Africa is the youngest continent in the world, and its food systems will be shaped by the generation that inherits them. At #AFSForum2026, we brought youth and stakeholders together for a direct conversation: what does meaningful youth involvement in food systems transformation actually look like? The answers went beyond participation for its own sake, touching on access to finance, agriculture, skills, technology and a real seat at the decision-making table, alongside the responsibility young people carry to innovate, build and lead. As #AFSF marks 20 years, this conversation was a reminder that Africa's food future won't be built for young people. It will be built with them. #NourishingNations #GrowingJobs #BuildingResilience

Behind every winning streak is a community that thrives. As the world gathers for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, We are proud to join forces with the @gatesfoundation , @AGRA_Africa , SEED Project , and @ForHopeAsso in Dakar. Under the theme "From Sporting Excellence to Community Health" We will be exploring how nutrition, sport, and health intersect to build resilient futures across Africa. 31 October - 13 November 2026 Dakar, Senegal Reach out to us for collaboration! #AFSF #Dakar2026 #YouthOlympics

This #WorldFoodDay, AFSF champions the agricultural tech and innovations reshaping our food systems. By building smarter, climate-resilient farming today, we ensure healthy food for tomorrow. #WorldFoodDay2026

43% of the global agricultural workforce is made up of women, yet they face unequal access to land, resources, and leadership. Today, on the International Day of Rural Women, AFSForum honors the millions of resilient women farmers, producers, and indigenous leaders who act as the backbone of our global food systems and the primary stewards of our land. From conserving seeds to nourishing communities, their work sustains us all. True agricultural progress is impossible without gender equity. Let’s invest in their rights, resource access, and future. #InternationalDayOfRuralWomen

Africa is a continent of opportunity, and connections are key to turning that opportunity into shared progress. At the session on Africa's Contribution to Global Food Security: Investment, Innovation and Scale, co-hosted by the UAE Food Cluster and AFSF, leaders explored how the right partners can connect Africa's agricultural strengths with capital, knowledge, technology and markets to strengthen food security across the continent and globally. The scale of opportunity is clear. According to the AfDB, Africa's food and agribusiness sector is projected to reach USD 1 trillion by 2030, while by 2050, one in four people on earth will be African. Its land resources, youthful population and the integrated market being built through the AfCFTA offer a strong foundation for mutually beneficial partnerships. Egypt's Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation called for joint investment built on comparative advantages, supported by bilateral cooperation and coordinated action between governments and the private sector. Richard Kwaku Ofori-Mante, Director of Agricultural Finance and Rural Development at the African Development Bank, highlighted how partnerships can help de-risk investment through blended finance, guarantees, value chain financing and the Agri-Food SME Catalytic Financing Mechanism (ACFM). Hon. Bryan Smart Kanu, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security of Sierra Leone, shared how Feed Salone is delivering results in rice and cassava, guided by the principle: "Sovereignty first, value kept at home, export success." As AFS Forum Managing Directo @amath_sene put it: "The potential is there. What is remaining is what it takes for the continent to play its part." The next step is to turn these connections into a shared roadmap for action. Through triangular cooperation and practical solutions that can scale, these partnerships can create value for farmers, businesses and communities, and advance both African and global food security.

Why the UAE? Why Abu Dhabi? Because the future of Africa's food systems will be shaped by the connections we build beyond the continent. At the Global Food Security Summit 2026, the AFS Forum is hosting the UAE–Africa Pavilion in collaboration with the UAE Food Cluster. The pavilion serves as a gateway between the UAE and Africa, connecting African enterprises with the investors, partners and markets that can help them grow. Jessie Lafourcarde Morena, Lead, Communications and Advocacy at the Africa Food Systems Forum, shares why Abu Dhabi matters for Africa's food systems and what the pavilion offers those looking to invest, trade and collaborate. If you're at the Summit, visit us at the UAE–Africa Pavilion. Come discuss, connect and explore the opportunities linking Africa and the UAE. #GFSS2026 #AfricaUAE #NourishingNations #GrowingJobs #BuildingResilience

As Day 2 of the Global Food Security Summit 2026 gets underway in Abu Dhabi, here is a look back at a strong first day. The UAE–Africa Pavilion, hosted by the AFS Forum in collaboration with the UAE Food Cluster, opened its doors as a meeting point between Africa and the UAE. Throughout Day 1, African enterprises, investors and leaders came together to exchange ideas and explore opportunities for collaboration. These moments build on the momentum of #AFSForum2026 in Kigali, carrying Africa's priorities into the global food security conversation. The conversations continue today. If you're at the Summit, visit us at the UAE–Africa Pavilion. #GFSS2026 #NourishingNations #GrowingJobs #BuildingResilience

Africa's food systems grow stronger when they connect with those who share the ambition to build them. At the Global Food Security Summit 2026 in Abu Dhabi, the AFS Forum is joining forces with the Sino-International Entrepreneurs Federation (SIEF), in a collaboration that reflects a shared commitment to connecting Africa's food systems with the international businesses, entrepreneurs and investors who can help them thrive. Building on the momentum of #AFSForum2026 in Kigali, this new partnership carries Africa's priorities into a wider global conversation on investment, trade and opportunity. #GFSS2026 #NourishingNations #GrowingJobs #BuildingResilience

The Africa Food Systems Forum, led by Amath Pathe Sene, Managing Director is in Abu Dhabi for the Global Food Security Summit 2026, where Africa–UAE collaboration has a real opportunity to show what global partnership for food security looks like in practice. Africa and the UAE have complementary strengths. Africa offers large agricultural market potential and a growing pipeline of investable opportunities. The UAE brings capital, technology, logistics and access to global markets. Connecting the two makes both regions more food secure. This relationship has been building with purpose. In Dakar in 2025, the AFS Forum and the UAE Food Cluster signed an MoU on trade, shared innovation and investment. In Kigali this year, #AFSForum2026 set out to mobilise finance, build markets, support youth and women-led enterprise turning policy ambition into measurable results. Abu Dhabi is the next step, moving from dialogue to delivery. #GFSS2026 #AFSForum2026 #FoodSecurity #NourishingNations

Happening Now! The Global Food Security Summit is officially underway, and AFS is right at the forefront.  By driving critical conversations and scalable solutions here, we are building resilient agricultural value chains and securing a sustainable, hunger-free future for Africa.  #GlobalFoodSecuritySummit #FoodSecurity #AfricaFoodSystems #AFS #SustainableAgriculture

With the 20th Africa Food Systems Forum now behind us, the conversation turns to what comes next. #AFSForum2026 in Kigali brought together more than 5,000 participants around one strong ambition: accelerating the transformation of Africa's agrifood systems. With tens of billions of dollars announced or being sought to drive this change, one question matters more than ever: how do we move from commitments to concrete results? In this interview with Africa24, AFS Forum Managing Director @amath_sene reflects on that question, from turning pledges into investment to delivering real impact for farmers, businesses and young people across the continent. Click here to watch the full interview: africa24tv.com/invite-du-jou… #NourishingNations #GrowingJobs #BuildingResilience

Women are at the heart of Africa's food systems, running businesses that feed communities, create jobs and drive growth. Yet women-led SMEs remain some of the most underinvested in the sector. At #AFSForum2026, the session on Sourcing Capital for Women-led SMEs explored what it will take to close this gap, from applying a gender lens to financing products, to blending financial instruments that reduce the need for traditional collateral. Different voices. Different experiences. One shared message: investing in women means investing in farmers, families and entire communities. These are some of the reflections shared by speakers during the session. #NourishingNations #GrowingJobs #BuildingResilience

Every harvest lost is income a farmer never earns, a meal a family never eats, and resources the planet can't get back. Today, on the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, we are reminded that feeding a growing population is not only about producing more. It is also about protecting what we already grow. Across Africa, too much food is lost between the farm and the market, held back by limited storage, weak cold chains, poor roads and gaps in access to processing and finance. Closing these gaps is one of the fastest ways to strengthen food security, raise farmers' incomes, create jobs for young people and reduce pressure on land, water and climate. The solutions exist. What we need now is the investment, policy and partnerships to scale them. Reducing food loss and waste is how we build food systems that work for the people and for the planet. #IDAFLW

AFS Forum Managing Director @amath_sene is at FutureFood 2026 in Dubai, where the theme "Together towards Food Resilience" brings food manufacturers, logistics enablers, agritech innovators and financial leaders together to move from discussion to solutions. Speaking on "Strengthening Shared Food Ecosystems," he made the case for an Africa-UAE partnership built on strategic investment, not only development cooperation. Africa brings land, people, innovation and fast-growing markets. The UAE and the GCC bring capital, technology, logistics and global market access. Together, they can strengthen global food security. Building on the momentum of #AFSForum2026 in Kigali, he called for concrete next steps ahead of the Global Food Security Summit in Abu Dhabi: a joint Africa-UAE Food Investment Taskforce to prepare bankable projects, and at least one flagship production corridor linking African farmers and processors with UAE logistics, finance and markets. The next chapter is about scale: scaling investment, technology, partnerships and opportunities for young people. AFSF and the UAE Food Cluster stand ready to help turn commitments into results.

What does the future of Africa's food systems look like? For Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, it's simple: a continent where every person can access nutritious, quality meals all day, every day. Speaking at #AFSForum2026, he pointed to the major takeaways from this year's conversations and the urgency of the moment: it's time to move from conversations to action. That means removing the constraints holding farmers back and giving young people real involvement in shaping the food systems of tomorrow. As #AFSF marks 20 years, his message was clear: the conversation has been had. Now the work begins. #NourishingNations #GrowingJobs #BuildingResilience

As Africa’s food systems evolve, there is no single lesson or pathway to transformation. Across #AFSForum2026, delegates shared different perspectives on what Africa’s food systems need to thrive , from stronger government action and smarter investment, to innovation, resilient agriculture, thriving businesses and greater opportunities for farmers and young people. Different voices. Different experiences. One shared question: what will it take to build food systems that nourish, create jobs and withstand the challenges ahead? These are some of the reflections, ideas and lessons shared by delegates from across the continent. #NourishingNations #GrowingJobs #BuildingResilience