The official countdown has begun for this year’s Africa Agri Tech, a three-day conference and science and technology expo attracting hundreds of movers and shakers from across the continent.
Held at the Sun Arena in Pretoria from Tuesday, 14 to Thursday, 16 March 2023, the future-focused event includes high-level presentations from the who’s who of agriculture, science and technology. Among the hot topics to be discussed count agricultural biotechnology as a tool towards addressing food insecurity.
Organisers say attendees can also look forward to a jam-packed programme and innovation pitches from, among others, young technology innovators in Africa’s dynamic agriculture, food and technology sectors.
Furthermore, attendees will have the opportunity to gain a strategic overview of the impact of scientific and technological breakthroughs on future production methodologies. This is while exhibitors showcase their latest solutions, technologies and innovations.
The power of agriculture
Television host and journalist Anlie Hattingh say Africa Agri Tech also serves as a reminder that agriculture encompasses much more than food. Textile, leather, liquor, medical supplements and multiple other industries are dependent on agricultural produce. The sector’s significant annual contribution to GDP ranks it in the top five.
Meanwhile, biotech scientist Dr Maneshree Jugmohan-Naidu, the director for agricultural biotechnology of the department of science and innovation, shares an insightful overview of the valuable research and development currently undertaken by the government in partnership with the private sector.
Priaash Ramadan, the co-founder of The Awareness Company, underscores the relevance of modern data science in agriculture. He explains that the Africa Agri Tech conference would lift the lid on discoveries with a strong focus on the role that the application of biotechnology will play in uncovering new uses for agricultural outputs.
Food For Mzansi co-founder and editor-in-chief Ivor Price says the publication is honoured to be among the media partners for this year’s Africa Agri Tech. He says, “We actively co-create the new face of South African agriculture, and that includes a sector that embraces a digital, connectivity-fueled transformation in order to overcome increasing demand and several disruptive forces.”
Plenty on offer
The Africa Agri Tech conference and exhibition is dedicated to connecting the Southern African agricultural, scientific, and technology communities at one event, staged over three days, exploring global trends and advances in agricultural science, technology, and innovation and the benefits that it will bring to the agricultural ecosystem in the future.
The event also includes co-located events including Women in Agriculture, Innovation Challenge, start-up pitches, a foreign trade lounge, a hybrid event offering, Agriculture Industry Achievement Awards, and South Africa’s inaugural Agriculture Hall of Fame.
Click here for more information on Africa Agri Tech.
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