10TH AGTS SYNTHESIS REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

The Eastern Africa Grain Council in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Uganda hosted the 10th edition of the African Grain Trade Summit (10th AGTS) from 5th to 7th October 2023 at the Speke Resort in Munyonyo, Uganda. Mr. Joshua Mutambi, the Commissioner of MSMEs in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives (MITC) presided over the official opening ceremony of the summit which carried the theme “Defining Africa’s Place in Global Grain Trade for Sustainable Food Systems.” Click here
to view the event program.

Attended by over 300 delegates among them high-level representatives of the Office of the President of the Republic of Uganda, high-level policymakers among them Directors and Commissioners in government Ministries, departments, and agencies, CEOs and executives of leading grain industry businesses from across Africa and beyond, heads of missions from key development partners, including High Commissions, Embassies and Consulates, leading researchers from across Africa and beyond working in the grain sector as well as media houses with a continental and international reach.

The summit was sponsored by the Fortified Whole Grain Alliance (FWGA), The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Uganda Breweries Ltd (UBL), the United Nations World Food Program (UNWFP), JASIRI Talent Investor, Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies, DFCU Bank- Uganda, The Uganda Grain Council (TGCU), Perry Engineering Ltd, Buhler East Africa, Grain Pulse Ltd and Mandella Millers Uganda. 30 companies (see annex 1) showcased their innovations and technologies on the sidelines of the grain trade summit.

The event occurred during challenging global circumstances, including the Covid pandemic and European conflicts, leading to skyrocketing prices for commodities and freight. Major economies like China and India are taking measures to secure food supplies, highlighting Africa’s reliance on imported food, despite its capacity for local production. The summit recognized opportunities in trade logistics and finance to facilitate grain trade in Africa and emphasized the potential for bulk grain production
through commercial farming.

Industry executives engaged in candid discussions with policymakers about enhancing the grain sector, committing to structured trade facilitation to bridge gaps in the current market system. The past nine summits have influenced significant policy reforms, such as harmonizing trade policies and establishing the EAGC as a key organization for the grain sector in Eastern Africa. The 10th AGTS outlined a pathway for Industry Self-Regulation (ISR) and a roadmap for its implementation at the country level.