The Japanese government has contributed US$5.1mn toward the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), supporting nearly 37,000 smallholder farmers across five districts in Zimbabwe

The ongoing climate challenges in Zimbabwe caused by El Niño has resulted in widespread food insecurity, making this three-year project crucial for solving food security issues and enhancing resilience for smallholder farmers. The WFP will make this possible by establishing water-based infrastructure, developing value chains and strengthening agricultural extension service capacity. 

Moreover, the project aims to address sustainability issues by combining food assistance with climate-adaptive practices, thereby helping smallholder farmers to cultivate more sustainable crops, particularly sesame, which has a high market potential. Production of this crop will be one of the central value chains, enhancing export opportunities for Zimbabwean smallholder farmers.

“Under this project, small-scale farmers will be supported in growing sesame seeds to practice market-oriented agriculture and a Japanese trading company called ITOCHU Corporation is expected to play an important role in completing the value-chain of the project,” said Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Shinichi Yamanaka.

He highlighted that the Japanese government would be providing financial assistance of around US$72,000 to ‘the project for the construction of storages for sesame farmers in Mwenezi District’ implemented by Sustainable Agriculture Technology (SAT), which is expected to support sesame production and its procurement including value addition for the local and export market.

With a contribution of more than US$28mn toward food assistance and resilience-building initiatives supported by the WFP, Japan has been a long-standing partner of WFP’s assistance in Zimbabwe since 2019. 

“This invaluable contribution from the Gomore than vernment of Japan allows us to make food more available, easier to access, and more reliable for Zimbabwean families,” said Barbara Clemens, country representative and director for WFP in Zimbabwe. “By supporting farmers to grow food in a sustainable way and connect them to markets, we can address immediate food needs and empower communities to build a food secure future.”

In an exclusive interview with African Farming, CEO of Agmatix Ron Baruchi highlighted the role of their new Agronomic Trial Management software in enhancing business performance

Could you provide an overview of Agmatix and its impact on transforming the global agricultural landscape?

Ron Baruchi (RB): Agmatix is dedicated to advancing agriculture by turning data into actionable insights that enable more sustainable farming practices worldwide. Through our data-driven platforms, we empower agribusinesses, agrifood companies and their respective agronomists and growers to make informed decisions, optimise resources, and adopt regenerative practices. Our commitment to enhancing productivity while promoting environmental stewardship allows the agricultural sector to achieve a balance between maximising yield and minimising environmental impact. By focusing on cutting-edge technology like AI-driven agronomic analytics, Agmatix is helping the agricultural landscape evolve into a more resilient and sustainable ecosystem, meeting the growing demands for food security and environmental responsibility.

According to you, how does AI contribute to driving innovation in agriculture?

Ron Baruchi (RB): AI is revolutionising agriculture by transforming how we understand and apply data across every stage of the production cycle. From forecasting crop health and optimising input use to modelling the environmental impact of specific practices, AI allows us to handle complex, large-scale data with unparalleled precision. At Agmatix, AI helps us turn vast data sets into actionable insights that reveal trends and patterns otherwise difficult to detect. It also enables us to automate processes, making it easier for agriculture professionals and agronomists to access data-driven recommendations. By integrating AI with agronomic science, we are driving innovation that not only improves productivity but also aligns with the urgent need for scaling regenerative agriculture practices.

Could you shed some light on your Agronomic Trial Management software and its role in enhancing business performance?

Ron Baruchi (RB): Agmatix's Agronomic Trial Management software is designed to streamline the research and development process for agribusinesses. Our platform offers robust tools for planning, monitoring, and analysing trials, allowing companies to assess the efficacy of new inputs, crop varieties, and agronomic practices. The software also helps agrifood companies pilot regenerative practices and crop varieties in real-world settings, providing invaluable insights into their effectiveness under actual growing conditions. By centralising trial data and providing real-time insights, we help organisations make quicker, data-backed decisions that optimise product performance and reduce time-to-market. This software is a game-changer for agribusinesses looking to enhance their competitive edge by making data-driven decisions that improve crop yield, quality, and sustainability outcomes.

How has this technology helped in addressing the key challenges faced by the agri-food sector?

Ron Baruchi (RB): The agri-food sector faces unique challenges, from resource scarcity and climate variability to increasing demand for transparency and sustainability. Today’s companies are also under pressure to achieve more with fewer resources, balancing constrained internal resources with ambitious product development goals. Agmatix’s technology addresses these challenges by enabling companies to manage and analyse data more efficiently and accurately. Our analysis tools allow teams to maximise their time spent wrangling data, analyse results faster, and focus on actionable insights. This accelerated process enables cross-functional teams, such as marketing and sales, to leverage trial results data into early market penetration strategies and create impactful sales enablement materials. For example, our platforms facilitate scaling regenerative agriculture practices by assessing key impact areas such as soil health, nutrient use, and biodiversity. Through our Trial Management software, companies can experiment with different inputs and farming methods, gaining insights into what works best under various conditions, which leads to optimised resource use and reduced environmental impact. By providing tools that support efficient, evidence-based decision-making, we help agri-food companies meet the demands of a rapidly evolving market.

Could you outline, with examples, how Agmatix's range of solutions has positively impacted agribusinesses in terms of sustainability?

Ron Baruchi (RB): Agmatix has been instrumental in helping agribusinesses achieve sustainability through several of our core solutions. For instance, our RegenIQ framework, designed for regenerative agriculture, assesses the impact of farming practices on soil health, water use, and biodiversity. By applying this framework in crops like coffee, cacao, and soybeans, we have enabled agribusinesses to measure and adjust practices to improve sustainability outcomes. Additionally, our Agronomic Trial Management platform has helped companies develop and test new products such as low-nitrogen fertilisers and biocontrols for pest management, allowing them to make informed decisions that reduce resource use while maintaining yield and quality. These efforts not only support the companies' sustainability goals but also contribute to a more resilient agricultural system.

SPACE 2025 has announced the launch of its all-new design for its 39th edition that is due to take place from 16-18 September at the Parc-Expo in Rennes, France next year

The event represents 120 countries, attracting more than 1,200 exhibitors and 100,000 global visitors. The event's previous success continues to strengthen its position as a world leading event for all animal farming. Besides providing high-quality content throughout the year, the event also represents all animal farming sectors including, dairy cattle, beef cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, goats and aquaculture, among others.

With three days of animal farming, visitors can discover all the latest innovations, discuss the challenges facing the sector and make connections at a fun and exciting event. The SPACE team is actively working to promote the 2025 edition in France and around the world. 

“SPACE is an event for professionals that provides farmers with perspectives and ideas for the future. Its international dimension has been confirmed over the years," said the show chairman, Marcel Denieul. "The whole event takes place in a spirit of conviviality that is expressed through all the exchanges.“