KIC has announced the inaugural Agricultural Innovation for Africa (AIA) Conference, a maiden conference to bring together stakeholders in the agricultural sector to rethink the future of agricultural innovation, youth employment and food security in Africa. The conference will take place from the 17th to the 18th of August 2023, at the University of Professional Studies, Accra.
The AIA Conference aims to foster a collaborative platform to share and showcase cutting-edge technologies, strategies, and best practices to revolutionize the agricultural landscape in Africa. Dubbed ” Empowering youth startups and Agri-MSMEs in Africa: Advancing food security through innovation and collaboration”, this conference will underscore the importance of sustainable and innovative practices in elevating Africa’s agricultural potential.
The AIA Conference aims to contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG2 – End Poverty, by promoting sustainable agricultural practices and supporting rural development, with a strong focus on technology-driven innovations to address issues of food security.
In a radio interview last Wednesday, Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, Executive Director for KIC, underscored the importance of adopting agtechnology and empowering youth start-ups within the agricultural value chains to contribute significantly towards the continent’s development. “A key objective of this conference is to promote and drive youth involvement in agriculture and entire total agribusiness value chain for that matter. The AIA conference is an opportunity to be a engage with innovative thinkers and problem solvers looking to contribute to shaping the future of African agriculture,” he stated.
The AIA Conference is not solely a networking opportunity; it serves as a bridge connecting potential investors with young Agri-MSMEs through a curated Deal Room and Exhibition. These additions stand as key highlights of the event, enabling attendees to explore a diverse range of cutting-edge agricultural technologies, innovative products, and services within the dedicated exhibition zone. Moreover, startups and Agri-MSMEs in the Deal Room will have the opportunity to present their ventures to potential investors for the purpose of scaling up and expanding.
This inaugural edition of the Agricultural Innovation for Africa Conference enjoys the support of esteemed partners such as Kosmos Energy, the International Trade Center, IDH, AGRA, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, ABSA, First National Bank, Boost Africa, RMG Ghana Ltd, Voltic, and Ceres among others. Media partners for the conference are Global Media Alliance, Happy FM, Yfm, Joy News, Joy Online and Joy FM.
Anticipated to draw the participation of over 1500 attendees, the AIA Conference promises to set a new benchmark for fostering agricultural innovation, collaboration, and growth across the African continent.
