A China-Africa agri-tech forum opened in Nairobi on Tuesday, bringing together policymakers, researchers and industry leaders to deepen agricultural cooperation and promote technology-driven modernisation across the continent.
The 2026 China-Africa Agri-Tech and Industrial Cooperation Forum is aimed at strengthening collaboration in agricultural innovation, investment, trade and technology transfer, with participants highlighting the need to close productivity gaps and enhance food security across Africa.
More than 100 delegates are attending the three-day meeting, which features discussions on agricultural mechanisation, digital farming systems, value addition, climate-resilient agriculture and knowledge sharing between China and African countries.
Organisers said the forum is part of broader efforts to expand practical cooperation under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which has increasingly prioritised agriculture as a key pillar of development ties.
In her opening remarks, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan said agricultural modernisation remains central to China-Africa cooperation, adding that both sides stand to benefit from combining Africa’s natural resources and youthful labour force with China’s experience in agricultural transformation.
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She said enhanced collaboration could help improve food production systems, strengthen value chains and boost rural incomes across African economies.
“By integrating Africa’s agricultural potential with China’s technology and development experience, both sides can advance agricultural modernisation, strengthen food security and achieve shared prosperity,” she said.
Kenyan agricultural officials and development experts also underscored the importance of technology transfer in addressing low productivity levels in Africa’s farming sector.
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Hamadi Boga, vice president in charge of programme delivery at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), said Africa could draw important lessons from China’s agricultural development model.
He noted that partnerships in innovation, research, training and investment would be key to improving yields and creating employment opportunities in the agricultural sector.
“Africa can accelerate agricultural transformation through strategic partnerships that focus on technology adoption, knowledge exchange and investment,” he said.
Willy Mutai, chief executive officer of the Tea Board of Kenya, said the forum comes at a critical time when African agriculture faces persistent challenges including low yields, limited mechanisation and gaps in technology access.
He said collaboration with China could help address these challenges by improving access to modern farming equipment, irrigation systems and agricultural data technologies.
“This engagement provides an opportunity to bridge technology gaps and improve productivity in a sector that remains vital to food security and economic growth,” he said.
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Participants at the forum also highlighted the importance of linking farmers to markets and improving agricultural value chains through processing and logistics investments.
Exhibitions held alongside the forum showcased agri-tech innovations, including smart irrigation systems, drone-based crop monitoring, and digital platforms designed to connect farmers with buyers and agricultural services.
China has in recent years expanded agricultural cooperation with African countries through demonstration farms, training programmes and investment in agro-processing zones, while African governments have sought to modernise agriculture to reduce food imports and boost exports.
Organisers said the Nairobi forum is expected to produce recommendations on scaling up technology transfer and strengthening public-private partnerships in agriculture, with a focus on long-term food security and rural development.
The meeting continues through the week with technical sessions and bilateral discussions between participating countries and private sector stakeholders.
