Africa Food Systems Forum addresses agricultural scaling and investment

At the 2026 Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, leaders from governments, international financial institutions, and CGIAR addressed the challenge of scaling agricultural innovation through development finance.

Dr. Martin Fregene of the African Development Bank highlighted the success of Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), noting its ability to connect research, government policy, and the private sector. The initiative has worked to expand certified seed production and improve policy environments, thereby increasing private investor confidence by demonstrating commercial opportunities in productivity-enhancing technologies.

Complementing the focus on large-scale investment, the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) emphasized the necessity of including grassroots practitioners in continental policy discussions. WOFAN founder Dr. Salamatu Garba advocated for investment strategies that move beyond infrastructure to include knowledge, technology, and the empowerment of rural women and young people, who are central to Africa’s food production and processing.