Africa’s future lies not in isolated interventions but in a cohesive, interlinked agricultural framework. (Image credit: AAII)

The African Agri Investment Indaba, held last week, shifted the continent’s agricultural conversation from individual innovations to a far more ambitious and unified vision.

Rather than celebrating isolated breakthroughs, the event framed African food security as dependent on an integrated technological ecosystem one where drones, circular bio-economies and intelligent infrastructure operate as interconnected components of a resilient agricultural system.

The dialogue quickly moved beyond the familiar question of what each technology could achieve. Instead, speakers explored the transformative potential unlocked when these tools work in concert. Gerrit van Rensburg of SkyFarmers opened the discussion by demonstrating how modern agricultural drones had evolved far beyond aerial spraying. These machines now collect granular, real-time data that identifies precisely where interventions are needed. He argued that such information forms the essential “foundational layer” of every smart and responsive farm.

Building on this, Gerald Nel of Grüner and FARA presented how that data could power the Integrated Bio-Circular Networks Africa (IBNA). Within this model, predicted crop residues and agricultural waste cease to be by-products. Instead, they become vital resources converted into renewable energy and organic fertiliser that feed back into farms and processing centres. This closed-loop system illustrated how data-driven production and circular resource use reinforce one another.

The system’s environmental benefits were then linked directly to financial opportunity. Sabrina Basson of EmitiQ explained how regenerative practices, supported by precision insights and circular processes, contribute to measurable carbon sequestration. She showed that these gains allow farmers to access carbon markets, effectively turning improved soil health into a new revenue stream. This, she noted, creates a powerful economic rationale for adopting sustainable farming practices.

Yet improved production meant little without safeguarding harvests. Bühler’s Marco Sutter highlighted the next critical step: smart storage solutions capable of drastically reducing post-harvest losses. With nearly 30% of Africa’s grain historically wasted after harvest, his presentation underscored how intelligent silos able to detect spoilage, pests and mycotoxins protect the value created throughout the farming cycle.

Finally, Roble Sabrie of the FAO brought the conversation full circle by linking technological progress to trade and food access. He emphasised that even the most advanced farming systems depend on reliable transport routes. Efficient pathways such as the Lobito Corridor, he explained, are essential: “Corridors are the circulatory system,” he said, “moving healthy produce from robust agricultural hearts to hungry markets.” Cutting logistics costs by nearly half, these corridors ensure that the gains made on farms reach regional consumers and global markets.

By the close of the Indaba, one message was unmistakable: Africa’s future lies not in isolated interventions but in a cohesive, interlinked agricultural framework. This vision where precision data enables circular economies, environmental gains are monetised, production is protected by intelligent storage, and goods travel efficiently to market offers investors a compelling, systemic opportunity. It promises an agricultural transformation that is resilient, competitive and genuinely future-ready.

The investment goes beyond cassava production.

Tanzania has attracted a major US$640mn investment to develop large-scale cassava cultivation and processing operations, a move expected to create over 100,000 jobs within the next ten years.

The project has been awarded to Pan-Tanzania Agriculture Developments Limited, which has been allocated 62,000 acres in Kilwa District, Lindi Region. On this land, the company plans to grow cassava and establish an industrial park dedicated to value addition and export.

The initiative was formally launched by Kitila Mkumbo, Minister of State in the President’s Office (Planning and Investment), during a land-handover ceremony. He described the project as part of a broader push to accelerate industrialisation under Tanzania’s National Development Vision 2050. The programme falls under the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA), which is tasked with driving manufacturing growth and job creation across the country.

The investment goes beyond cassava production. Alongside cultivating and processing cassava for export particularly to meet rising demand for cassava flour in countries such as China - the company also plans to grow soybeans and cashew nuts, and establish meat-processing operations.

Minister Mkumbo highlighted the project’s wider economic impact, noting it aims to “strengthen economic linkages across agriculture, processing, export, and tax revenue.” He added that the investment has the potential to significantly uplift Lindi Region, which currently contributes just 2% of the nation’s GDP.

The development spans four villages — Mavuji, Migeregere, Nainokwe, and Liwiti and will include modern infrastructure, improved irrigation, enhanced mobile connectivity, and advanced processing facilities. Of the total land, 2,000 acres will be dedicated to the industrial park for value addition, while the remaining 60,000 acres will be used to cultivate strategic crops within an Agricultural Special Economic Zone (AgriEPZ).

Gilead Teri, TISEZA’s Director General, clarified that the land is being provided under a derivative right rather than freehold, stressing that the investor must adhere to the project plan, with TISEZA closely monitoring implementation.

Local authorities emphasised Kilwa’s suitability for the venture, citing its peaceful environment, reliable electricity from the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project and nearby natural gas, as well as strategic infrastructure including Kilwa Port and major road networks, all essential for supporting export-focused agribusiness.

Overall, this landmark investment is set to elevate cassava from a staple crop to a significant export commodity, while driving rural development, creating jobs, fostering industrial growth, and boosting regional economic development in southern Tanzania.

Kenya’s mangrove revival stands as a compelling model of regenerative action proving that when communities, technology, and corporate commitment unite, both nature and people can thrive.

Kenya’s coastline is witnessing a powerful shift towards genuine sustainability through an ambitious mangrove restoration initiative supported by Husqvarna Group, veritree, and the Earthlungs Reforestation Foundation.

The programme, which involves planting more than 300,000 mangrove trees, is proving how environmental renewal can go hand in hand with community development and long-term economic resilience.

As Jonas Willaredt, Husqvarna’s Vice-President of Sustainability Affairs, said, “Sustainability is not an abstract concept. It’s something we build, protect and live every day.”

Mangroves are among the world’s most valuable coastal ecosystems. They anchor shorelines, support rich marine habitats, and store carbon at far higher rates than many inland tropical forests. Yet decades of urban expansion and land conversion have severely degraded Kenya’s mangrove belts. Restoring them is therefore not only an ecological necessity but a crucial step towards safeguarding coastal livelihoods.

What sets this project apart is its strong community foundation. Local residents from women’s collectives to youth groups  are central to the entire process. They grow seedlings, nurture mangrove nurseries, and plant the young trees across damaged coastal zones. This involvement provides much-needed income, builds environmental knowledge, and inspires a sense of guardianship over the land and sea they depend on.

veritree’s CEO and Co-Founder, Derrick Emsley, captures this vision perfectly: “Every tree we plant is verified, monitored and linked to measurable impact.… Our goal isn’t just reforestation, it’s regeneration.”

Already, the restored areas are beginning to show encouraging signs of recovery: stronger soils, richer biodiversity, and increased carbon absorption. These early shifts signal a healthier and more resilient coastal environment taking shape.

Flora Awiro, Chief Operating Officer at Earthlungs, reinforces the wider significance: “True responsible development restores both the land and the people who depend on it.”

Beyond environmental gains, the restored mangroves help revive fish nurseries, improve food security, protect coastal communities from storms, and create opportunities in eco-tourism. As Willaredt notes, “Healthy ecosystems are the foundation of healthy economies.”

For Husqvarna, this marks its first major restoration project in Africa and an important step towards its global goal of planting one million trees. Through veritree’s transparent monitoring platform, progress is shared openly, ensuring trust and accountability.

Kenya’s mangrove revival stands as a compelling model of regenerative action proving that when communities, technology, and corporate commitment unite, both nature and people can thrive.

Act 36 is central to the registration and oversight of pesticides, fertilisers, farm feeds and related agricultural inputs.

South Africa’s Department of Agriculture has responded firmly to what it has labelled “misleading” claims from an agricultural lobby group regarding the handling of applications under the Fertilisers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act 36 of 1947).

The department maintains that, far from collapsing, the regulatory system has undergone extensive improvements designed to modernise operations and accelerate turnaround times.

Act 36 is central to the registration and oversight of pesticides, fertilisers, farm feeds and related agricultural inputs. In its latest update, the department emphasised that the backlog and delays raised in public discourse have been receiving focused attention since the appointment of Minister John Steenhuisen. “Upon assuming office, the Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, indicated that the backlogs and inefficiencies around the process would receive attention,” the department said.

Progress has been notable. In the current 2024/25 financial year alone, 6,617 applications have been processed and completed. Looking back over the past five years, 51,165 applications out of 56,890 received have been finalised. Despite varying processing times from two weeks to 24 months depending on the category the department says it is steadily improving efficiency.

A key milestone in this modernisation effort is the transition to digital systems. The first phase of the online registration platform, introduced in December 2023, now allows applicants to submit and track pesticide registrations electronically. This includes real-time status updates and access to publicly available lists of registered products. Steenhuisen welcomed the shift, noting: “Previously, applicants had to travel to the department's offices to file paperwork manually, a lengthy and often frustrating process. By going digital, the department is eliminating unnecessary delays and creating a 'fast track' for companies that comply with requirements from the start.”

The Minister added that full automation of the Agricultural Inputs Control System will improve accountability and ensure quicker processing for compliant applications. Manual pesticide submissions will end on 1 April 2026, with digital expansion to other input categories planned.

To further reduce backlogs, the Office of the Registrar has increased capacity, including appointing consultants to support application reviews. The current outstanding backlog stands at 5,730 applications, with the majority awaiting technical evaluation across agricultural remedies, animal feeds, stock remedies and fertilisers.

Meanwhile, Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) has dismissed concerns about a Rift Valley Fever vaccine shortage, confirming healthy stock levels. OBP has already distributed hundreds of thousands of doses and forecasts the production of millions more through early 2026 to support ongoing disease-control efforts.