AGRA Country Director Dr Betty Annan has challenged the country’s youth to innovate and lead efforts to transform Africa’s food systems.

Speaking at the 2025 Agricultural Innovation for Africa (AIA) Conference organised by Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC), she urged the youth to “Get in there. Innovate. Experiment. Lead. Redefine how we produce food, how we trade, and how we sustain our planet.”

She noted Africa holds the largest youth population in the world today, and by 2050, one in every three young people on earth will be African.

“Let’s work together, in synergy, with vision and purpose, to turn that vast population into the greatest force for innovation, productivity, and prosperity this continent has ever seen,” Dr Annan said.

She encouraged the youth to take self-learning seriously.

“Education doesn’t end with a degree. The world is changing too quickly for that. What you learned in school is your foundation, but your future depends on what you keep learning beyond the classroom. Study trends and markets.

"Study technology. Study people. Stay curious. Because those who keep learning, keep leading,” she said.

“Read beyond your field. Challenge your assumptions. Seek mentors not only those who applaud you, but those who challenge you, sharpen you, and stretch your thinking. Growth is rarely comfortable, but it is always rewarding.”

The conference was on the theme: “African Youth Leveraging Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Food Systems amidst Climate Change.”

Dr Annan noted that in the agricultural space, innovation is happening all around and much of it is being driven by young people.

“From precision farming, where drones and AI are used to monitor crops, analyse soil health, and detect pests, to smart irrigation systems that measure moisture in real time, youth-led startups are at the forefront of this transformation.”

“Handheld devices now geotag soil data, mobile applications can diagnose plant diseases instantly, and mobile marketplaces are connecting farmers directly to buyers.”

She added: “Biotechnology is revolutionising seed systems; digital platforms are redefining how we trade; and robotics, drone tech, and artificial intelligence often designed by young Africans are mapping our fields, our markets, even our futures.”

Youth leading innovations

Dr Annan spotlighted three youth-led ventures changing the agricultural landscape of agricultural production and commended them for their innovations.

She mentioned Grow4Me, an online platform for aggregating agricultural produce whilst linking farmers to mechanisation services and investors ready to put their money in primary production or aggregation.

Dr Annan disclosed that the success of Grow4Me attracted AGRA’s grant support, and currently, AGRA is supporting the firm to scale up its interventions through the empowerment of 130,000 rice and soybean farmers to boost their production, productivity and trade.

Kodu Technology, based in Tamale, converts waste banana and plantain stems into sanitary pads – a circular economy endeavour that places value on what hitherto is a farm waste. In 2024, KoduTech won Africa’s Top Young Agrifood Entrepreneurs Award (GoGettaz Prize) of $50,000 from AGRA to support the venture.

Agro Empire is rearing snails and integrating the snail farming into other crop farming with hundreds of out-growers.

They then aggregate the snails, process them for their meat, harvest the blue slime for cosmetic products and then grind the snail shells to calcium for animal feed and other applications.

Agro Empire was supported by AGRA in 2024 and this year to participate in the African Food Systems Forum, where the CEO had the platform to pitch his business for investment from foreign organisations.

“I am presenting these true stories to demonstrate to you what young Ghanaians are doing to change the landscape of sustainability, biodiversity, ecosystem, natural resource management and job creation, leaving footprints to ginger you all into action,” she said.

Dr Annan assured the audience AGRA would continue to support youth innovation in the agricultural space.

“This we are doing through our various partnerships under the Youth Employment for Food and Agriculture (YEFFA), an AGRA-Mastercard Foundation Partnership.”

“We will continue to offer opportunities in training and to expose aspiring youth in the agricultural sector to various value chain activities in crop production, livestock and poultry, mechanisation, precision farming technology, digital skills, inclusive markets, trades and agripreneurship.”

Other speakers at the AIA conference included Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor, Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness; Prof. Godfred A. Bokpin, Economist and Professor of Finance, University of Ghana; and Dr Michael Abu Sakara Foster, Agronomist & Development Specialist.

Executive Director of Kosmos Innovation Center, Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, told the audience that KIC has so far funded 81 startups in all 16 regions of Ghana, with more to come.

“At KIC, we remain open to partnerships that amplify our collective impact — partnerships that empower young people, strengthen agribusinesses, and promote sustainable growth.”