The 8th Annual African Agri Investment Indaba, recognised as one of the continent’s foremost platforms for agricultural investment and collaboration, is set to return to the Cape Town Convention Centre from 24–26 November 2025.

This year’s gathering will focus on the urgent quest for a resilient, food-secure, and self-sustaining Africa under the forward-looking theme, “The New World Order: A Self-Sufficient Africa.”

As global supply chains continue to face disruption and geopolitical pressures intensify, the Indaba serves as a timely response to calls from the G20 Agriculture Working Group for stronger, more autonomous agri-food systems. The event is expected to draw over 800 attendees, including more than 80 industry leaders, 50+ international investors, and senior representatives from agribusiness, agro-processing, financial institutions, government departments, and agricultural technology firms representing over 50 countries.

Across the three-day programme, delegates will participate in an array of high-level discussions, expert-driven panels, and practical case-study sessions designed to examine how private-sector investment can drive agricultural transformation across Africa. A key highlight again this year is the Indaba’s well-established B2B matchmaking platform, which allows delegates, sponsors, and exhibitors to pre-arrange targeted business meetings. The previous edition facilitated more than 300 high-value meetings, underscoring the platform’s effectiveness in fostering meaningful partnerships.

In addition to the knowledge-sharing sessions, the Indaba will showcase a dynamic exhibition area featuring leading agri-solution providers, ag-tech innovators, and regional investment opportunities. Exhibitors will benefit from direct exposure to decision-makers, while businesses seeking new markets will have access to a strong pipeline of potential partners across the continent.

Hosted by the Agricultural Council of Africa, the event continues to be supported by a strong network of strategic partners and sponsors committed to advancing sustainable, commercially viable, and scalable agriculture in Africa. The Indaba remains a vital meeting point for stakeholders working to enhance food systems, expand trade, and build long-term agricultural resilience across African nations.

In a major step toward sustainable agriculture and climate innovation, Tanmiah Food Company, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading poultry producers, has joined forces with Strataphy, a pioneer in geothermal cooling technology, to establish the Middle East and North Africa’s first geothermal-cooled poultry farm.

The groundbreaking pilot project will be located at Tanmiah’s Shaqrah Facility, marking a significant milestone in the region’s journey toward agricultural decarbonization.

The partnership was announced during the Saudi AgriFood Tech Alliance (SAFTA) Forum on November 4, 2025, under the patronage of His Excellency Eng. Mansour Hilal Al Mushaiti, Vice Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.

Zulfiqar Hamadani, CEO of Tanmiah Food Company, emphasized that innovation and sustainability form the core of Tanmiah’s long-term vision.

“This partnership with Strataphy transforms our climate goals into real-world action,” Hamadani said. “Geothermal cooling not only supports our sustainability objectives but also delivers operational efficiency and aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.”

The new system will use Strataphy’s geothermal cooling technology, which taps into the Earth’s naturally stable underground temperatures through shallow boreholes. This provides a continuous, energy-efficient cooling solution—reducing dependence on conventional HVAC systems, cutting power consumption, and lowering carbon emissions.

Implemented under Strataphy’s Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS) model, the project eliminates upfront costs for Tanmiah. Instead, it turns cooling into a predictable operational expense, with Strataphy managing system design, drilling, installation, and ongoing maintenance. The service model guarantees long-term performance and cost savings while reducing the environmental footprint of poultry production.

According to Ammar Alali, CEO of Strataphy, the collaboration represents a new era for clean technology in food production. He said, “In hot climates, poultry cooling can be a major energy drain. Our geothermal solution turns that challenge into an opportunity for sustainability and efficiency,” Alali explained. “This project proves that Saudi Arabia can lead the world in low-carbon agricultural innovation.”

The Shaqrah initiative is the first phase in Tanmiah’s broader plan to decarbonize its operations nationwide. Insights from the pilot will guide future geothermal deployments across Tanmiah’s network, potentially reshaping poultry farming economics throughout Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region.

Muhammad Abbas Khan, Chief Strategy Officer at Tanmiah, added,“We’re proud to pioneer a solution that’s both economically viable and environmentally responsible. This initiative redefines how energy is used in food production and sets a benchmark for sustainable farming in arid regions.”

With cooling accounting for over 70% of Saudi Arabia’s building energy use, geothermal technology offers a scalable path to energy efficiency and food system resilience supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ambitions for sustainability and innovation in agriculture.

Africa’s poultry industry is undergoing rapid growth, driven by rising consumer demand.

Yet, one constant remains a key challenge: feed cost and supply risk. For broiler producers across the continent, competitiveness still hinges largely on two staples—maize and soybean meal. Both are highly sensitive to currency fluctuations, seasonal scarcity, and global price swings, leaving producers vulnerable. As a result, modern poultry operations must rely not just on formulation expertise but also on ingredient flexibility and resilient supply chains.

Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) is attracting increasing attention among African feed and broiler companies. A recent commercial-scale trial in southwest Nigeria, supported by the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council, offers the most rigorous local evaluation of DDGS to date. The study tested phased DDGS inclusion at levels up to 20%, monitoring growth performance, carcass yield, livability, and overall economics under real-world farm conditions.

Performance: Stable Growth and Resilient Flocks

The results were promising. Broilers fed DDGS-based diets performed comparably with conventional maize–soy formulations. Final body weights at 42 days matched industry standards, feed conversion ratios remained on target, and there was no negative impact on dressing percentage or key muscle yields. Organ development appeared normal across all test groups.

Perhaps most notably, birds in the highest DDGS inclusion group demonstrated stronger early weight gain and lower cumulative mortality. This suggests potential benefits for digestive development and overall flock resilience in tropical environments. Meat pH levels at 24 hours post-slaughter were slightly higher, often correlating with improved tenderness and water-holding capacity—traits increasingly valued in modern retail markets. In short, DDGS supported consistent production, early vitality, and carcass uniformity.

The Price Perspective

The trial occurred during a period when DDGS landed in Nigeria at a temporary premium compared to soybean meal, resulting in a modest rise in feed cost. However, as the report emphasises, pricing alone does not capture the strategic value. Shadow-price modelling placed DDGS’ cost-neutral value at roughly ₦610–₦620/kg. When operational benefits such as improved livability were factored in, the break-even point rose to ₦750–₦800/kg. In practical terms, a 20–25% spike in soybean meal prices or improved DDGS logistics could rapidly bring DDGS into cost parity. Such market fluctuations are routine in West African feed markets, making DDGS an important tool for risk management.

A Strategic Option for Feed Security

DDGS’ value proposition in Africa today is twofold:

A nutritionally sound, field-proven feed ingredient that is mycotoxin-free and already ground, reducing processing challenges.

A strategic hedge against protein and energy supply shocks, offering resilience in volatile markets.

As bulk import programs expand, the economics of DDGS strengthen. Large-scale vessel shipments into regional ports, aggregation across poultry, layer, and aquafeed sectors, and improved logistics coordination help stabilise landed costs. Markets that previously relied on bagged or containerised volumes often transition to bulk economics as adoption grows, positioning early DDGS users advantageously.

A Forward-Looking Feed Solution

The Nigerian trial confirms what many nutritionists have long suspected: DDGS can be successfully incorporated at commercial scale in Africa, with up to 20% inclusion in finisher diets without compromising production. More importantly, it highlights the significance of operational readiness. Mills that adopt DDGS now will move faster and trade smarter when price cycles and logistics favour the ingredient.
As Africa’s poultry and feed sectors mature, success will favour companies that combine technical rigour with procurement agility. DDGS provides a nutritional and strategic tool that helps producers move beyond a two-ingredient dependency, reducing exposure to maize and soybean price volatility. With supply chains deepening and bulk handling improving, DDGS is not merely an alternative—it is becoming a core component of modern African broiler feed.

Meriam Ben Saad, Administrative Assistant, Africa, U.S. Grains Council,said, "In this context, Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) has attracted growing attention in African feed and broiler companies. A recent commercial-scale trial in Nigeria, conducted in partnership with Amo Byng Nig.Ltd and supported by the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council, provides the most rigorous local evaluation to date. The study examined phased DDGS inclusion up to 20% under real-world conditions in southwest Nigeria, monitoring performance, carcass yield, livability, and economics.''

When it comes to drying grain, maintaining the right kernel temperature is crucial to ensuring the final product meets high-quality standards.

Overheating the grain during the drying process can lead to irreversible damage, affecting the overall quality. Studies have shown that even kernel temperatures as low as 60°C (140°F) can significantly harm the grain’s quality. This is why many buyers of grain, especially those dealing with specialty crops, insist that their suppliers use lower drying temperatures to prevent heat damage.

Traditional dryers often struggle to maintain uniform drying conditions. In these systems, while some grains are exposed to temperatures that do not exceed the critical threshold, many others are subjected to temperatures far beyond what is ideal. This inconsistency can result in significant quality issues, including heat damage, stress cracks, and a decrease in test weight. Unfortunately, lowering the drying temperature to avoid this damage comes at a cost: it negatively impacts the dryer’s efficiency and capacity.

However, NECO dryers address these challenges by offering a solution that delivers consistent and even drying throughout the grain batch. With their innovative design, NECO dryers ensure that each kernel receives the same level of exposure to the heated air, preventing overheating and preserving the grain’s integrity. This process results in higher-quality grain with fewer stress cracks, no heat damage, and better test weight, all while maintaining optimal drying efficiency.

The Science Behind Grain Drying

Grain is typically dried by passing heated air through it, allowing the air to flow around each kernel. Because the air starts with low humidity, it has a strong capacity to absorb moisture. As the air flows through the grain, it absorbs moisture from within the kernels, and the evaporative cooling effect reduces the temperature of the wetter kernels. This process helps ensure that the grain doesn't heat up too quickly, preventing potential damage.

However, as the grain becomes drier, less moisture evaporates, and the temperature of the kernels rises closer to the temperature of the heated air. In traditional dryers, especially crossflow dryers (often called screen dryers), this process leads to uneven drying. Grain in the centre of the drying column is exposed to heated air for an extended period, resulting in over-drying and overheating. Meanwhile, the grain on the outer edges of the column remains under-dried due to inadequate exposure to the hottest air. This inconsistency not only compromises grain quality but also reduces the efficiency and capacity of the drying system.

How NECO Mixed-Flow Dryers Offer a Better Solution

NECO's mixed-flow dryers tackle these issues head-on by constantly moving the grain past a series of unique hot air ducts. This ensures that every kernel is exposed to the hottest air at different points throughout the drying process, promoting even drying across the entire batch. The continuous movement of the grain, combined with the gentle mixing, helps prevent overheating and ensures that no kernels are exposed to excessive heat for too long.

Additionally, the design of the NECO dryer improves airflow through the grain, enhancing both drying efficiency and capacity. The even exposure to hot air ensures that all grain is dried uniformly, with none of it being over-dried or under-dried. As a result, kernel temperatures remain consistently low, preserving grain quality, reducing stress cracks, and eliminating heat damage. The outcome is a higher-quality product with improved test weight, making NECO dryers an ideal choice for farmers and grain processors who value both efficiency and superior grain quality.

NECO’s innovative drying technology offers a more effective, consistent, and efficient way to dry grain. With uniform exposure to heat, these dryers eliminate the risks associated with traditional systems, ensuring that every batch of grain meets the highest quality standards.