Amid growing concerns over climate change, food insecurity, and persistent challenges within Africa’s agricultural sector, experts are intensifying efforts to unlock the continent’s agricultural potential through improved soil health, enhanced food safety measures, and resilient farming systems.
The renewed push for transformation was a major focus at the 11th African Grain Trade Summit (AGTS), held from October 1 to 4, 2025, in Zanzibar, Tanzania, where the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), in partnership with the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC), showcased innovative and scalable solutions aimed at addressing some of the continent’s most pressing grain sector challenges.
The summit, themed “Resilient grain markets: Unlocking Africa’s food security potential,” brought together key stakeholders from across the agricultural ecosystem, including researchers, policymakers, grain traders, processors, development partners, and private sector actors, to explore strategies for building stronger and more competitive food systems.
Through a long-standing partnership formalised by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), IITA’s scientific research capabilities are being combined with EAGC’s extensive network of grain industry stakeholders to bridge the gap between agricultural innovations and practical market solutions.
The collaboration is designed to ensure that research-based technologies move beyond laboratories and research institutions into the hands of farmers, businesses, and decision-makers who can apply them to improve productivity and strengthen food systems.
The Executive Director of the Eastern Africa Grain Council, Gerald Masila, said the partnership between EAGC, IITA, and TAAT reflects the summit’s central objective of converting knowledge and innovation into measurable impact.
“By showcasing scalable technologies, we are bridging the gap between research and markets, ensuring that Africa’s grain sector is not only resilient but also competitive and inclusive,” Masila said.
He added: “This collaboration reflects the very essence of the 11th AGTS, convening science, policy, and business to drive real transformation for farmers, traders, and consumers across the continent.”
Addressing Africa’s Grain Sector Challenges
The summit highlighted several obstacles limiting Africa’s ability to achieve sustainable food security, including fragmented agricultural value chains, high post-harvest losses, food safety risks, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to financing for farmers and agribusinesses.
Against this backdrop, IITA used the platform to advance its “Scaling for Impact” initiative, which focuses on connecting research-driven agricultural technologies with private sector partners capable of deploying them at scale.
Jane Kamau, Scaling and Agribusiness Specialist at IITA, explained that the initiative is focused on ensuring agricultural research creates tangible improvements in the lives of farmers and communities.
“Scaling for impact means moving beyond research to real change in the lives of farmers and communities,” Kamau said.
“By working together to improve soil health, food safety, and resilience, we can unlock Africa’s potential to feed itself and thrive in the face of climate challenges.”
Innovations to Improve Food Safety and Productivity
During the summit, IITA scientists and partners featured prominently in discussions around food safety, productivity, and agricultural innovation.
At a session titled “Food Safety Leadership,” IITA addressed the issue of grain quality and food safety, with discussions centred on harmonising standards and tackling aflatoxin contamination, a major challenge affecting food safety, public health, and Africa’s ability to compete in international grain markets.
Dr. George Mahuku delivered a keynote presentation on Integrated Aflatoxin Management, highlighting approaches for reducing contamination risks and improving the safety of agricultural commodities.
In the “Innovating for Productivity” session, Geoffrey Nsofon presented the TAAT Private Sector E-catalogue, a digital platform designed to provide businesses with access to agricultural technologies developed through CGIAR research and other innovation networks.
The platform supports private enterprises in adopting climate-smart solutions that can improve productivity and strengthen agricultural value chains.
Technology-Driven Approach to Combating Aflatoxin Risks
One of the major highlights of IITA’s participation was the demonstration of the Aflatoxin Risk Early Warning System, a GeoAI-powered technology developed by Francis Muthoni and Kamau.
The system combines satellite data and machine learning to predict potential aflatoxin risks in crops such as maize, enabling farmers, businesses, and policymakers to take early preventive measures before contamination occurs.
Through live demonstrations, participants saw how digital technologies and data-driven approaches can transform food safety management and improve decision-making across agricultural value chains.
TAAT also showcased its technology e-catalogues, which feature a wide range of agricultural innovations from technology developers and research institutions covering crops, livestock, and fisheries.
The e-catalogues are designed for three major groups: government decision-makers, private sector stakeholders, and development partners. By providing easy access to proven technologies, the platforms help stakeholders identify and adopt solutions that best fit their agricultural needs.
Strengthening Partnerships for Long-Term Impact
Participants at the summit noted that IITA’s engagement with AGTS demonstrated the importance of collaboration between research institutions and market actors.
They said the partnership with EAGC, recognised as a key voice in Africa’s grain sector, creates a platform where discussions among millers, traders, processors, researchers, donors, and policymakers can translate into practical commitments and actions.
According to Kamau, Africa’s food security future depends on solutions that combine scientific innovation with market readiness.
“Africa’s food security depends on solutions that are both science-driven and market-ready. CGIAR and its partners are delivering innovations and decision-support tools—such as the aflatoxin risk early warning system—that provide actionable insights and scalable technologies for governments, agribusinesses, and development agencies,” she concluded.
The outcomes of the summit reinforce the growing recognition that strengthening Africa’s agricultural sector will require coordinated efforts involving research institutions, governments, private enterprises, and farming communities to build resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems.