African agritech: The state of play and potential for prosperity

Abstract

Africa is growing in multiple ways. For starters, the continent’s population is increasing rapidly. An expanding and youthful population presents both challenges and extraordinary opportunities. Growth also applies economically. But that is not universal. While nearly half of the globe’s 20 fastest-growing economies are in Africa, many economies are stuck. In partnership with the GIBS Centre for African Management and Markets (CAMM), DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa has set about trying to understand how we can make sure that megatrends like growth are harnessed for a better Africa in the future. In this paper, we explore the role of agriculture Growth needs to be fuelled. People and economies rely on ever-increasing productivity from the farming industry. Indeed, innovation has given us greater and greater output per square metre of farmland. However, development has not been uniform. This paper seeks to capture the current landscape of African agriculture, crystallise the most important challenges, and then highlight the most promising solutions. Hearteningly, we found no shortage of centres of excellence that are taking farming to new heights in Africa. Digital technology such as drones and AI are revolutionising everything from fire monitoring to pest control. The burgeoning field of biocontrol is returning the soil and the organisms that live in it to its nourishing best. And novel business models are connecting farmers to distributors and, eventually, consumers in ingenious new ways. Supply chains are adapting as farmers and consumers do the same. I extend my sincere appreciation to the authors of this research paper for their dedication, insight, and scholarly rigour. Their work represents a significant contribution to our understanding of the future of Africa’s agricultural landscape, which is crucial as we brace for growth in the region’s population.