The agricultural future of Africa is taking a new direction—one shaped by innovation, resilience, and bold investment strategies. This week, the third edition of the African Forum on Investment in Agricultural Value Chains convened key players in Benguerir, Morocco, for an event that underscored the continent’s urgency to transform how food systems are built, financed, and scaled.
The forum, organized by MAVA (Mobilizing for Agricultural Value Chains in Africa), a platform launched by INNOVX with support from OCP Group and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has now become a milestone in Africa’s agricultural transformation journey.
The message is clear: Africa needs sustainable, inclusive value chains capable of feeding its people and securing its economic future. And MAVA is aiming high, seeking to catalyze $800 million in investments by 2030 to achieve precisely that.
Already, early projects are showing promise. From cashew shell upcycling into green fuel, to rice value chains supported by Insurtech tools reducing farmers’ risks, MAVA’s footprint is becoming tangible. The platform operates at the junction of tech innovation and field implementation—where scalable impact happens.
The forum also marked the announcement of a €350,000 strategic grant from the French Development Agency (AFD), aimed at deepening MAVA’s research capacity and supporting feasibility studies for climate-resilient and carbon-smart agriculture. These studies are essential to unlock the next phase of investment-ready projects.
In partnership with Digital Africa, a startup challenge was launched to spotlight the best Agtech, Fintech and Insurtech innovations across the continent. Winners will receive up to $100,000 in funding and tailored support to scale their solutions.
MAVA’s hybrid approach—merging business acumen, scientific expertise and a deep commitment to social impact—is proving effective. As the forum draws to a close, one thing is certain: Africa’s agricultural transformation is no longer a vision. It’s in motion. And MAVA is leading the way.
