The African Food Systems Forum (AFSF) 2025 has officially opened in Dakar, Senegal, placing young people at the heart of Africa’s agricultural transformation. This year’s theme, “Africa’s Youth: Driving Collaboration, Innovation, and the Transformation of Agri-Food Systems,” highlights the vital role of the continent’s youth in shaping future food security.
The event, hosted by Senegal with support from 33 partners including the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), follows last year’s edition in Kigali. It has brought together a wide range of participants—government officials, private sector leaders, farmer organizations, civil society, and development partners—with nearly 6,000 delegates expected to attend.
During the opening ceremony, Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, and Senegalese Agriculture Minister Mabouba Diagne all emphasized the importance of empowering young Africans in agriculture.
Running until September 5, the forum will focus on key challenges such as land access, agricultural financing, innovation, and technology adoption. A central discussion will be the African Union’s new CAADP roadmap for 2026–2035, designed to strengthen food sovereignty and reduce dependence on imports.
By placing youth at the center of the conversation, AFSF 2025 aims to accelerate the transformation of Africa’s food systems, making them more inclusive, innovative, and resilient.
