The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the United Republic of Tanzania, invites media to attend the Africa Conference on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (ACSAM)—a high-level continental gathering focused on accelerating Africa’s agrifood systems transformation.

The conference will bring together policymakers, development partners, private sector leaders, researchers, youth, and farmers to advance practical and scalable solutions for sustainable agricultural mechanization across Africa.

 Event Details

Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Official Opening: Tuesday, 3 February 2026
Time: 09:30 – 10:30 (EAT)

Official Opening Programme

The opening session will feature an address by the Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mwigulu L. Nchemba, who will officially launch the Tanzania Agricultural Mechanization Strategy.

Other keynote speakers include:

• Moses Vilakati, African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment
• Beth Bechdol, FAO Deputy Director-General
• Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa
• Charles Spillane, FAO Chief Scientist
• Fatmata Binta, FAO Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Africa

Media Highlights

• Ministerial high-level panel on policies and programmes supporting sustainable agricultural mechanization
• Youth-focused events, including:
• Youth dialogue on mechanization services and employment opportunities
• Youth Masterclass on mechanization hire services as a business model
• Machinery and poster exhibition
• Field visits showcasing sustainable mechanization in practice
• One-on-one interview opportunities with FAO experts, policymakers, and partners
• Closing session highlighting key outcomes and commitments

Why This Conference Matters

Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (SAM) is a critical enabler of Africa’s agrifood systems transformation. It boosts productivity, reduces labour intensity, improves efficiency along value chains, and strengthens climate resilience for farmers.

This momentum was formalised with the launch of the Framework for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in Africa (F-SAMA) in 2018 by FAO and the African Union. Since then, progress at national and regional levels—including FAO’s collaboration with Southern African Development Community (SADC) on the SAM4CSA Roadmap—has demonstrated that implementation is achievable.

The Africa Conference on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization comes at a pivotal moment. By convening diverse stakeholders, it aims to:

Strengthen regional coordination

• Support the development of national and regional SAM strategies
• Promote practical, scalable, and Africa-appropriate solutions
• Translate policy commitments into real-world impact

Media Participation

Media are encouraged to attend the opening session, cover conference activities, and engage with speakers and experts through interviews and field visits.