Tanzania will host Africa’s first-ever Pollination Africa Summit from 29 September to 1 October 2026 in Arusha, bringing together policymakers, researchers, agribusiness leaders and conservation experts to advance pollinator protection and strengthen sustainable agriculture across the continent.

Organised by Sustainable Agricultural and Agribusiness Development Initiatives Tanzania (SAADIT) in partnership with Green Rural Community, Innovative Community Solutions, the Sustainable Earth Foundation and Worker Bees Africa, the summit marks a significant milestone in Africa’s efforts to safeguard pollinators that are essential to food production and ecosystem health.

The event has evolved from the previously proposed Bees East Africa Symposium into a continental platform dedicated to promoting pollinator conservation, innovation and policy development. Organisers say declining populations of bees, butterflies and other pollinating species, driven by habitat destruction, climate change and pesticide misuse, pose a growing threat to agricultural productivity and biodiversity.

According to SAADIT Founder and Director Malulu Martin Igobeko, protecting pollinators is fundamental to ensuring Africa’s long-term food security. He noted that without healthy pollinator populations, crop yields and agricultural sustainability could face significant challenges in the years ahead.

The summit will encourage governments, development partners and the private sector to integrate pollinator conservation into national agricultural and environmental policies while promoting investments that strengthen resilient food systems.

Discussions will also focus on the economic value of pollination services, with experts highlighting their contribution to agricultural trade, rural livelihoods and agribusiness competitiveness. Tanzania’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ministry of Agriculture have both expressed support for the initiative, recognising pollinators as critical contributors to the country’s agricultural success and food security.

A major feature of the summit will be the participation of Australia’s BeeSTAR Technology, which will demonstrate artificial intelligence-powered beekeeping solutions, smart hive monitoring systems and real-time data technologies designed to improve pollination services, increase honey production and reduce hive losses.

Delegates will also explore the 1 Million Hive Impact Pollination Initiative (HIPI 2030), an ambitious programme aimed at expanding managed pollination services across Africa while improving crop productivity, supporting biodiversity conservation and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for farming communities.

Throughout the three-day programme, participants will examine scientific research, climate-smart agricultural practices, precision farming technologies, investment opportunities and policy frameworks that can help reverse pollinator decline while supporting resilient and productive agricultural systems.

The summit is expected to deliver a continental roadmap for pollinator conservation, strengthening collaboration among governments, researchers, agribusinesses and environmental organisations to secure the future of Africa’s food systems.