Africa’s food and agribusiness industry is not just growing, it is transforming.
According to the World Bank and African Development Bank, Africa’s agrifood market is projected to hit $1 trillion by 2030, up from around $313 billion today. The foregoing projects a threefold expansion and signals massive potential for entrepreneurs, investors, and policy-makers across the continent.
Nigeria: The Power of Domestic Demand
Nigeria’s 220+ million people drive one of Africa’s largest food markets. Yet over $10 billion worth of food is still imported annually showing both a gap and a golden opportunity.
Investments in rice mills, poultry, and cassava processing (e.g., Dangote, Olam, Flour Mills of Nigeria) are changing the landscape.
The Special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZs) initiative, backed by AfDB, aims to connect farmers to processors and reduce post-harvest losses.
Lesson: Local processing and private-sector-led value addition are key to capturing a larger share of domestic demand.
Kenya: The Agri-Tech & Export Innovator
West Africa’s trade monitoring system has collapsed - why this is dangerous for food security
Kenya continues to lead Africa’s agri-tech revolution, home to over 200 digital agriculture startups.
Firms like Twiga Foods and Apollo Agriculture are improving farmer access to markets and finance.
Furthermore, Kenya’s horticulture exports of flowers, avocado, and vegetables generated over $1.5 billion in 2023, showing how digital and logistics investments pay off.
Lesson: Technology + logistics + export diversification = sustained agribusiness growth.
Ethiopia: Government-Led Value Chain Transformation
Ethiopia’s Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) has driven sector reforms since 2010.
The country’s wheat self-sufficiency push in 2023 saved $1 billion in imports, thanks to irrigation and mechanization.
Public-private partnerships Ethiopia are building processing parks to boost exports of coffee and sesame.
lesson: Policy consistency and investment in irrigation and mechanization create long-term structural change.
What is the Bigger Picture?
Agribusiness isn’t just farming, it is the next frontier for manufacturing (production), jobs, and trade.
With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) removing trade barriers, the continent can expand intra-African agri-trade by over 500%, according to the World Economic Forum.
The $1 trillion mark isn’t automatic. It requires:
1. Power, irrigation, and logistics infrastructure
2. Access to affordable finance and blended investment models
3. Data-driven market systems and regional policy alignment
