Africa seeks new agrifood investment
from AHMED MOOLAH in Cairo, Egypt Egypt Bureau CAIRO, (CAJ News) – TWENTY African countries are preparing to present major agrifood investment opportunities to international investors as the continent seeks to strengthen food security, create jobs and transform agricultural production. The countries will participate in the 2026 Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum in Rome, Italy from October
from AHMED MOOLAH in Cairo, Egypt Egypt Bureau CAIRO , (CAJ News) – TWENTY African countries are preparing to present major agrifood investment opportunities to international investors as the continent seeks to strengthen food security, create jobs and transform agricultural production.
The countries will participate in the 2026 Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum in Rome, Italy from October 13 to 16, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The forum will connect governments with investors and development partners around projects intended to transform agrifood systems.
The FAO said the initiative would showcase government-led investment opportunities aimed at “strengthening food security, reducing poverty, creating jobs and transforming agrifood systems”. The focus comes as African countries confront a combination of food insecurity, climate shocks, population growth and insufficient agricultural investment.
Agriculture remains one of the continent’s largest sources of employment, but productivity in many regions remains below its potential. Limited irrigation, inadequate storage, poor rural roads, expensive finance and restricted access to modern inputs continue to constrain farmers.
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The investment forum is therefore intended to move beyond traditional agricultural aid towards commercially viable projects. Participating governments will present investment-ready opportunities covering crop production, livestock, processing, logistics, irrigation and other parts of the food value chain.
That approach reflects a growing recognition that Africa cannot achieve food security simply by increasing farm production. More efficient storage, transport and processing are also required to prevent food losses and connect farmers with consumers. The continent has substantial agricultural potential, but many countries continue to import large quantities of food that could potentially be produced or processed domestically.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) provides an additional opportunity by creating a larger potential market for agricultural products. Investments in regional food-processing industries could allow African countries to retain more value from their agricultural commodities rather than exporting raw products.
Climate change, however, remains a major threat. Farmers across Africa are increasingly exposed to droughts, floods, heatwaves and changing rainfall patterns. Investment will consequently need to support climate-resilient agriculture, including irrigation, drought-resistant crops, improved soil management and better weather information.
Finance remains the critical issue. Commercial investors often regard African agriculture as high risk because of weather variability, infrastructure shortages and uncertain market conditions. Government-backed investment programmes can therefore help reduce risk and attract private capital.
The FAO forum is designed to provide precisely that connection between public-sector priorities and private investment. For Africa, the stakes are considerable. Agricultural transformation could improve food security while creating employment for a rapidly growing population and supporting manufacturing through stronger domestic supply chains.
The challenge will be converting investment announcements into projects that reach farmers and generate measurable improvements in productivity and incomes. The Rome meeting therefore comes at a critical point for the continent’s food system. – CAJ News
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