The 2025 Africa International Agricultural Expo commenced on 28 October in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme “Increasing Agricultural Productivity in Africa through Innovation and Market Access.” The event, a strategic platform for dialogue and exchange, aims to deepen agricultural cooperation between Africa and China, while simultaneously strengthening intra-African collaboration in pursuit of agri-industrial transformation.
The Expo drew over 150 exhibitors from across the continent and China, including more than 100 agribusiness representatives from China. Their participation is emblematic of China’s increasingly multifaceted engagement in Africa’s agricultural sector. Kenya, as the host nation, is positioning itself as a key regional hub for agricultural innovation and trade facilitation, particularly through platforms such as this expo that convene both public and private stakeholders.
Paul Kipronoh Ronoh, Principal Secretary in Kenya’s State Department for Agriculture, affirmed the government’s commitment to leveraging innovation and technology to drive productivity and sustainability. He remarked that such initiatives align with broader frameworks, including the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) of the African Union, and the goals of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), both of which stress cooperation and local capacity development as central tenets.
According to Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, Guo Haiyan, Chinese agribusinesses at the expo showcased solutions across the agricultural value chain—from seed breeding and mechanisation to post-harvest storage and food processing. Ambassador Guo noted that these innovations have the potential to bolster smallholder farming systems across Africa by improving yields, reducing waste, and enhancing resilience to climate variability. Furthermore, the event served not just as a commercial exhibition but as a platform for forming long-term partnerships based on mutual benefit, knowledge transfer, and inclusive development.
Tito Mutai, Chief Executive Officer of Agri-Africa Exhibition, confirmed that five strategic agreements were formalised between Chinese and Kenyan agricultural stakeholders during the event. These pacts are intended to boost bilateral trade, investment flows, and technical cooperation in the sector. Mutai added that these engagements reflect a broader continental ambition to reimagine agriculture as both a secure source of food and a key engine for job creation and inclusive economic growth.
In recognising agriculture as central to Africa’s structural transformation, the Expo is emblematic of a shifting paradigm—one that moves away from a donor-recipient dynamic toward one of co-investment, co-innovation, and shared accountability. The focus on innovation and market access acknowledges the complex realities faced by African farmers, especially smallholders, who require tailored and scalable solutions rather than prescriptive models.
Although China’s increasing agricultural footprint on the continent has been met with both enthusiasm and scrutiny, the prevailing tone at the Expo was one of pragmatic engagement. Stakeholders on both sides appeared conscious of the need for transparent, equitable partnerships that support local value addition and align with Africa’s own development priorities.
Importantly, the Expo also underscored Africa’s agency in shaping its agricultural future—not as a passive beneficiary but as a proactive and strategic actor. Events such as these provide space not only for commercial transactions but also for rethinking agricultural policy, innovation systems, and transnational networks that support a more human-centred, ecologically attuned, and economically just agricultural system across the continent.
The Expo continues throughout the week, with thematic sessions addressing sustainable agritech, youth engagement in agribusiness, and cross-border trade facilitation. As Africa navigates the dual challenges of food insecurity and climate change, such forums offer meaningful opportunities to consolidate partnerships, elevate African innovation, and challenge monolithic narratives that have historically framed African agriculture through external lenses.
