Africa food systems summit to be held in Senegal in August
Senegal is set to host over 6,000 food systems leaders from over 90 countries during the 19th edition of the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) in August in Dakar.
Among leaders expected in Dakar in August include: Heads of State, Ministers, Investors, Youth and Women agripreneurs, Researchers and Donors.
Themed “Africa’s Youth: Leading Collaboration, Innovation, and Implementation of Africa’s Food Systems Transformation”, this will mark Africa’s most significant agriculture and food-systems moment, hosted by a nation that is budding with youthful innovation.
Africa’s young people are driving food systems transformation now and this year’s AFS Forum will amplify their leadership, connect them to resources and ensure they’re at the center of Africa’s food future.
Making the announcement, Senegal’s Minister of Agriculture Food Sovereignty and Livestock, Dr. Mabouba Diagne said the forum reflects the country’s deep commitment to transforming food systems and empowering its young population.
“With nearly 60pc of Africa’s population under 25, youth are the most potent force shaping the continent’s future. Senegal is therefore honoured to convene Africa’s most influential agriculture leaders and hope that this year’s Forum will shape policy, investment, and innovation. We welcome the world to Dakar and reinforce our belief that Africa can achieve food resilience and sustainable systems.” Dr. Diagne noted.
Delegates from more than 90 countries are expected to arrive in Dakar, with participation from key international institutions including the Africa Union, UN agencies and major development institutions. Representation will span public and private sectors, academia, NGOs, media, youth, women and farming communities.
Agriculture employs nearly 69pc of Senegal’s labour force, contributing roughly 17% of GDP.
As a Sahel nation, Senegal has invested aggressively in irrigation, storage infrastructure, and resilient farming systems. Hosting this forum reinforces Senegal’s leadership in regional food systems transformation.
Amath Pathe, Managing Director, Africa Food Systems Forum noted that the 2025 summit will be a pivotal opportunity to engage Africa’s youth as leaders, co-creators, and innovators.
“This year’s convening is a catalyst for reaching youth and young women in Africa so we can engage them as leaders, co-creators and movement builders. 6,000 voices from across the world will converge in Senegal to exchange ideas and build the future of food systems and we can’t wait for the impact this will have”.
There is a strong commitment from the government of Senegal to deliver a high impactful event. Comprehensive security protocols, visa facilitation, advanced logistics, multilingual interpretation, and protocol arrangements are in place to ensure smooth execution.
Registration Now Open
Online registration for delegates is now open on the official AFS Forum website through this link – https://afs-forum.org/summit/2025/
AFS Forum
The Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS Forum) is a global forum on agriculture and food systems, bringing together stakeholders (policy makers, farmers, private sector, youth, women, research) to take practical action and share lessons that will move African food systems transformation forward.
The AFS Forum’s core objective is to scale up Africa’s food systems and agricultural transformation agenda through the Agenda Setting, Evidence-based Policy Reform, Investment Facilitation and Finance, Knowledge Sharing and Learning, Partnership Development and Coordination.
Since 2010, the Africa Food Systems Forum has been an annual convening platform and overtime includes investment facilities (deal rooms) and technical assistance through its thematic platforms.