Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) and AGRA are organizing a Regional Dialogue and Exhibition Fair under the theme: “African Youth Leveraging Innovation for Sustainable Food Systems and Decent Jobs in the Rice, Soybeans, and Horticulture Value Chains.” This forms part of the Expanding, Mentoring and Coaching to build capacity and expand access to Technical and Financial resources for disadvantaged youth in agriculture in Ghana Project KIC is implementing in partnership with AGRA. This project forms part of the broader Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture (YEFFA) Program, a partnership between AGRA and the Mastercard Foundation, aimed at increasing youth and young women’s involvement in agricultural transformation.
Creating a Platform for Youth Advocacy in Agriculture
The Regional Policy dialogue is designed to provide a unique platform for young entrepreneurs, agribusiness stakeholders, policymakers, and development partners to engage in meaningful conversations on how Africa’s youth can actively drive innovation within agriculture. By focusing on critical value chains such as rice, soybeans, and horticulture, the event seeks to highlight opportunities for job creation, food security, and sustainable livelihoods.
This Regional Dialogue is a policy and advocacy initiative aimed at amplifying youth voices in shaping agricultural transformation across the continent. Participants will deliberate on practical strategies that enable young people to access resources, technology, and markets, while contributing directly to sustainable food systems.
Exhibition Fair Showcasing Innovation
Alongside the policy dialogue, the Exhibition Fair will showcase innovative products, services, and solutions from young agripreneurs across the region. This will serve as a marketplace of ideas and opportunities, fostering connections among businesses, investors, and development stakeholders.
Towards the Agricultural Innovation for Africa Conference
The Regional Dialogue and Exhibition Fair set the stage for the AIA Conference scheduled for later this year. Insights, recommendations, and success stories gathered during the dialogue will feed into the larger continental conversation, ensuring that youth perspectives remain at the heart of agricultural innovation and development.
Speaking ahead of the event, Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, Executive Director of KIC, emphasized:
“Africa’s future in agriculture rests on innovation, technology, creativity and resilience of its youth to be a driving force for sustainable value chains to promote global food security. Through this dialogue and exhibition, we are creating an enabling environment for young people to drive innovation and influence policy to drive this transformational agenda.”
The Regional Youth Entrepreneurship Policy Dialogue and Exhibition Fair is a call to action—an opportunity to recognize youth not only as beneficiaries but as active leaders in transforming agriculture. By leveraging innovation, young people across Africa can create decent jobs, build resilient food systems, and contribute to the continent’s long-term prosperity.