Sub-Theme 1: Emerging Agricultural Technologies and Innovations
This sub-theme examines the technologies and innovation ecosystems shaping the future of African agrifood systems. It offers a platform for dialogue and showcasing digital agriculture, artificial intelligence, remote sensing, data platforms, decision-support tools, biotechnology, enhanced genetics, crop protection, sustainable inputs, mechanisation, irrigation systems, renewable energy applications, post-harvest technologies, and smart logistics. The focus is on practical, scalable, and context-responsive innovations that can boost productivity, lessen labour, improve resilience, increase efficiency, and connect producers more effectively to services and markets.
In line with FARA’s mandate, the sub-theme emphasises the importance of linking research, extension, enterprise and policy so that science and technology do not remain at the pilot stage but are transformed into meaningful livelihood and system-wide impacts. It encourages contributions that demonstrate how emerging technologies can be adapted for smallholders, youth-led enterprises, women farmers, agribusinesses, advisory systems, and national agricultural innovation systems. Particular interest is given to innovations that are affordable, inclusive, climate-smart, and supported by strong partnerships among research institutions, governments, private firms, investors, and end users.
This sub-theme is important for researchers, innovators, start-ups, universities, agritech firms, development partners, farmer organisations, extension workers, regulators and financiers. It supports the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa, which emphasises science, technology, extension, innovation and social learning as key to agricultural transformation, and aligns with recent AASW efforts that strengthen the connection between science, innovation and agribusiness for resilient food systems. It also backs the CAADP Kampala agenda’s goal for increased productivity, agro-industrial growth, employment and competitive value chains across the continent.
