The Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) and its partners recently hosted the second Agricultural Innovation for Africa (AIA) Conference to empower young agri-preneurs, startups, and small businesses in agriculture.
The event took place from August 28-29, 2024, at the University of Professional Studies in Accra, Ghana, under the theme “Empowering Youth Startups and Agri-MSMEs in Africa: Addressing Climate Change, Innovative Financing, Market Efficiency, and Gender Mainstreaming for Sustainable Food Systems.”
The conference brought together various stakeholders from the agricultural sector to discuss the future of innovation, youth employment, and food security in Africa.
Dr. Betty Annan, Country Director for AGRA, highlighted the crucial role of youth startups in transforming food systems and called for collaboration to help these initiatives tackle climate change, market access, and gender empowerment challenges.
Dr. Annan emphasized the need to create a supportive environment for youth-led enterprises through investment, mentorship, and policies. Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, Executive Director of KIC, also spoke about the importance of using local knowledge and technology to support young innovators in agriculture. He stressed that collaboration across sectors and innovative technologies are key to sustainable growth in agriculture.
The event included an exhibition, a youth career fair with Jobberman, and a Deal Room Experience where over 30 startups and agri-MSMEs pitched their ideas to potential investors.
Workshops were also held to introduce participants to technology tools for tracking agricultural value chains.
With over 500 participants attending both in person and online, AIA 2024 received support from organizations like Kosmos Energy, AGRA, the International Trade Centre, and several banks and local businesses. The conference provided a platform for rethinking agricultural innovation and increasing youth involvement in the sector, aiming to improve food security and sustainable practices in Africa.
