AFC's contribution to the 6th German-African Agribusiness Forum

On the 20th of January 2020, AFC attended the 6th German-African Agribusiness Forum in Berlin which was organized by the Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft and the German Agribusiness Alliance.

AFC participated at multiple levels, (i) as a key contributor with our managing Director Johannes Buschmeier Johannes talking on the panel “Food Value Chain Development”, (ii) as a participant with project managers form our headquarters and Team-leaders from Africa attending, and (iii) as a sponsor.

Around 270 participants from both Africa and Europe joined the forum, including private sector companies from Europe exporting to and investing in Africa, as well as African companies, global investors, and representatives from the ministries of agriculture in Germany a number of African countries (Uganda, Zimbabwe, Namibia, RDC, Ethiopia ….).

The event was opened by Julia Klöckner, the German Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, and the 1st Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda Al Haji Moses Ali.

A particular focus was put on women in Agriculture throughout the day starting with a “women in power” breakfast and followed up with a panel discussion on “Women in African Agriculture and their impact on livelihood” with contributions from strong female agribusiness leaders including the first female president of the Pan African Farmers’ Organisation Elisabeth Nsimadala, the Director of the African Women Agribusiness Network, Beatrice Gakuba and Agripreneurs Ajola Jallow from the Gambia and Nkiruka Nnaemego-Okonkow from Nigeria as well as Mamati Tembe from Bayer. 

AFC’s Managing Director contributed to the panel “Food Value Chain Development”. He highlighted the importance of private investments in agricultural value chains, which should be climate smart for sustainability reasons and to attract investment financing from Banks and Climate Funds. As processors need steady input supply from farmers who are mainly smallholders in Africa, local extension services and international Consulting firms can support successful investments along the value chains.      

You will find more pictures here.