FAO, Lagos boost red meat and coconut investment.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has partnered with the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems to drive strategic investment in Nigeria’s red meat and coconut value chains. This collaboration aims to strengthen the state’s agri-food sector, unlock economic opportunities, and create sustainable jobs, particularly for the youth.

During a roundtable meeting in Lagos on Tuesday, Hussein Gadain, FAO’s representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, emphasised the strategic importance of Lagos in advancing Nigeria’s food security agenda. Represented at the meeting by FAO programme officer Tofiq Braimah, he praised the Lagos Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems for demonstrating “bold leadership and unwavering commitment to building a sustainable agri-food system.”

“These value chains include coconut, livestock, and feedlot systems to attract private-sector and multilateral investments,” he said. “By leveraging Lagos’ industrial potential and commercial networks, we aim to unlock new economic opportunities, create decent jobs, and empower the vibrant youth population. This approach positions Lagos to fully exploit AfCFTA opportunities, making it a model for agricultural transformation across Africa.”

Represented by Rasheed Macaulay, director of veterinary services, the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems reiterated its readiness to drive investment and scale up initiatives that support sustainable agriculture. Permanent Secretary Mr Audu highlighted that FAO’s collaboration reflects a commitment to move beyond policy dialogue to practical, investment-driven solutions for food systems transformation.

The two-day roundtable focused on validating key proposals under the Lagos State Red Meat Initiative and the Coconut Value Chain Programme. These proposals are informed by comprehensive technical and economic analyses conducted through FAO’s Technical Cooperation Project, which included feasibility studies for a Lagos State Cattle Feedlot Farm Estate, and the FAO–UNIDO-supported Coconut Value Chain Programme.

Both programmes have produced detailed investment notes and financial models aimed at mobilising resources and attracting private-sector participation. By leveraging these insights, Lagos is positioned to enhance livestock productivity, optimise coconut production, and integrate value chains with broader industrial and commercial networks.

The FAO–Lagos partnership marks a significant step in sustainable agricultural development, positioning the state as a regional leader in food systems transformation, value chain modernisation, and youth empowerment, while fostering resilience and competitiveness within Africa’s evolving agri-food landscape.

Bühler's African Milling School. (Image credit: Bühler)

Swiss technology group Bühler has celebrated the 10th anniversary of its African Milling School (AMS) in Nairobi, Kenya, marking a major milestone in the development of skilled professionals for Africa’s food and feed industries.

The anniversary event, brought together more than 100 guests, including customers, alumni and industry partners, while also celebrating the graduation of 15 students from seven countries.

Since opening its doors in 2015, the African Milling School has trained more than 1,600 millers from over 30 countries across Africa, the Middle East and India. At a time when food systems face mounting pressure from climate change, supply chain disruptions and labour shortages, the role of skilled millers has become increasingly critical in safeguarding productivity, resilience and food security.

AMS was Bühler’s first dedicated training mill on the African continent, created in response to strong customer demand for qualified milling professionals. Nairobi was selected as a strategic location due to its accessibility, modern infrastructure and regional connectivity. Following four years of planning and construction and an investment of approximately CHF 5 million, Bühler established a state-of-the-art training centre that combines advanced facilities, practical learning and expert instruction.

The school’s education model is based on the Swiss dual-training system. Students spend five months working in their home countries and one intensive month at AMS, completing four modules over two years. Classroom-based learning in the mornings is paired with hands-on practical training in the afternoons, ensuring immediate application in real-world milling operations.

“When we started the African Milling School, our focus was on education that truly makes a difference: training millers to optimize productivity and maximize yield,” says Martin Schlauri, the first Head of African Milling School. “Skilled operators are the backbone of efficient plants, and through proper education, they can deliver tangible results for their companies and the communities they serve.”

Over the past decade, AMS has expanded well beyond traditional flour milling. Its curriculum now includes feed milling, coffee processing, grain handling, baking technology and plant-based proteins. Courses are delivered through on-site, online and hybrid formats, making learning more flexible and accessible.

Alumni consistently highlight the school’s impact. “The Apprentice Miller Program really opened my eyes to the full picture of the flour milling industry – from technology to grain science,” says Sulaiman Al Saqri of Oman Flour Mills. “It helped me improve how I operate and troubleshoot in the plant every day.”

Industry leaders echo this view. “The African Milling School is more than a training center – it’s an engine for industry excellence,” says Sharuq Sokwalla, Managing Director of Grain Industries Limited in Kenya.

For Bühler, the long-term vision is clear. “The African Milling School is more than an educational institution – it is a catalyst for transformation,” says Dario Grossmann, Head of Bühler’s Milling Academy. Through its growing global education network, Bühler continues to equip the next generation of milling professionals with the skills needed to shape the future of food.

The programme aims to increase agricultural productivity.

Agriculture is a cornerstone of Niger’s economy, contributing approximately 33% of the nation’s GDP and employing around 71% of the working population, with smallholder farmers forming the backbone of food production and rural livelihoods.

To strengthen agricultural development and improve living standards, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has launched a US$2.7mn project aimed at supporting farmers’ organisations in the Dosso and Tillabéri regions. The initiative is financed by the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) and was formalised through a memorandum of understanding signed on 13 December 2025 in Niamey by Prime Minister Mahaman Ali Lamine Zeine and FAO Niger Representative Al Hassan Cissé.

The three-year programme is designed to primarily benefit the Federation Mooriben, one of Niger’s largest and most influential farmers’ organisations. Mooriben unites 29 agricultural cooperative unions across Niamey, Dosso, and Tillabéri, operating through 1,541 groups in 732 villages. The project aims to enhance agricultural productivity, nutrition, environmental sustainability, and overall livelihoods for federation members and their wider communities.

The initiative is built around three key pillars. First, it seeks to strengthen the organisational, technical, and administrative capacities of the Federation Mooriben, enabling it to operate more efficiently and provide better services to farmers. Second, the programme supports producers in developing climate-resilient agricultural value chains, equipping farmers to mitigate risks associated with climate change while improving productivity and income. Third, FAO will ensure coordination, monitoring, and knowledge sharing to promote transparency, scalability, and the replication of best practices across the agricultural sector.

Al Hassan Cissé emphasised the project’s people-centred approach, noting its focus on empowering farmers to mobilise and manage investments, and fostering sustainable income-generating activities with a particular emphasis on women and youth. He highlighted that farmers’ organisations serve as crucial intermediaries between government authorities and rural producers, facilitating access to technical assistance, market information, and policy support.

The initiative builds on the Federation Mooriben’s existing achievements. In 2024, the federation mobilised CFA395.4 million from partners to fund projects such as seed production, agricultural research, and innovation, demonstrating its capacity to drive meaningful development. The FAO-supported project is expected to amplify these gains, strengthening the federation’s ability to improve food security and agricultural resilience in Niger.

By enhancing farmers’ organisations, the programme aims to increase agricultural productivity, support climate adaptation, and promote sustainable rural development, delivering lasting benefits for communities in the Dosso and Tillabéri regions.

The initiative is expected to deliver broad benefits across local communities.

Up to 300,000 smallholder farmers in Northern Uganda are set to benefit from a US$2mn technical assistance programme aimed at increasing cotton yields, strengthening value chains, and boosting rural incomes in a region where the crop is a cornerstone of livelihoods.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Board of Directors approved the funds on 9 December 2025 to support the Cotton Value Chain Project in Northern Uganda. Financed by the Fund for African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA)—a multi-donor trust fund hosted by AfDB—the initiative provides grants for technical support to enhance Africa’s private sector. The programme will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, with a strong focus on revitalising rural economies and improving household incomes.

Cotton is central to Northern Uganda’s local economy, yet many farmers face low productivity due to limited access to quality inputs, weak market linkages, and outdated processing facilities. The project seeks to tackle these challenges by optimising performance across the entire cotton value chain, from farm production to processing and marketing.

Targeted interventions will help farmers increase yields through improved seed varieties, better farming practices, and expanded access to extension services. Cotton mills and cooperatives will receive support to modernise equipment and raise quality standards. At the same time, stronger connections between farmers, processors, and buyers are expected to stabilise prices and increase household earnings.

The initiative is expected to deliver broad benefits across local communities. In addition to the 300,000 direct beneficiaries, more than one million people including cotton growers, women, youth, and workers along the processing and trading value chain are projected to benefit.

Dorsaf Zangar-Labidi, AfDB Manager for Industrial Development, Trade and Investment Climate Division, emphasised the project’s people-centred approach: “This project will bring new opportunities to farming communities and thereby restoring dignity and improving livelihoods,” she said. “As a significant cash crop, investing in cotton means we are investing in jobs, incomes, climate resilience and even food security.”

Higher farm incomes are expected to enable families to invest more in education and healthcare, while new employment opportunities along the cotton value chain should encourage greater participation by youth and women. Strengthened farmer organisations will also provide producers with a stronger voice and better access to finance and markets.

Sustainability is a key focus of the programme. Training in climate-smart agriculture will equip farmers to cope with weather shocks and protect soil health. Overall, the project is projected to deliver higher cotton productivity, improved lint quality, expanded processing capacity, and stronger private sector engagement. By boosting local value addition, the initiative aims to retain more economic benefits within Uganda and reduce export losses.

“Over time, the gains expected from this project will contribute to poverty reduction, economic resilience and regional stability in the region,” Zangar-Labidi concluded.