Speakers Announced for ATS 2016 Agritech Panel
As published yesterday, the second edition of the Africa Technology Summit (ATS 2016) will take place on December 6–7 at Intercontinental Hotel Lagos. Hosted by MEST — a pan-African training program, seed fund and incubator — all panel topics are deliberately focused on relevant trends seen in the Africa technology ecosystem, and it’s no coincidence that Developments in Agri-Tech is one of the first.
The team is pleased to announce the attendance of Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, to join the ATS 2016 Agri-Tech panel in discussing how technology can facilitate a shift from national dependence on the oil & gas to agriculture and other overlooked industries.
He will be joined by Angel Adelaja, Founder/CEO of Fresh Direct produce — a high-tech farm run by using hydroculture planting methods to grow large quantity of fresh vegetables, and winner of Chivas’ The Venture 2016; Nasir Yammama, Founder/CEO of Verdant Agritech Limited — a creative technologist with numerous accolades including close mentorship relationship with Richard Branson; Imoudu Alexander Osikhena, Head of Investment and Business Development (Africa) at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s CAVA Project, and Alloysius Attah, CEO/Cofounder of Farmline — a platform focused on smallholder farmers which uses technology to link farmers to markets, finance, inputs and equipment services.
This varied panel will feature discussions on the current state of affairs of the agriculture industry, how to encourage the youth population to get on board, and ways to spur intensive research and innovation in agriculture, not only in Nigeria but Africa-wide.
These business and policy leaders will discuss and exchange ideas on what is needed in the coming years — focusing on innovation between government and business, as well as the challenges and opportunities of the agriculture industry. The goal is to brainstorm measures to build an economy that is self-dependent and does not need to import food that can be grown here.
During this 2-day summit, there will be a demo day where MEST’s top portfolio companies will pitch in front of a range of investors, celebrating the truest peak of innovation that comes from Africa.
To learn more about Africa Technology Summit, and receive regular announcements and updates, follow @Afritechsummit on Twitter and Africa Tech Summit on Facebook. You can buy your tickets on the website, and contact partnerships@meltwater.org for press, sponsorship or general inquiries.
Originally published at gharage.
