Persistent food insecurity remains a major concern across the continent. Despite having fertile soil and favorable climates, Africa struggles to meet its grain production needs. Low productivity per hectare, inadequate access to quality inputs, and climate change-induced weather variability exacerbate production shortfalls, forcing many countries to rely on grain imports to fill the gap.
Trade barriers, such as cumbersome customs procedures, export restrictions, and unharmonized standards, further hinder the flow of grains across borders. These barriers inflate costs and restrict access to affordable grains in food-deficient areas.
The African Grain Trade Summit (AGTS) is a biannual event organized by the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC). It is a pivotal platform that convenes stakeholders from across Africa’s grain industry and beyond.
Focused on addressing the continent’s pressing challenges, the summit fosters dialogue, collaboration, and actionable solutions to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of Africa’s grain markets. By targeting inefficiencies, limited investments, and food insecurity, the AGTS aims to unlock Africa’s potential to secure food for its population and contribute to global food systems.
Thematic areas of focus and dialogue of the AGTS include market development and efficiency, addressing inefficiencies such as post-harvest losses, inadequate infrastructure, and fragmented value chains that undermine competitiveness. The summit emphasizes mobilizing investments by showcasing financing opportunities and successful public-private partnerships that drive innovation and growth in grain production, trade, and processing.
The AGTS also advocates for policy and trade facilitation, urging harmonized policies to remove trade barriers and leverage initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to expand market access. Additionally, it highlights innovation and technology, presenting advancements in grain storage, processing, and climatesmart agriculture to boost productivity.
Sustainability and food security remain central, with discussions on resilience against climate change, global shocks, and inclusive growth to benefit smallholder farmers, women, and youth. By gathering policymakers, private sector leaders, financial institutions, development partners, and researchers, the summit creates a dynamic environment for knowledge exchange and forging partnerships.
