The Africa Food Systems Forum returns to Kigali for its 20th annual summit, bringing together more than 5,000 delegates from 50+ countries around the theme “Investing in Africa’s Agri-Food Systems: Nourishing Nations, Growing Jobs, Building Resilience.”
This year’s forum comes at an important moment: Africa is beginning a new decade of CAADP implementation, while pressure is growing to translate commitments on food security, nutrition, climate resilience and agricultural development into investment and delivery.
Many of the solutions needed to strengthen Africa’s food systems already exist. The challenge is creating the conditions to attract investment, influence policy, and reach scale – ultimately delivering for the people who need them most.
2026 also marks 20 years of AGRA. A ‘milestone in reflection and renewal’, AGRA seeks to fulfil the vision ignited by Kofi Annan: a continent where agriculture is the core foundation for opportunity, resilience and prosperity for millions of smallholder farmers. To accelerate food systems transformation by removing barriers that prevent smallholder farmers from thriving across Africa, AGRA has renewed its commitment to scale proven solutions in soil, seeds, markets, policy and health.
In support of the AFSF and AGRA’s work on transforming food systems, and to drive action to achieve Good Food For All, the SDG2 Advocacy Hub (the Hub) will Connect, Convene, and Catalyse partners, champions, policymakers, investors and innovators at the AFSF. To explore how we can accelerate proven solutions – from agricultural innovation and climate resilience to nutrition and healthier diets – and turn dialogue into collective action, the Culinary Village stage will bring food champion voices to the fore.
Connect with us! Kigali Food Festival
1–3 September | Roundabout, Kigali
Join the Chefs’ Manifesto at the Culinary Village, daily from 1 pm to 4 pm for three days of cooking, tasting and conversation exploring Africa’s food systems through the plate.
Explore food of the past, present and future. Expect beans and biodiversity, indigenous and climate-resilient crops, school meals, fortified foods, culinary heritage and innovations that could feed the future.
As an Africa-focused, globally connected organisation, we’re interested in building new partnerships, identifying and supporting champions, connecting investment and evidence with advocacy opportunities, and helping African-led solutions and leadership travel further.
If you’re working to strengthen Africa’s food systems, we want to connect with you in Kigali! Come and find us at the Kigali Food Festival, in the Culinary Village.
What do you want to catalyse?
Want to ACCELERATE AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION?
See innovation move from research to the field — and ultimately the plate. Join conversations around climate-resilient crops, African-led innovation and what it takes to attract investment and scale solutions that work.
→ Future Crops Culinary Masterclass (Culinary Village)
→ Innovations that Will Feed Our Future (Culinary Village)
→ Researchers Roundtable: Targeting Big Bets (AFSF)
→ Investing in Diverse Crops (AFSF)
Want to put BETTER NUTRITION within everyone's reach?
- Explore how fortification, school meals, beans and other proven approaches can make nutritious diets more accessible and affordable — and what partnerships are needed to take them further.
→ Fortifying the Future
→ School Meals for Today
→ PABRA anniversary/beansanniversary /beans programming
Want to build more DIVERSE, RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEMS?
- Taste and experience the crops, culinary traditions and biodiversity that can strengthen diets, livelihoods and resilience — while connecting research, policy and the people who turn ingredients into culture.
→ Beans, Biodiversity and the Plate
→ Future Crops Culinary Masterclass
Want to connect with the people who can help move ideas into action?
- Meet chefs, farmers, youth leaders, researchers, partners, funders and other champions who can bring new perspectives, trusted voices, investment and convening power to food systems change. Throughout the week, the Hub will create opportunities to connect across sectors, strengthen advocacy, build coalitions, and explore new partnerships around high-impact solutions.
→ Chefs’ Manifesto / Culinary Village
→ Youth Spotlight and culinary demonstrations
→ Partner and champion meetings throughout the week
