By scaling investments, ATLAS aims to unlock the sector’s potential to achieve global development goals. (Image source: ATLAS)

Despite being one of the most important sectors in Africa, agriculture receives less than 3% of global development funding, which is why this year's World Economic Forum's Agricultural Transitions Lab for African Solutions (ATLAS) launched the 2x30 Challenge to boost investments in Africa's agri-food systems by 2030

The 2×30 Challenge is a bold initiative to galvanise global funders and policymakers to respond to the pressing need to close the annual funding gap, which amounts to US$200bn. By scaling investments, ATLAS aims to unlock the sector’s potential to achieve global development goals by driving transformative progress in poverty reduction, food insecurity, health and education inequalities, while driving economic growth, social progress and climate resilience. Investments will be tracked through a yearly Investment Barometer, that will consolidate public, private and development funding across the continent.

“If improving African agriculture seems to be a magic wand to make progress on several key sustainable development goals, that’s because it is," said Justin Vaïsse, DG, Paris Peace Forum. "The 2×30 Challenge represents both an opportunity and a necessity to foster global resilience and equitable growth."  

President of University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Hicham El Habti also emphasised that the challenge reflected their commitment to empowering communities and driving meaningful change across the continent. 

The company's egg flow control systems offer a comprehensive and groundbreaking approach to smart egg collection. (Image source: Hotraco Agri)

Global leader in innovation farm automation, Hotraco Agri recently announced its participation in the 2025 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) scheduled to take place from 28-30 January in Atlanta, Georgia

Hotraco Agri will present three next-generation products and systems developed to optimise every aspect of farm management, setting new industry standards in egg flow control. These groundbreaking solutions are designed to boost efficiency and profit, enhance animal welfare, and simplify operations.  

The company's egg flow control systems offer a comprehensive and groundbreaking approach to smart egg collection, setting new standards for optimising processes at both barn and farm levels. At the barn level, the new Antares Egg controller ensures smooth egg flow by synchronising belt speeds, reducing shell damage, and minimising labour requirements. Equipped with a user-friendly 7-inch touchscreen, it provides real-time insights into egg production with 99.5% accuracy, making it easy to monitor and adjust operations as needed. 

For organisations with multiple barns, the Fortica MAX - centralised egg collection (CEC) solution elevates egg flow management by coordinating outputs across barns. This system adjusts for production fluctuations, ensuring a consistent flow to centralised processing points. The result is reduced downtime, less egg breakage, and more efficient packing and grading. Both integrate seamlessly into new or existing farm setups and operations and offers specialised solutions for barn and farm-level egg flow control. 

Attendees can feel free to meet experts available at Booth B18042 to provide demonstrations and discuss tailored solutions for farming operations.

The carrot algorithm is the latest addition to Ecorobotix’s expanding AI suite. (Image source: Ecorobotix)

Ecorobotix showcased its new ARA ultra-high precision sprayer at the LAMMA 2025 event that took place from 15-16 January at the NEC in Birmingham, UK

Celebrating its transformative impact on agriculture, Ecorobotix's new carrot algorithm earned the Silver Award for Arable Crop Care Innovation of the Year. This advanced solution which is currently available as a paid feature for the ARA sprayer helps reduce plant protection products in carrot fields by up to 95%.

It is part of Ecorobotix’s Plant-by-Plant AI Software, which uses crop-specific algorithms to deliver unparalleled precision and efficiency in treatments for various crops. With its ultra-high precision 6x6 cm spraying capability, the ARA sprayer revolutionises crop care by dramatically reducing chemical inputs and enhancing productivity.

During the forum, AGRA and IFDC reaffirmed their commitment to fostering innovation, capacity-building, and partnerships that prioritise soil health. (Image source: AGRA)

AGRA, in partnership with the International Fertiliser Development Center (IFDC) and the Ministry of Agriculture, hosted Mali’s first-ever event specifically dedicated to soils, in celebration of World Soil Day

The event themed: ‘Nourish the Earth, Secure the Future’ focused on preserving the health of arid and semi-arid soils, and marked the beginning of a dedicated national focus on soil health in Mali. It highlighted critical issues of soil degradation and the need to implement collaborative and innovative solutions to restore soil health, safeguard agricultural productivity, and combat food insecurity.

Comprising expert panels and roundtable discussions, the event served as a platform to address soil health and its implications for agricultural transformation, in turn producing actionable recommendations. These included establishing a platform for dialogue, creating synergies of action, updating Mali’s soil mapping, developing targeted policies, and investing in action research on soils.

In his address, the Minister of Agriculture emphasised that sustainable soil management is not only an environmental necessity but also a socio-economic and humanitarian imperative. During the forum, AGRA and IFDC also reaffirmed their commitment to fostering innovation, capacity-building, and partnerships that prioritise soil health.