The rise of The African Food Maker

There is a new wave of entrepreneur emerging in Africa. They combine their love of farming, agriculture and the production of food with their academic training and acquired professional business approach to unlock Africa’s multi-billion Rand agriculture and food opportunity.

The topic of food

Food and Food security in Africa is a significant topic, and it’s significance will continue to grow over time considering our fast growing population and the pressure of climate change.

While the African continent has experienced major structural transformation, witnessing significant demographic, economic and political change, some of the fastest growing economies in the world are in Africa. This evolution has contributed to sustained economic growth which has led to substantial improvements in the livelihoods and welfare of millions of Africans.

This is a story of hope, and an affirmation of the palpable air of anticipation among Africans about how we are developing as a continent, and how we hope the future will look. An appreciation of our progress however, does not yet eclipse the recognition that millions of African families still suffer from poverty, malnutrition, and food insecurity, which means they are not able to maximise their potential and contribute their part towards the development of Africa.

Agriculture

Agricultural growth and agribusiness have been the precursor to the acceleration of industrial growth in a number of emerging economies around the world, and it’s ability to alleviate the challenge of food insecurity is implicit. In Africa however, agricultural productivity has not gone the way of economic growth. Productivity is still well below yield potentials. The FOA argues that there will need to be a doubling of both key commodities, and the kind of food that is lacking in order to ensure both food security and nutrition security.

Critical to the ability of agriculture to impact industrial growth is integration of primary production into the agro-industrial system, which will favour capital and knowledge intensive enterprises. It will also fuel a desire among food makers to not only expand farming operations, but also add value using several layers of processing, packaging and/or preparation. This means that increasingly, there will be a need for capacity to meet the stringent food quality and safety standards required in processing and by retailers.

Food Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs in the food system present a new exciting opportunity for the industry to live up to it’s expectation to power modern industrialisation across the continent. The emergence of this entrepreneur is a significant opportunity to attract and absorb the increasingly educated and increasingly connected crop on young people today.

Food entrepreneurs seem to be a new category of innovator with an increased perception for market demands related to changes in preference, fads and fashions in food and food consumption, as well as an increased appreciation for efficient, sustainable food production systems. They seem to be especially in tune with the human development needs in the poor and rural communities from where they source inputs and to whom they sell products. Food entrepreneurs are more connected to supply chains, more integrated in industry and active in the creation of new channels and new networks. They also have an important role to play in bringing research into use.

These entrepreneurs are active across the full spectrum of food production including farming, processing, inputs, packaging and preservation as well as distribution and retail.

The African Food Maker

We at The African Food Maker have created this multichannel content platform to inspire, celebrate and inform entrepreneurs and professionals in agriculture and food production across Africa and the diaspora. The platform will cover people, technology, trends, news, opportunities, career, finance, business and lifestyle. We aim to highlight the human story behind the production of food.

The content platform is made up of:

• A digital Magazine
• Online content (Website and Social media)
• Offline content
• Events

To all #FoodMakers

The African Food Maker makes a commitment to diligently build and serve our community, to represent our voice authentically, inspire others to join our movement and celebrate our service to society.

We invite you to connect with us. We would love to hear and tell your story.