HIGHTLIGHTS FROM THE DISCUSSION ABOUT AGRITECH AFRICA AT MEETINGS AFRICA

Ambassador Bene M’Poko, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps & Ambassador of the DRC to South Africa

“We need to keep our young people in the rural areas.  The only way in which you are going to do it is to create jobs.  Which sector is able to create jobs?  Its agriculture throughout its entire value chain.  This is the sector which will create jobs.  This is the sector which will stabilise us and keep our people in Africa.  We have green pastures in Africa.”

“We are not training farmers or farm employees, we are training entrepreneurs.  A farm is a business and must be managed in all its facets.”

Prema Zilberman, Managing Director: Kenes Exhibitions

 “Agritech Africa 2020 will aim to understand the innovation ecosystem and bringing in the three pillars of government, academy and industry we will aim to discuss the policy around innovation and innovation as a policy to create the right environment so that ideas can be born and survive.”

“Why Agritech Africa 2020, Africa sits on 65% of uncultivated arable land and will determine the future of food, no argument on that.  Farming provides 60% of all jobs in Africa.  African agriculture can contribute to sustainable development, economic development and food security globally.”

Dr Wengawenga, Assistant Chief Economic Advisor to the President of Malawi

“Agriculture is the backbone of our economies in Southern Africa creating jobs for 61% of the 337 million people just in the SADC region.”

“Agriculture is the anchor to food security, food is life.  A food secure nation is more likely to be a healthy nation and more likely to be more productive and more likely to be a high income country.

“A hungry man is an angry man.  We therefore need to invest in agriculture to also achieve political stability.”

“They also say that Africa will be the next giant after Asia.  If we are to be the next giant, we really need to ensure we have done all we can with regard to agriculture.”

Mr Jeffers Miruka, CEO Association of African Agricultural Economists

“One of the main priorities of the African Development Bank is to feed Africa.  Feeding Africa is all about agriculture.  We want to be self sustaining in Africa, especially in terms of food security.  Agriculture is also a key investment opportunity in Africa.  Africa cannot leapfrog if it is not food secure and food sufficient.”

Dr. Thulasizwe Mkhabela, Group Executive: Impact & Partnerships: Agricultural Research Council

 “We have realised we cannot do research just for the sake of research.  It must begin to reach the intended stakeholders to impact on their lives.

The first International Agricultural Technology Exhibition and Conference, Agritech Africa 2020, will take place in Cape Town, South Africa. The exhibition will be held from 17 June to 19 June, 2020 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). The official media launch of  #AgritechAfrica2020 by #KenesExhibitions took place at Meetings Africa 2019 in Johannesburg. The press release was opened by Prema Zilberman, the General Manager of Kenes Exhibitions.

The event will showcase leading South African agriculture and food processing technologies with delegations from other parts of Africa contributing to the exhibition. A conference with national and international expert committee members will focus on the management of land and water resources, food security and the development of an innovation ecosystem.

Primary focus will be given to developments in the South African agriculture and food processing industries, the objective being to attract importers from around Africa, India and the Middle East. Agritech Africa 2020 will provide countless business and growth opportunities, with maximum exposure to key players in the industry, and will serve as a meeting place for professionals in the industry to make new and lasting connections.

Agricultural transformation is quickly becoming the vanguard of this renaissance, as agricultural production and food security are the crucial impetus for growth for the entire continent. By hosting Agritech in South Africa, the international community is invited to be part of the amazing opportunities this presents.

Those invited to take part include mayors, heads of municipalities, rural communities, engineers and technicians, maintenance managers, consultants, regulatory bodies, decision makers, project developers, safety managers, entrepreneurs and other individuals and organisations from the agricultural sector. Topics that can be expected include:

• Learning about solutions for water and environmental challenges
• Seeking partners for projects and business ventures
• Finding the technologies that address your most pressing problems
• Raising your public profile and building brand image
• Meeting colleagues, solution providers, potential customers, and other decision-makers – at a global level
• Advancing careers through networking and education
• Leveraging time in a single-cost, time-effective forum for professionals in the industry.

Registration dates for the conference will be announced soon on AgriOrbit. Entrance to the exhibition is free but registration is mandatory. Click here for more. 

Plaas Media is the main media partner for AgriTech Africa 2020. Subscribe for Agritech Africa newsletter or join the group in Linkedin to keep up to date with announcements about this conference. – AgriTech Africa

 Agritech Africa will take place from 17-19 June, 2020 in Cape Town at the CTICC. Winning of the bid to host this international conference was resultant of Meetings Africa.

The official media launch of Agritech Africa 2020 took place at Meetings Africa in Johannesburg on the 27^th of February. In attendance at the press release was a panel of esteemed speakers and experts from the SADC region to weigh in on agriculture in Africa through a panel discussion.

Delegates were addressed by Chief Convention Bureau officer, Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo and Corne Koch, Head of the Cape Town Convention Bureau. Agriculture in the SADC region faces many challenges, including climate change, access to markets, mechanization and demands from population growth.

“Feeding Africa is a high priority. We want to be self sustainable”. “At Agritech Africa we want to showcase what Africa can do in terms of research and development. We are looking for partnerships” – Dr. Thulasizwe Mkhabela highlights the importance of new technology as well as bringing the youth into the agricultural sector.

Addressing the press was Ambassador Bene L. M. M’Poko of the Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighting the challenges of agriculture in Africa: “The Agritech Expo will give attendees the opportunity to take knowledge back home. Utilisation of technology is key”.

“Agriculture & tech are key economic enablers, the knowledge sharing that a conference such as Agritech Africa 2020 will bring is unsurmountable. The impact beyond the event & how it can positively impact Africa food production is very exciting”, says Corne Koch.

“The food security of the world will depend on what Africa can deliver” – Mr. Miller Matola CEO of Milvest.

Voiced was also  the need to take advantage of events like Agritech Africa 2020 to grow the sector. There is an alignment between the agricultural sector, technology, science and tourism. Agricultural tourism is a big part of the Western Cape, which is part of the reason why the province was chosen to host Agritech Africa 2020.

Excitement builds for what these partnerships and collaborations will bring for Africa in 2020? Join us on 17th June 2020 !