Africa’s agricultural potential remains largely untapped, with post-harvest losses exceeding 30% for key commodities and a persistent reliance on imported processed foods.
Ahead of the African Agri Council in November, delegates will tackle the deficit in local value addition, which undermines food security, exports vital foreign exchange, and misses a crucial opportunity for job creation and industrialisation.
The inaugural Agro-Industrial Parks Forum, organised by the African Agri Council, is a direct response to these challenges. The forum will be a central feature of the 2025 African Agri Investment Indaba in Cape Town, serving as a dedicated platform to mobilise the investments and partnerships required to build these economic game changers.
Benefits of agro-industrial parks
The Agro-Industrial Parks Forum is the continent’s premier platform dedicated to accelerating the development of integrated agro-processing zones across Africa. It brings together industry leaders, policymakers, multilateral agencies, investors and innovators to explore opportunities and solutions for the development and sustainability of agro-industrial parks.
Ben Leyka, chief executive officer of African Agri Council, said an agro-industrial park is more than infrastructure; it is an ecosystem for economic transformation.
“It is where a farmer’s tomatoes become a bottle sauce for export, it is where grains are milled into fortified flour, and where skilled jobs are created for our youth.
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“By establishing processing and packaging facilities within Africa, these parks significantly reduce post-harvest losses, increase farmers’ incomes by creating reliable local markets, and enhance food security by ensuring a stable supply of nutritious, processed foods,” he said.
Leyka said such industrial parks position Africa to move up on the global value chain from a raw material exporter to a supplier of value-added products, saving and earning from critical foreign exchange.
“The Agro-Industrial Parks Forum will provide a focused environment for deal-making, showcasing viable park projects, and facilitating the partnerships essential for building the infrastructure that will define the future of African agribusiness.
“Designed to convert strategy into tangible outcomes, the agenda moves from policy frameworks to practical solutions. It features sessions on African Development Bank financing models, climate-smart finance, and real-world innovations in AI and storage technology from global leaders,” he said.
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