The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was launched in 2021, as a framework to reshape the continent’s economic landscape, connecting 55 countries, creating a single market of 1.4 billion people, and unlocking an estimated $3.4 trillion in economic value. But beyond the statistics, the question is, can AfCFTA be the breakthrough that Africa’s grain sector has been waiting for?
For grain value chain actors, the challenges persist. Inconsistent policies, fragmented markets, unpredictable border processes, and insufficient infrastructure have long stifled intra-African grain trade. As a result, food systems remain vulnerable, supply chains are disjointed, and millions remain food insecure despite the continent’s vast agricultural potential.
This year’s 11th African Grain Trade Summit (AGTS) will confront this question head-on in a high-level media dialogue titled: “From agreement to action: Will AfCFTA deliver resilient grain markets and food security for Africa?” The session brings together policymakers, trade experts, private sector players, and food systems champions to reflect on the AfCFTA journey, not just where we hoped it would go, but where we are.
The promise of AfCFTA lies in harmonization, tariff reduction, trade facilitation, and the elimination of non-tariff barriers. For grain traders, this could mean faster border crossings, predictable trade rules, access to regional markets, and a more competitive business environment. Yet, progress has been uneven. Some protocols are still being negotiated, implementation at the national level is slow, and awareness among grain SMEs is limited.
Moreover, while governments signed the agreement, the private sector, especially agri-SMEs and farmer organizations, is still trying to make sense of how this agreement translates into real market opportunities. There is a growing realization that implementation must be co-owned, not just state-driven.
The AGTS session will open with a presentation on: “AfCFTA’s grain trade journey: The state of play and what comes next,” a dive into the progress made, the policy and regulatory landscape, and what bold actions are needed to unlock the full promise of AfCFTA for Africa’s grain economy.
This will be followed by a panel discussion unpacking:
- How AfCFTA can de-risk and build resilience in grain supply chains across borders
- What gaps still exist in transport corridors, standards harmonization, and dispute resolution
- The role of Regional Economic Communities (RECs), such as COMESA and EAC, in aligning national and continental trade priorities
- What will it take to elevate smallholders and informal cross-border traders in this continental trade agenda
Africa imports over $50 billion worth of food annually, much of which is grain. Meanwhile, regional surpluses go to waste or are sold at a loss due to a lack of access to markets across borders. AfCFTA presents an opportunity to reverse this trend, but only if implementation is inclusive and focused on sectors like agriculture, where the impact is immediate and life-changing.
Join us as we chart the course from potential to progress, and envision a future where Africa feeds itself and trades with itself