African entrepreneurs.
Agriculture at the Centre of Africa’s Economic Future
The timing of the summit is significant.
Agriculture remains the backbone of many African economies, employing more than 60 per cent of the continent’s workforce and contributing roughly 23 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP, according to the World Bank. Yet the sector has long struggled with chronic underinvestment, limited infrastructure and vulnerability to climate shocks.
With Africa’s population projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, the continent faces a dual challenge: dramatically increasing food production while creating jobs for the world’s fastest-growing youth population.
That challenge has helped place food systems transformation high on the agenda of global development institutions such as the African Development Bank and the African Union, both of which have pushed for large-scale investments in agricultural value chains, climate-resilient farming and agri-tech innovation.
The Kigali summit is expected to explore how African-led entrepreneurship, private capital and technology-driven solutions can help bridge that gap.
From Policy Dialogue to Investment Pipeline
Over the past decade, agriculture across Africa has begun to shift from traditional farming towards integrated agri-food systems encompassing production, processing, logistics, finance and technology.
This transformation has fuelled a surge of start-ups developing solutions ranging from digital farm management platforms and satellite-based crop monitoring to fintech products designed specifically for smallholder farmers.
Venture capital flowing into African agri-tech has also grown steadily, reflecting rising investor interest in food security and climate resilience.
Industry analysts say platforms such as the AFS Forum are increasingly critical in linking these emerging innovators with policymakers and institutional investors.
By bringing together leaders, innovators and change-makers, the organisers say the summit will focus on unlocking capital flows and scaling solutions capable of strengthening Africa’s food systems.
The choice of Kigali as host city underscores Rwanda’s growing reputation as a continental hub for policy innovation and international development dialogue.
The country has invested heavily in agricultural reform, digital governance and climate resilience, positioning itself as a convening point for global conversations on Africa’s development trajectory.
Holding the summit at the Kigali Convention Centre, one of East Africa’s largest conference venues, signals the scale of ambition behind this year’s gathering.
At the heart of the summit’s agenda is a fundamental question confronting African policymakers: how to build resilient food systems capable of withstanding climate change, supply chain disruptions and global market volatility.
Extreme weather patterns have increasingly exposed vulnerabilities across African agriculture, with droughts, floods and rising temperatures threatening yields and rural livelihoods.
Experts argue that resilience will depend not only on climate-smart farming techniques but also on stronger regional value chains, improved storage and processing infrastructure, and greater access to finance.
The AFS Forum aims to position these challenges within a broader economic narrative, that agriculture, when modernised and adequately financed, can become one of Africa’s most powerful engines of growth.
A Platform for African-Led Transformation
The organisers emphasised that the forum’s progress over the past 20 years has been driven by partnerships across governments, development institutions and private sector actors.
“This transformation is made possible through the incredible support of our diverse partners,” AFS Forum said in their announcement, adding that they are “honored to collaborate with” a wide range of stakeholders committed to advancing Africa’s food systems.
The message reflects a growing shift across the continent towards African-led development models, where innovation and entrepreneurship play a central role in addressing structural challenges.
For business leaders and policymakers attending the summit, the stakes could hardly be higher.
Africa currently imports more than $40 billion worth of food annually, a figure the African Development Bank warns could exceed $110 billion by 2030 if structural inefficiencies persist.
Transforming agriculture into a productive, technology-enabled industry could reverse that trend while generating millions of jobs across farming, logistics, manufacturing and retail.
The AFS Forum 2026 Summit will run from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM on 31 March 2026 at the Kigali Convention Centre, with participants expected from across the continent and beyond.
As Africa confronts the intertwined challenges of food security, climate resilience and youth employment, the forum’s message is clear, investment in agri-food systems is no longer optional it is central to the continent’s economic future.
