Agriculture Archives - AfricaBusiness.com

23Sep

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Insect farming in Africa presents unique opportunity to overcome global challenges for a more sustainable future

Insect farming is rapidly emerging as a game-changer in sustainable food production. According to Antonine Hubert, second vice-president of the International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed, this sector has become the fastest-growing sustainable protein production industry in the European Union (EU). With over €1.5 billion invested in EU insect-producing companies, insect farming is contributing to thousands of green jobs, proving its significance in the global economy. Dean Smorenburg, CEO at Maltento, emphasizes the potential for insect farming in Africa, and South Africa: “Insect farming in Africa offers a revolutionary way to create more sustainable food sources. By rearing insects like Black Soldier Flies (BSF), we are able to convert organic waste into high-value products such...

22Aug

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Agriculture, Events, South Africa News

GCCA ISSUES CALL TO ACTION ON FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE AND BOOSTING TRADE IN AFRICA

African policy leaders must support robust growth in the cold chain for the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and to boost prosperity, food supply chain resilience, and trade across the continent, says the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) today as the GCCA Africa conference opens at the Westin Hotel in Cape Town. The GCCA is the international association for temperature-controlled logistics businesses. The GCCA Africa conference will see Africa’s cold chain professionals gather for two days of discussion on key challenges and opportunities related to the storage and distribution of perishable goods, including improving food security, reducing trade barriers, sustainability in a changing world and the impacts on food logistics of energy load shedding. The GCCA’s...

6Aug

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Agriculture, Zambia News

Insurance has a crucial role to play in driving the sustainability of farming and give impetus to Zambia’s socio-economic development

With Zambia having recently commemorated Farmer's Day and the contributions and work made by farmers in the agricultural sector in the country, Hollard has highlighted the importance of ensuring the sustainability of farming in the country, by providing adequate disaster risk financing mechanisms as a means to protect farmers against natural and man-made disasters. Choolwe Sianyinda, Chief Operating Officer of Hollard says, “The long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector in Zambia and prospects for the country’s socio-development hinges on the adoption of adequate cover and protection to mitigate against the increasingly volatile and erratic weather patterns - which are largely attributed to climate change - placing an extra burden on food security.” The socio-economic developme...

18Apr

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Agriculture, Kenya News

Caribou Digital Launches New Book, The Platform Livelihoods Project: Research Exploring the Workplaces of the Digital Age in Africa & Indonesia

Research reveals an urgent need for digital “accidental marketplaces” to evolve into safer and more inclusive environments. Leading research and advisory firm, Caribou Digital, proudly announces the release of its latest publication, The Platform Livelihoods Project, a pioneering collection of studies on pervasive digital marketplaces, some conducted in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and others with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The study examines the sprawling digital economy and highlights the urgent need for a safer, more inclusive environment. It advocates for policymakers, companies, and other players in the ecosystem to leverage the study to drive investment into the future of the digital workplace, essential for the millions dependent on it for...

ThriveAgric Kicks-Off Phase Two Distribution of Agricultural Inputs, Targets 100,000 Farmers for 2023/2024 Dry Season Farming Cycle

16Jan

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Agriculture, Nigeria News

ThriveAgric Kicks-Off Phase Two Distribution of Agricultural Inputs, Targets 100,000 Farmers for 2023/2024 Dry Season Farming Cycle

Calls For Strategic Partnership To Optimise Dry Season Farming in Nigeria ThriveAgric, Nigeria’s leading agricultural technology company, has flagged off the ThriveAgric 2023/2024 dry season farming cycle with the distribution of agricultural input, targeting over 100,000 smallholder farmers in northern Nigeria to facilitate the production of over 300,000MT of grains. ThriveAgric would provide farmers with irrigation facilities, drought-resistant input, access to technology, storage, and premium markets to help optimise output in this farming cycle. The flag-off was announced at an event in Jigawa state, Nigeria. The event brought together various stakeholders including financial institutions, government officials, farmers, and representatives of the farming communities from Jigawa, Bau...

1Dec

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Agriculture, Tanzania News

Tanzania loses sunflower industry boost for 2024 on stalled seed subsidy scheme

By FarmBizAfrica.com Tanzania’s drive to industrialize its sunflower sector has stumbled for the 2023/2024 growing season on a deal to bulk-source high-yield seeds for the country’s one million sunflower farmers. The deal, funded by the African Development Bank, was for 700 tonnes of hybrid seeds, to deliver yields and oil up to 65 percent percent greater than traditional varieties. The government planned to provide the seeds at subsidized prices for the growing season that began in October. However, the supply has proved difficult to secure on a change of strategy around which hybrid seeds to use. Tanzania has been investing heavily in sunflower processing to reduce its hefty edible oil imports, which account for between $90m and $250m a year. The government has also moved to introduc...

Agrointelli’s Innovative Robotti Paves the Way for a Greener Future in Agriculture

13Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Agriculture, Tech

Agrointelli’s Innovative Robotti Paves the Way for a Greener Future in Agriculture

Agrointelli, the pioneering Danish field robotics company, is thrilled to be participating in the upcoming COP28 conference. This global event provides an opportunity for Agrointelli to showcase its significant contribution to the agricultural industry and its commitment to global sustainability efforts. During a recent interview with Agrointelli's CEO and Founder, Prof. Eng. Ole Green, he shared the company's mission, achievements, and dedication to environmental responsibility. Agrointelli's primary focus is on their autonomous Robotti, a groundbreaking innovation designed to revolutionize agriculture through cutting-edge robotics and automation. With Robotti, the company aims to make precision farming more efficient and accessible for farmers around the world. Mr. Ole Green stated, "O...

5Sep

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Agriculture, Tech

Optimising chicken nutrition – new app helps farmers get feed mixes right

A free mobile app for chicken farmers is set to make optimal poultry nutrition easier, while also helping farmers save money and improve profits. The new FeedMixer App is designed by poultry nutrition experts at the Poultry Science Department at the University of Georgia in the US and funded by the World Poultry Foundation, to address a major challenge chicken farmers face. Many self-mix their chicken feed due to rising commercial feed costs and limited supply of certain grains, but often find it difficult to achieve the right balance of nutrients. Maureen Stickel, Director of International Program Development at the World Poultry Foundation, says: “When feeding birds, it’s about nutrients, not just quantity of feed. With the right feed mix, they will be healthier and more productive. Th...

Farm CI Emerges Winner at AFEX Code Cash Crop 4.0 Ag-hackathon

14Aug

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Agriculture, Startups

Farm CI Emerges Winner at AFEX Code Cash Crop 4.0 Ag-hackathon

Winners received prizes valued at $22,000 in total to scale agriTech solutions in East and West Africa AFEX, Africa’s leading commodities market player, hosted its fourth annual ag-hackathon, Code Cash Crop 4.0, aimed at harnessing the intersection of technology, finance, and agriculture to create a platform for young tech enthusiasts to create viable solutions. This year’s edition drew participation from Kenya, for the first time, following AFEX’s operational expansion into the East African country last year. The grand finale, which was held in Lagos, Nigeria, over the weekend, produced three winners. After a 2-day intensive boot camp, six finalists hailing from Kenya and Nigeria pitched their solutions at the grand finale to judges comprising of Jude Dike, Co-Founder of GetEquity; Hake...

Achieving Food Security Through Private Sector Investment: The Battle of Narratives

10May

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Agriculture, Events

Achieving Food Security Through Private Sector Investment: The Battle of Narratives

Africa is well positioned to become the global breadbasket; with 60 % of the world’s unused cropland spread across the continent that can be used for farming, it has the potential to emerge as a major food supplier. African governments are prioritizing agriculture on their respective development agendas, and this shift has been supported by increased access to technological innovations and investments in the last couple of years. However, despite those positive developments, African food systems have been severely impacted by external shocks in recent times. Why are African countries in danger of facing serious food shortages, despite years of policy reforms, investments, and vast unexploited land resources? Why is the continent's food system so vulnerable to global shocks? How can Afric...