‘Africa Positions Digital Agriculture at the Centre of Its Development Agenda’
By Ncaba Ntshakala
Africa must not remain on the margins of global technological advancement, African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment Moses Vilakati declared as he opened the inaugural African Union Conference on Digital Agriculture in Addis Ababa.
Addressing delegates from across the continent, Vilakati said Africa’s transformation depends on decisive, coordinated, and digitally informed policy action especially in agriculture, which remains the backbone of most economies.
He highlighted the continent’s bold ambition to ensure that 45% of global agrifood output comes from Africa by 2030, stressing that digital transformation must be a major driving force behind this target.
The three-day conference, hosted by the African Union Commission through the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, was being held under the theme “Shaping Agricultural Policy for Africa’s Future: Innovation, Climate-Smart Practices, and Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development.”
Running from 1–3 December 2025 at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, the platform brought together policymakers, technologists, researchers, private sector leaders, and development partners to chart a unified approach to modernizing the continent’s agriculture sector.
The discussions cut across digital extension services, agri-tech innovations, market access and value chains, climate-smart agriculture, data privacy, and the regulatory environment needed to manage digital technologies responsibly.
At the centre of the conference was a shared objective: accelerating the adoption and effective use of digital technologies to improve agricultural productivity, sustainability, and resilience.
Delegates are examining emerging solutions such as remote-sensing tools for climate-smart farming, mobile platforms that link farmers to markets, artificial intelligence systems that provide real-time agronomic advice, and blockchain technologies supporting transparent value chains.
The AU used the platform to generate concrete recommendations that will guide national and continental policy reforms.
The conference also sought to promote knowledge sharing among stakeholders by showcasing successful digital agriculture initiatives from across Africa and other regions.
Participants were identifying strategies to scale proven innovations, strengthen partnerships between governments and the private sector, and expand access to digital tools and information for smallholder farmers.
These outcomes, the AU believes, will help empower rural communities, boost food production, and reinforce Africa’s capacity to withstand shocks linked to climate change and economic disruptions.