Agriculture

Agroecology can be the solution to food security.

Agroecology is driving the African Union Commission's food security policies as it calls for increased investments in the sector so that it generates employment opportunities for a growing youth population

Announced during the recently held Africa Regional Youth Summit on Agroecology and the Future of Africa's Food Systems in Kampala, this move will address the continent's food systems to reduce import dependency.

Haile Abebe of the African Union's Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) who spoke during the summit highlighted the commercial significance of agriculture and how it can be more that just a tool for subsistence.

“Agriculture is no longer simply about producing food. It is about science, technology, entrepreneurship, finance, digital innovation, logistics, processing, manufacturing, trade, climate resilience and value addition,” Abebe said. 

With the right skills and technology, alongside financial means and market access, Africa's predominantly youth population can be channelised towards the region's wider agrifood sector. Prioritising the transformation of agrifood systems requires advancing agroecology.

“Agroecology can be part of this solution. It opens opportunities for young people across the agrifood system - from soil health, seeds and bio-inputs to irrigation, digital agriculture, processing, packaging, logistics, green energy and market development,” said Abebe.

Other opportunities include organic and bio-fertiliser production, ecological seed systems, agroforestry, water conservation, food processing, packaging and marketing.

Ecovado's plant will be driven by the Alfa Laval processing line.

A South Africa-based agroprocessing company called Ecovado has launched an avocado oil processing plant in Vhembe, Limpopo, in collaboration with global heat exchanger manufacturer, Alfa Laval Middle East, South and East Africa (MESEA)

This move follows Ecovado identifying Vhembe's largely unexplored market potential in avocados, which the region is naturally blessed with -- enough to sustain its wider economic progress. Boosting local avocado production will secure long-term supply and open up income opportunities for households. The success of this project will fulfil Ecovado's fruitforcash vision as part of its local development cause for employment generation and agricultural sustainability. 

Ecovado's plant will be driven by the Alfa Laval processing line, giving the South African company an instant edge in the export markets with its quality products matching global standards. The project is being funded by Alfa Laval through Swedish export credit agency, EKN. Alfa Laval has also extended its funds beyond Vhembe to cover the costs of avocado seedlings for small scale farmers from the adjacent regions.

Local residents are running the day-to-day operations at the Ecovado plant, with fruits sourced directly from small scale growers. The company is now focusing to scale up production before it can grow its network of community suppliers, and in turn, expand export reach.

“This project represents exactly what sustainable industrial development should look like: world class technology enabling local entrepreneurship, job creation and long-term community development,” said Alfa Laval South and East Africa general manager, Bongani Twala.

The delegation examined intelligent seedling equipment.

As part of China-Africa cooperation programme, more than 10 experts and scholars from South Africa visited Jinhua in East China's Zhejiang province to explore the city's development and achievements, with their itinerary also comprising Wuzhou Ancient City and the China-Africa (Jinhua) Agricultural Science and Innovation Park

The delegation examined intelligent seedling equipment and took a tour of the China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Exchange Center. They got to see firsthand Jinhua's agricultural innovation capabilities.

At the China-Africa (Jinhua) Agricultural Science and Innovation Park in Changshan township, Wucheng district, the delegation sampled specialty agricultural products such as lotus seeds and sweet potatoes cultivated by the Jinhua Academy of Agricultural Sciences. These were meant for consumption like fruits, and were highly appreciated. China-Africa agricultural cooperation were explored through insightful exchanges on modern agricultural technologies.

This visit is part of the lead-up to the 2026 China-South Africa Seminar on Human Rights in Hangzhou. Before the seminar, participants have conducted field visits in Jinhua and Hangzhou to deepen their understanding of local advancements and collaborative efforts in agriculture.

The LARACI project will enhance soil carbon sequestration.

Ivory Coast has secured US$50mn from the Green Climate Fund to support the Ministry of Environment and Ecological Transition-led LARACI project, also known as Strengthening Sustainable Land Management and Climate-Resilient Agri-Food Systems in Ivory Coast

The five-year programme set to be implemented across regions adversely impacted by climate change is scaled to directly impact 147,000 people.

While cocoa has given Ivory Coast its global name, it has come at the huge environmental cost of deforestation. Regions like N’Zi, Moronou, Iffou, Me and Gbeke have bore the brunt with rising temperatures, rainfall variability, droughts, floods, and climate-induced pest pressure, among other climate adversities. Cocoa fame has also overshadowed rice, cassava and yam production, which were left neglected and underfinanced even though a good 48 per cent of the population depends upon these crops to make a living. 

The LARACI project has identified these crops to restore their production with climate smart agricultural practices based on a three-point agenda:

- Introducing agrometeorological advisory services and advancing climate-aligned finance to build a national foundation for climate-resilient agriculture 

- Boost agroforestry and sustainable land management to reduce emissions and enhance soil carbon sequestration

- Leverage technology to support underfinanced crop production by fostering inclusive growth for women and youth

The project will also reduce emissions of 606,212 tCO₂eq over the five-year implementation period, and around 3.8 million tCO₂eq over a twenty-year lifespan. 

Approved at the Green Climate Fund’s 45th board meeting in Dushanbe, the LARACI project will be implemented by FIRCA as CGIAR act as the entity accredited to the fund. AfricaRice will also be one of the contributors of the project. 

Ivory Coast's national priorities on sustainability, especially climate finance initiatives, have drawn global traction, with Abidjan selected as the host country for Green Climate Fund’s Africa regional office.