The need for greater investment in Africa’s agricultural sector has taken centre stage at the 2026 Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, as policymakers, investors, researchers and private-sector leaders discuss how to turn agricultural ambitions into practical results.
The 20th annual forum is taking place under the theme “Investing in Africa’s Agri-Food Systems: Nourishing Nations, Growing Jobs, Building Resilience.” More than 5,000 stakeholders from over 50 countries are expected to participate in discussions covering agricultural finance, food security, climate resilience, technology, youth employment and trade.
One of the major issues being discussed is the difficulty many African agricultural businesses face when trying to access finance.
Although billions of dollars are being mobilised for agricultural development, a significant amount of available capital still does not reach the small and growing businesses that play an important role in feeding African communities.
A report from the forum on Thursday highlighted the gap between the money being made available for agriculture and the local agribusinesses that need funding to expand. The discussion is therefore moving beyond simply raising money to finding better ways of connecting investors with businesses operating within Africa’s food systems.
For many small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises, accessing commercial loans can be difficult. Some businesses may have promising ideas and strong markets but lack the financial records, business structures or guarantees required by traditional lenders.
Experts at the forum are therefore looking at ways to make agricultural businesses more bankable. This includes strengthening business models, improving financial management and providing technical support so that businesses can become more attractive to commercial investors.
Blended finance is also being considered as an important solution. This approach combines public or development funding with private investment, helping to reduce some of the risks faced by commercial lenders.
The idea is that when development institutions help absorb part of the risk, banks and private investors may become more willing to provide funding to agricultural businesses.
Agriculture remains critical to Africa’s economic development because the sector supports millions of farmers and workers while providing food for a rapidly growing population. Investment in agriculture can also create jobs for young people and provide opportunities for women, who play important roles across many parts of Africa’s food systems.
The forum is also placing strong emphasis on climate resilience.
African farmers are increasingly dealing with challenges linked to changing weather patterns, including droughts, floods and other extreme weather events. As a result, discussions are focusing on investment in technologies and farming practices that can help producers maintain food production while protecting soil and natural resources.
A number of sessions at the forum are examining regenerative agriculture, soil health and climate adaptation. A September 3 session is specifically focusing on how regenerative agriculture can be scaled across African landscapes and what investments and policies are required to make this possible.
Technology is another important part of the discussions.
The forum is examining how digital tools, agricultural innovations and scientific research can help farmers improve productivity. Experts are also looking at how proven technologies can move beyond small pilot projects and reach farmers on a much larger scale.
The CGIAR system, for example, is highlighting the importance of connecting scientific innovation with finance and country-level agricultural programmes. Its discussions at the forum are focused on how research-backed technologies can be linked with major development investments and delivered to farmers.
The forum is also giving attention to young people and women. Investment in these groups is viewed as important for building agricultural businesses and creating employment opportunities across the continent.
Another area of concern is food security. Africa continues to face serious food-production and nutrition challenges, making it increasingly important for governments and investors to strengthen local food systems rather than relying heavily on external supplies.
Participants are therefore discussing ways to increase agricultural productivity, improve food processing and storage, strengthen markets and expand regional trade.
The Africa Food Systems Forum is also taking place as African countries begin implementing a new 2026–2035 strategy under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme. The discussions are intended to help turn continental agricultural commitments into measurable investments and action.
For Africa’s farmers and agricultural businesses, the central message from Kigali is that investment must reach the people actually producing, processing and distributing food.
The forum is expected to continue discussions on finance, innovation, climate resilience and food security through September 4.
If the commitments made at the gathering translate into accessible funding, stronger partnerships and practical support, African agricultural businesses could have greater opportunities to expand, create jobs and contribute to a more resilient food system.
