The 2026 African Food Systems Forum is setting its sights on a massive financial target to overhaul agriculture across the continent. Scheduled for August 31 to September 4 at the Kigali Convention Centre, the event aims to catalyse US$100 billion in investment by 2035, according to organizers. This effort seeks to turn subsistence farming into a dynamic, commercially viable industry while tackling persistent issues like food insecurity and climate resilience.
Connecting projects with capital remains a primary focus. The forum is organized by AGRA and expects to host over 5,000 participants from roughly 50 countries. Attendees will include African leaders, businesses, investors, farmers’ organizations, researchers, financial institutions, and development partners. More than 200 speakers are scheduled, including the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, Qu Dongyu, and the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Alvaro Lario.
A dedicated Deal Room will bridge the gap between project developers and investors. Selected companies will pitch projects across various sectors, ranging from agriculture and logistics to finance, agritech, nutrition, and clean energy. This direct connection aims to move discussions about potential deals into actual financing.
Food-system development has returned to the centre of Africa’s priorities under the new 2026-2035 decade of the Full Africa Agriculture Development Programme. The African Union roadmap focuses on improving productivity and creating jobs, noting that the agricultural sector accounts for nearly a quarter of the continent’s GDP. Regional value chains are also expected to play a significant role in the talks.
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Discussions will heavily feature the African Continental Free Trade Area, which aims to facilitate the movement of agricultural inputs and products. These include grains, tubers, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables, and meat products, all of which are essential for food security and regional economic integration.
While the financial mechanisms like blended finance and sovereign wealth funds are essential for reaching the US$100 billion goal, the broader success of this decade depends on how well these strategies integrate with existing trade policies. If the infrastructure for moving goods remains fragmented despite the trade agreement, even the most robust financial packages may struggle to reach the farmers who need them most. The transition requires that capital flows not just to projects, but to the logistical networks that actually move the food from the farm to the market.
Organizers emphasize that financing alone cannot solve the continent’s agricultural challenges. The forum will examine how African agriculture can become more resilient to climate-related pressures. Droughts, floods, heatwaves, pests, and soil degradation increasingly affect crop yields, threatening food stability.
Youth employment is another central theme. With Africa home to the world’s youngest population, the event highlights agriculture as a source of entrepreneurship. Organizers want to showcase opportunities in digital innovation, mechanization services, e-commerce, logistics, insurance, and data management. By presenting these diverse sectors, the forum hopes to attract young professionals into a field often viewed as traditional or outdated.
