Youth leadership will be a core theme of the Africa Food Systems launch. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Senegal recently announced the launch of the Community Agricultural Cooperative (CAC) during the official Forum launch event at the Grand Théâtre de Dakar

The initiative marks a bold commitment to youth-led, community-driven agricultural transformation across Africa. The CAC programme, spearheaded by Senegal’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock, is designed to strengthen local agricultural ecosystems through scalable cooperative models that prioritise food sovereignty, inclusive growth, and innovation. It will be showcased at the full Forum convening later this year.

Designed to strengthen local agricultural ecosystems, the CAC programme, spearheaded by Senegal’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock prioritises food sovereignty, inclusive growth, and innovation through scalable cooperative models. The launch event marks the start of the Forum’s 2025 preparations, culminating in the main summit from 29 August to 5 September 2025 in Dakar, Senegal.

Youth leadership will be a core theme of the Africa Food Systems launch.  Senegal, with one of the world’s youngest populations and youngest governments, is positioning itself as a catalyst for continental renewal. Dr Mabouba Diagne, Senegal’s Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Livestock highlighted the urgency and opportunity ahead. 

“Every day, across our continent, young farmers, entrepreneurs, and technologists are rethinking what is possible," said Amath Pathe Sene, managing director of the Africa Food Systems Forum. "Dakar 2025 will be a catalyst for action, led by the energy and creativity of Africa’s youth. They are building the food systems of tomorrow, and it is our responsibility to back them with everything we have.”

The programme is an initiative designed to transform the country's agricultural landscape. (Image source: MOFA)

Ghana's Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku recently held a public briefing on the innovative 'Feed Ghana Programme,' representing a crucial step forward in tackling Ghana's pressing agricultural challenges while enhancing food security and economic stability

The programme is an initiative designed to transform the country's agricultural landscape. It aims to enhance local agricultural production, minimise reliance on food imports, and create sustainable job opportunities, while also aiming to improve livestock production, foster industrial crop cultivation, and developing the oil palm sector to close the country’s consumption gap. Key features of the initiative include establishing farmers' service centers, promoting the development of grains and legumes, and introducing cutting-edge technologies, such as controlled environment farming and greenhouse cultivation.

The Minister outlined various initiatives to support institutional farming, including partnerships with national institutions and religious organisations to rejuvenate the poultry industry through a new 'farm to table project.' Opoku further announced plans to invest in agricultural infrastructure, which will significantly enhance food security, boost exports, and create jobs, ultimately contributing to Ghana's long-term economic growth.

In his address, Opoku underscored the vital role of a robust agricultural sector in national development. Despite Ghana's rich agricultural potential, the Minister recognised the obstacles that smallholder farmers face, including production inefficiencies, inadequate infrastructure, limited access to financing, and a lack of mechanisation. He also highlighted the problem of post-harvest losses stemming from insufficient storage and processing facilities, poor transportation networks, and weak market integration.

To combat these challenges, the Feed Ghana Programme will form part of Ghana's Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA), which is set to be launched by His Excellency John Dramani Mahama on 12 April 2025, at the Methodist School Park in Techiman, Bono East Region. The minister further announced plans to invest in agricultural infrastructure. 

The International Dealer Centre will again serve as the central meeting point for the international agricultural machinery trade at Agritechnica 2025. (Image source: Agritechnica)

This year's Agritechnica 2025 will bring in a range of new developments aimed at advancing steady digitalisation on farms

As the world’s leading trade fair for agricultural machinery, Agritechnica 2025 will take place from 9-15 November in Hanover, Germany, bringing together manufacturers, dealers, farmers, and industry experts from around the globe, fostering international exchange and networking. This year’s edition introduces new formats aimed at enhancing visibility and connections within the sector. Registered dealers can be listed on the official website and in the trade fair app, making them easily accessible to both customers and exhibitors.

Agricultural equipment dealers have limited ability to respond to external pressures such as deferred purchasing by farms, extreme weather events, and political uncertainty – though some are countering with attractive sales or financing offers. When it comes to digitalisation, which poses a direct and internal challenge for the trade, the situation looks different: Success increasingly depends on the expertise, technical know-how, and the quality of digital solutions and services offered by machinery dealers. 

"Agricultural equipment dealers are expected to integrate digital technologies into their portfolios and provide tailored solutions to farmers. But this is often easier said than done. The technologies involved are complex and require extensive consultation, while rapid innovation cycles in systems, machines, and software demand constant upskilling," says Ralph Königs, Business segment dealer manager, Agritechnica.

The International Dealer Centre will again serve as the central meeting point for the international agricultural machinery trade at Agritechnica 2025. Trade visitors can access an exclusive lounge for dealers, business partners, customers, and employees. Daily 'Pop-up Talk Dealer' sessions will feature international speakers, followed by informal networking opportunities. An on-site information counter will also be available to address questions on training and professional development in the sector. 

AAGB-2025 featured a comprehensive scientific programme, including three plenary talks and a high-level panel discussion focused on outlining a roadmap for groundnut improvement over the next decade. (Image source: ICRISAT)

ICRISAT in collaboration with the Peanut Research Foundation organised the 13th International Conference on Advances in Arachis through Genomics and Biotechnology (AAGB-2025) which took place from 23-25 March 2025 in Goa, India

The AAGB-2025 served as a vital platform for bringing together a global community of scientists, researchers, and industry experts to explore cutting-edge developments in groundnut (peanut) genomics and biotechnology and the innovations aimed at enhancing crop resilience, productivity, and nutritional quality. The conference saw participation from over 250 delegates from more than 18 countries including India, China, the US, Japan, Mali, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Burkina Faso, among others.

AAGB-2025 featured a comprehensive scientific programme, including three plenary talks and a high-level panel discussion focused on outlining a roadmap for groundnut improvement over the next decade. The event also hosted 10 thematic scientific sessions, bringing together leading experts from around the world. In addition, the three-day conference also featured a dedicated poster session showcasing 26 posters. The conference provided a valuable platform for young researchers and students to present their work and interact with global experts.

These sessions covered a wide array of critical topics, including genebank genomics and pan-genomics, trait mapping and gene discovery, genomics-assisted breeding, food safety, nutrition and quality, functional genomics, genome editing, and other emerging technologies. Discussions also focused on strategies for effectively translating genetic innovations into practical applications in groundnut cropping systems. 

Awards were also presented by deputy director general – research and innovation, ICRISAT, Dr Stanford Blade for five outstanding posters and five exceptional presentations by young researchers during the conference.  Another key highlight of the event was the involvement from industry stakeholders, with exhibitions by organisations such as DSS Takara, the South Africa Groundnut Association (SAGA), and Premas Life Sciences, underscoring the strong industry-science partnership in advancing groundnut research.

“For dryland crops like groundnut, strong partnerships and collaborative efforts are essential to drive meaningful impact at the field level. It is encouraging to witness the active engagement of both national and international partners, including the Peanut Research Foundation, in advancing this critical area of research,” said director general of ICRISAT, Dr Himanshu Pathak. President of the Peanut Research Foundation, Dr Steve Brown joined the event virtually and expressed his pleasure regarding their partnership in organising the conference.