CABI has highlighted its efforts towards youth-led agri-food systems transformation, at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2025 (AFSF) in Dakar, Senegal.
In line with the priorities of CABI’s 17 African Member Countries espoused in its Medium-Term Strategy, CABI is committed to reduce inequality through better opportunities for rural women and youth. For instance, CABI’s global programme PlantwisePlus has reached over 7 million youths in five years.
The involvement of Africa’s youth in agriculture is significant. Africa has the world’s youngest population, with over 600 million people under 24, representing a substantial proportion of the labour force.
Inclusive and sustainable food systems in Africa by empowering youth
A strong contingent from CABI attended the AFSF to demonstrate how the organisation is supporting inclusive and sustainable food systems in Africa by empowering youth through skills training, access to resources, and integration into agribusiness.
CABI’s work is helping to sustainably manage plant health threats, address unemployment, increase productivity, and build more resilient and sustainable agriculture value chains.
In Uganda, PlantwisePlus and its partners set up an agro-skills programme, training over 400 youths in agricultural skills and agribusiness, including safe pesticide handling and use. This has taught them how to diagnose plant health problems and use sustainable pesticide alternatives as part of an integrated pest management approach. PlantwisePlus is also providing this training in Kenya and Zambia.
Overall, in the five years to 2024, PlantwisePlus has shared advice on how to improve plant health with young (18-35) farmers 7 million times. This includes advice given from a plant doctor as well as through social and behaviour change campaigns, digital tools or farmer-to-farmer sharing.
The CABI Academy course ‘Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness’, which provides guidance on how to start and maintain an agribusiness, was also mentioned by various stakeholders at the AFSF.
Importantly, CABI highlighted how it is helping smallholder farmers of all ages grow more and lose less to crop pests and diseases to improve their livelihoods and food security, as well as access local and more lucrative international markets.
Deogratius Magero, CABI’s Youth Engagement Manager, Africa, contributed to a discussion on how to support youth innovation in agriculture.
He spoke about his involvement in a project that has equipped young people with business skills, financial literacy, and market linkage opportunities.
Deogratius Magero speaking at the Africa Food Systems Forum.
In Zambia, for example, youth trained under the “Village-Based Biocontrol of Fall Armyworm” project have established farmer cooperatives and now operate microenterprises offering pest control services, input supply, and crop aggregation.
Mr Magero said, “My contribution highlighted a crucial point: the most effective way to drive youth leadership is to make agriculture modern and profitable, and an accessible career and business choice.”
How digital development can strengthen Africa’s agri-food systems
CABI also highlighted its expertise in digital development and how this can benefit the strengthening of Africa’s agri-food systems.
Henry Mibei, Manager, Digital Development, Africa at CABI, in a session on digitalization spoke about how we can make digital agriculture become more economically viable, scalable, and broadly adopted through robust multistakeholder business models.
Ameen Jauhar, Data Governance Lead at CABI, spoke about the use of artificial intelligence in extension services, while Walter Hevi, Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Scientist, covered engagement of digital champions in Ghana.
Dr Martin Parr, CABI’s Director, Data Policy and Practice, spoke on a panel on behalf of the Coalition for Soil Information Systems for Africa. He pointed out recent success in progressing the coalition’s efforts to support the African Soil Action Plan.
He added that World Soil Information (ISRIC) and CABI have already developed a good understanding of what makes a successful national soil information system (SIS) and have developed a SIS framework and toolkit for planning system development. This is not just looking at addressing technical demands but also assessment of stakeholder and policy contexts and business planning.
Breaking down barriers to benefit agriculture, food security and communities
Phyllis Ombonyo sharing her expertise at the Africa Food Systems Forum (second from right).
Meanwhile, Phyllis Ombonyo, Director of Strategy and Engagement, International Development at CABI, spoke about how we can empower the next generation of women in agri-food – breaking down barriers that can benefit agriculture, food security and communities.
Ms Ombonyo said, “Our women and youth have an important role to play in the future of agriculture whereby, for example, if male-female differences in access and yields could be overcome, the number of undernourished and hungry people worldwide would fall by 100-150 million.
“In Africa and elsewhere, we must allow women and youth greater access to and control over resources, including land, labour, credit, agricultural information, inputs and market opportunities.”
Promoting safer pest control options
By supporting regulatory innovation in African Union member countries, CABI helps pave the way for global biopesticide adoption, promoting safer pest control options and pesticide risk reduction that protect human health and the environment alike.
Dr Daniel Elger, CABI CEO, joined a plenary session on ‘Biodiversity, Climate and Land: Making the Conventions work for Africa’, taking part in a segment on ‘Financing and Innovating: From Commitment to Action.’
Dr Elger said, “Empowering youth and women to play an even greater role in strengthening Africa’s agri-food systems is vital in the context of our fragile biodiversity and ecosystems threatened by climate change.
“Ensuring more equitable access to knowledge and resources is a critical step in food systems transformation.”
Dr Elger invited African countries other than the 17 who are already Members to join CABI and become part of a collaborative network advancing food systems transformation across the continent and beyond.
CABI’s stand at the AFSF helped showcase CABI’s work in providing information and applying scientific expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment and its work with Member Countries and other partners to strengthen Africa’s agri-food systems.
Additional information
Main image: Henry Mibei, Manager, Digital Development, Africa at CABI, spoke about how we can make digital agriculture become more economically viable, scalable, and broadly adopted through robust multistakeholder business models.
About the Africa Food Systems Forum
The AFSF is the world’s premier forum for African agriculture and food systems, bringing together stakeholders to take practical action and share lessons that will move African food systems forward.
Creating Agri-food Work Opportunities for Young People in Africa
See also the booklet ‘Creating Agri-food Work Opportunities for Young People in Africa’ which can be downloaded here.
CABI’s AFSF webpage
Find out more about CABI’s involvement at the AFSF from the webpage here.
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