Africa’s Agricultural Turning Point: ACAT 2025 Declares It’s Time to Act

The African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT 2025) concluded Thursday with a firm commitment to reposition Africa’s agriculture through cutting-edge technologies, stronger collaboration, and youth empowerment. Hosted at the Kigali Convention Center from June 9–12, the conference gathered over 700 delegates from 35 countries to tackle the most pressing agricultural challenges and innovations shaping the continent’s future.

Under the theme “NextGen Ag-Tech Solutions for Africa’s Farmers,” the conference emphasized practical, inclusive, and scalable technological innovations to support smallholder farmers — the backbone of Africa’s food systems. The convening was spearheaded by the Government of Rwanda and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), attracting top policymakers, former heads of state, youth representatives, private sector actors, and global development partners.

A Defining Moment for Africa’s Agricultural Future

Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Hon. Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, called the conference a pivotal moment for the continent. “With climate change and population growth, we have no choice. It’s time to act,” he said in his closing remarks. Dr. Bagabe emphasized that farmers must be at the center of innovation, with technologies designed to be practical and responsive to the everyday realities of African agricultural producers.

A recurring theme was the critical role of the private sector. Dr. Bagabe stated, “We need to forge partnerships with the private sector, not only for commercialization but also as partners in innovation.”

He further advocated for increased investments in youth and risk mitigation tools such as insurance schemes and access to finance to de-risk agriculture and make it a more attractive and viable enterprise.

Drawing attention to Africa’s demographic advantage, the Minister emphasized the need to invest in skills for young people who are more likely to adopt and scale new agricultural technologies. “They are the ones who can embrace new tools more than people like myself,” he noted.

From Vision to Action: Lessons and Commitments

The closing session featured a stirring intervention by H.E. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former President of Nigeria and AATF Ambassador. With a concise but powerful message, he noted, “Africa is not short of ideas or ambition. We are rich in both.” He stressed the importance of coordination, long-term financing, and trust-building to unlock the continent’s full agricultural potential.

Dr. Jonathan urged African nations to break down silos between actors, promote centers of excellence, and create responsive policies that empower youth. “Fragmented actions are holding back our progress,” he warned, calling for transparent communication across governments, institutions, and private sector stakeholders.

AATF Charts the Path Ahead

Dr. Canisius Kanangire, Executive Director of AATF, reflected on the breadth of ideas exchanged during the four-day event. He highlighted both the promising solutions and the persistent gaps, urging delegates to return home not only inspired but prepared to act.

“We have explored many possible angles from which the potential of next-gen agricultural technologies can be fully unlocked,” Dr. Kanangire said. “The need for partnership and inclusiveness was echoed repeatedly. No one must be left behind in this transformation.”

He also underscored the importance of tracking progress and sharing success stories, especially those driven by youth-led innovations. In a forward-looking gesture, he announced the tentative dates for the next ACAT conference: May 10–13, 2027.

Transforming Perceptions and Systems

ACAT 2025 also confronted long-standing misconceptions about agriculture. “Agriculture is not high risk,” Minister Bagabe said, challenging the widespread view that farming is a retirement venture. He argued instead for modernizing agriculture through finance, insurance, and value addition, referencing Uganda’s recent decision to ban the export of raw materials as a strategic step towards full ownership of the agricultural value chain.

The conference praised such policy shifts as examples of homegrown innovation and leadership in transforming African agriculture from subsistence to enterprise.

Looking Ahead: Turning Dialogue into Results

The consensus emerging from ACAT 2025 was clear: technology must serve the farmer, especially the smallholder. Delegates called for a renewed focus on inclusive, youth-driven, and private sector-aligned solutions to Africa’s agricultural challenges.

As the Kigali Convention Center closed its doors on the 2025 edition of ACAT, delegates carried with them a renewed sense of urgency and collective resolve. The question is no longer whether Africa can transform its agriculture sector, but how quickly it can scale the technologies, partnerships, and policies necessary to do so.

For now, the road to ACAT 2027 begins — paved with the commitments, declarations, and momentum generated in Kigali.