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Two weeks ago, we had the privilege of attending the African Conference on Agricultural Technology (ACAT) in Kigali, Rwanda — and the energy in the room was unmistakable. The ideas, the urgency, and the shared vision for African agriculture were alive and electric.
One of the most powerful moments came from Elizabeth Nsimadala, a leader with the Federation of Farmers in East Africa, who cut through the noise with a simple truth:
“So many technologies … We're investing in data but we are not investing in scaling …Technology is funded by grants - tech then becomes a white elephant. We need to scale on the ground and get services out to farmers. We need to see food system transformation - eco system partners coming together across the whole value chain and working together no more new technologies, enough is enough, we need scale.”
That clarity stuck with us. It’s not always about the next big invention — sometimes it’s about getting proven tools and practices into the hands of more farmers, faster. Execution, not invention, is the name of the game right now.
We also connected with potential new partners who are walking that talk. Organizations like Sasakawa Africa are already working with organized co-ops of maize farmers in Uganda. These are exactly the types of partnerships we’re eager to deepen — not only to secure more sustainable feed supply for livestock but to build shared prosperity from the ground up.
Even more inspiring was meeting young leaders like Pacifique from Rwanda, who embody a new wave of African agricultural leadership: grounded, innovative, and impact-driven. His passion reminded us that the future of African food systems isn’t just in policy halls — it’s already alive in the field.
As always, great conferences are only the beginning. The real work starts now: connecting partners, building trust, moving ideas to action, and scaling up what works.
We left ACAT more energized than ever — and ready to keep growing our impact.