The European Business Council for Africa

Green industrialisation investment opportunities and challenges in Africa’s agri-food sector

10 July 2025

Online

On 10 July 2025 from 12:30-14:00 CEST, the Africa-Europe think tanks network Ukama & AKADEMIYA2063 in partnership with the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), ECDPM and the Institute for sustainable development and international relations (IDDRI) will host a webinar aimed at advancing key policy discussions ahead of the Africa Food Systems Forum and the AU-EU Summit later this year.

 

In January 2025, the African Union (AU) adopted a new 10-year Kampala CAADP Declaration on 'Building Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems in Africa' and the associated CAADP Strategy and Action Plan (2026-2035). One of its  strategic objectives is to raise locally processed, healthy food to 35% of agrifood GDP by 2035. The recent publication by the Ukama network Catalyzing green industrialization in agri-food processing - Strategic considerations for Africa-Europe collaboration and the VALUE-UP report by the Malobo Montpellier Panel put a spotlight on the agri-food processing sector that presents a significant transformative opportunity for Africa’s economic growth, job creation, nutrition and sustainable development.

The webinar aims to feed into and propel discussions ahead of the Africa Food Systems Forum and the AU-EU Summit later this year, advancing the implementation of the Kampala declaration goals, fostering investment into green agri-food industry value chains and exploring closer collaboration between African and European actors by bringing together private and public companies and investors, policy-makers and experts from Africa and Europe.

Provisional agenda

12:30 CEST/13:30 EAT: 
Welcome remarks by Dr. Sébastien TREYER, Director IDDRI and Co-chair of Ukama, the Africa-Europe think tanks network
Keynote: H.E. Ibrahim A. Mayaki, Special Envoy for Food System at the African Union

12:45 CEST/13:45 EAT:
Panel discussion moderated by Dr. Catherine KILELU, Director of Communication, Outreach and Partnerships at Africa Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)

Panelists: 

  • Dr. Olivier KAMANA, Permanent Secretary-Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Rwanda
  • Regis MERITAN, Head of Sector for Sustainable Value Chains Development, European Commission Directorate General for International Partnerships
  • Thierry LATREILLE, Coordinator, Agricultural Public Development Bank Coalition, IFAD (tbc)
  • Dr. Getaw TADESSE, Interim Managing Director/ Director of Policy Intelligence, AKADEMIYA2063
  • Joyce GEMA, Founder and Managing Director, Trade Care Africa
  • Mandla NKOMO, CEO, Partners in Food Solutions
  • Will HIGGINS, Director - Strategy & Partnerships, Barka Fund

13:30 CEST/14:30 EAT: Q&A Session

13:55 CEST/14:55: Closing remarks by ECDPM 

 

Register here