6,000 Delegates Converge in Dakar as Africa Food Systems Forum 2025 Opens with a Call to Action

Welcoming the delegates, Ms. Alice Ruhweza, President of AGRA, opened with gratitude to the Government and People of Senegal for their legendary Teranga hospitality. “This forum is more than a convening,” she said, “it is a call to accelerate our collective commitment to strengthen Africa’s food systems.”

Flanked by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, along with former Heads of State, AU leaders, and international partners, Ruhweza set the tone for a week of action and accountability.

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, along with former Heads of State in the Africa Food Systems Forum 2025

She reminded the audience of the progress made:

Smallholder farmers adopting new technologies like drought-resistant seeds and digital market platforms, women farmers stepping into leadership roles and driving innovation, young Africans reimagining agriculture through startups, digital platforms, and climate-smart enterprises.

“Tomorrow, you will see many of these champions at the WAYA Awards, the Youth Dome, and the AgriFood Expo,” Ruhweza promised, highlighting how agriculture is being transformed from subsistence to enterprise.

But the challenges remain stark. In 2024, over 673 million people worldwide faced hunger, with Africa carrying a disproportionate burden. The continent still spends more than US$70 billion annually on food imports, while millions of young people remain jobless and vulnerable to climate shocks.

Against this backdrop, Ruhweza issued a call to action anchored in the AU Kampala CAADP Declaration (2026–2035), which sets ambitious goals:

Increase agrifood output by 45%, halve post-harvest losses, triple intra-African trade in food and inputs, mobilize $100 billion in investments, achieve zero hunger across Africa by 2035.

She urged governments, the private sector, researchers, and civil society to translate commitments into action by domesticating the Kampala agenda in national plans, increasing public investments, empowering women and youth, and prioritizing infrastructure, innovation, and technology adoption.

“The African agrifood sector is more than farming,” Ruhweza said passionately. “It is a powerful engine for transformation, hope, and prosperity. By nurturing this sector, we are investing in a brighter, more sustainable future for the continent and the world.”

In his address, President Faye of Senegal underscored the historic nature of hosting the Forum in Dakar for the first time. “We welcome you to the land of Teranga,” he said, calling the Forum a “unique platform to renew Africa’s collective commitment to transform our food systems with youth at the center.”

With over 2,000 young people present, the theme “Youth at the Heart of Africa’s Food Future” resonated across the opening plenary. From ministerial dialogues to deal rooms, from parliamentary forums to the AgriExpo, the week will showcase how Africa can feed itself, create jobs, and position agriculture as a driver of prosperity.

As the 19th edition of the Forum unfolds, one message is clear: Africa has the means to feed its children and the world. What is needed now is unity of purpose, bold leadership, and investment.

“Let us lead with courage, collaboration, and a shared vision,” Ruhweza concluded. “Together, we will build a vibrant, sustainable agrifood system that nourishes Africa, powers its economies, and secures futures for generations.”

6,000 Delegates Converge in Dakar as Africa Food Systems Forum 2025 Opens with a Call to Action

Ms. Alice Ruhweza, President of AGRA, Said this forum is a call to accelerate our collective commitment to strengthen Africa’s food systems