ASA 2026 Calls for Africa to Capture Value Beyond Raw Commodities
The ninth Agriculture Summit Africa (ASA) closed in Abuja with over 12,000 physical and virtual participants, including ministers, investors and agribusiness leaders. Under the theme ‘Building the Next Superpower: Africa’s Food Power Play,’ the summit urged the continent to shift from exporting raw commodities to owning processing, storage, trade and finance that capture value domestically. It highlighted that Africa spends more than $100 billion yearly importing food it could produce, forfeiting potential earnings. ASA 2026 aimed to mobilise a $300 million investment pipeline through nearly 100 structured matchmaking sessions in its Deal Room and launched AgricHub, a platform connecting farmers with financiers, markets and technology providers.
The discussions matter because they expose a clear loss: Nigeria’s livestock sector contributes about $32 billion to the economy and could reach $74 billion by 2035 if long‑distance animal transport is replaced with feedlots, abattoirs, cold chains and leather manufacturing. Ministers warned that food security is national security and called for finance tailored to biological assets, not short‑term high‑interest loans. For farmers, investors and policymakers, the summit shows where value can be retained and what systemic changes are needed to turn agricultural potential into scalable enterprises.
Know that AgricHub is now live to match capital with agribusiness opportunities, and that the $300 million pipeline is open for investment in processing, logistics and tech. Will you engage with AgricHub to access finance or markets, advocate for livestock‑friendly financing, or invest in the value‑addition projects ASA highlighted?