Dakar, Senegal

The Africa Food Systems Forum 2025 concluded this week in Dakar, drawing over 6,000 delegates from 106 countries. Themed “Accelerating Youth-Led Agribusiness and Climate Resilience,” the event spotlighted innovation, investment, and policy reform across the continent’s food value chains.

A major outcome was the announcement of a $6.7 million partnership between the UK government, AGRA, and the African Union to develop regional food trade corridors. These corridors aim to reduce bottlenecks in cross-border agricultural trade, improve logistics, and enhance market access for smallholder farmers.

Senegal’s Minister of Agriculture, Rural Equipment and Food Sovereignty, Aly Ngouille Ndiaye, praised the forum’s energy:

Additional agreements were signed with the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, including a white paper on digital infrastructure for agriculture. The forum also featured youth-led pitch competitions, policy roundtables, and climate-smart farming showcases.
Implications:

This forum signals a shift toward regional integration and youth entrepreneurship in agriculture. Stakeholders should watch for new funding windows and pilot programs emerging from these trade corridor initiatives.