Addis Ababa – The African Union Commission wrapped up its inaugural Conference on Digital Agriculture today, December 3, at its headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The three-day event brought together government officials, agricultural researchers, technology innovators, farmers, agribusiness actors, development practitioners, and investors to discuss advancing digital solutions in Africa’s agriculture sector.
The conference, organised by the AU Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, was held under the theme “Shaping Agricultural Policy for Africa’s Future: Innovation, Climate-Smart Practices, and Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development.” Key discussions focused on digital extension services, agri-tech innovations, market access and value chains, climate-smart agriculture, policy and regulation, and data management and privacy.
AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Economy and Blue Economy, H.E. Moses Vilakati, urged Africa to take a central role in digital transformation. He noted the goal of producing 45 percent of Africa’s agrifood within the continent by 2030 and highlighted digital technologies as essential to achieving this target.
The conference aimed to accelerate adoption of digital tools to improve productivity, sustainability, and resilience in agriculture. It also provided a platform to share innovations, identify policy strategies, foster partnerships among governments, private sector actors and development organisations, and empower smallholder farmers with access to information and markets.
The initiative builds on the AU’s Digital Agriculture Strategy adopted in February 2024 under the Policy and Regulation Initiative for Digital Africa. The strategy supports developing a continental Digital Single Market and aligns with Agenda 2063, the AU’s long-term vision for inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Participants showcased successful digital agriculture projects, developed actionable policy recommendations, and explored collaboration with initiatives such as the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa, the African Continental Free Trade Area, and the Smart Africa Initiative.
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