AGRA has launched the Africa Food Prize 2025 with a call on governments, private sector players, civil society organisations, and individuals to nominate outstanding change makers who are shaping the future of Africa’s agriculture for the award.

The Africa Food Prize is the preeminent award recognising an outstanding individual or institution leading the effort to change the reality of farming in Africa—from a struggle to survive to a business that thrives.

Speaking at the launch, chair of the Africa Food Prize Committee and former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete said, “The Africa Food Prize serves as a testament to Africa’s potential to shape its own food systems.”

“We live in a time of immense challenges. Climate change, geopolitical disruptions, and supply chain vulnerabilities continue to test our resilience. These obstacles disrupt agricultural markets and put immense pressure on farmers and food systems,” he said.

“In the face of these challenges, we must ask ourselves: How do we build food systems that ensure no African goes to bed hungry? How do we create agricultural markets that are inclusive, resilient, and profitable?

"How do we harness the power of sciences and technology into sustainable practices to leap into a future where Africa is not just feeding itself but feeding the world?” he quizzed.

President Kikwete said problem solvers and visionaries are needed to help create solutions to deal with these challenges, and that is what the Africa Food Prize seeks to reward.

The $100,000 prize celebrates Africans who are taking control of Africa’s agriculture agenda and puts the spotlight on bold initiatives and technical innovations that can be replicated across the continent.

Last year, Tinotenda Mhiko, CEO of the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) of Zimbabwe, was named the winner of the 2024 Africa Food Prize.

Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) was honoured with the prestigious Africa Food Prize for 2023, recognizing their exceptional leadership in the development of numerous bean varieties that improve farm productivity and profitability, and meet increasing consumer demand.

Prof. Eric Yirenkyi Danquah, founding director of the West Africa Center for Crop Improvement (WACCI) at the University of Ghana, won the 2022 Africa Food Prize.

He was awarded for his outstanding expertise, leadership and grantsmanship skills that led to the establishment and development of WACCI as a world-class centre for training plant breeders in Africa.

In 2020, Dr. André Bationo, a researcher from Burkina Faso, and Dr. Catherine Nakalembe, a Ugandan researcher and assistant professor at the University of Maryland, jointly received the Prize for their exceptional contribution towards the promotion of food security across the continent.

Speaking at the launch of the 2025 award, Dr Nakalembe said the award has inspired her to higher heights.

Boaz Blackie Keizire Head of Policy, Advocacy & Africa Food Prize Secretariat at AGRA assured the winner will be selected through a transparent process, guided by the charter of the Africa Food Prize charter under the guidance of the AGRA board.

“We assure that the criteria will focus on the impact of the work an individual or organization is doing in terms of ensuring food and nutrition security and also the scalability of the model,” he said.

The Africa Food Prize was started by Norway-based Yara International ASA as the Yara Prize in 2005 to honour achievements in African agriculture. It was re-christened the Africa Food Prize in 2016 to give the award a distinctive African home, African identity, and African ownership.