DAKAR, Senegal — More than 6,000 global food systems leaders are expected to gather in Dakar, Senegal, this August for the 19th Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF), the Senegalese Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock announced Monday.
The summit, themed “Africa’s Youth: Leading Collaboration, Innovation, and Implementation of Africa’s Food Systems Transformation,” will bring together heads of state, ministers, investors, youth and women agripreneurs, researchers and donors. It is set to be Africa’s most significant agriculture and food systems event, highlighting the continent’s youthful innovation.
African youth are at the forefront of driving food systems transformation, and this year’s AFS Forum aims to amplify their leadership, connect them with resources, and position them centrally in Africa’s food future.
Dr. Mabouba Diagne, Senegal’s Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock, emphasized the critical role of young people.
“With nearly 60% of Africa’s population under 25, youth are the most potent force shaping the continent’s future,” Diagne said. “Senegal is therefore honored to convene Africa’s most influential agriculture leaders and hope that this year’s Forum will shape policy, investment, and innovation. We welcome the world to Dakar and reinforce our belief that Africa can achieve food resilience and sustainable systems.”
Delegates from over 90 countries are anticipated to attend, including representatives from key international bodies such as the African Union and various U.N. and development agencies. Participation will span public and private sectors, academia, NGOs, media, and farming communities.
Agriculture is a cornerstone of Senegal’s economy, employing nearly 69% of its workforce and contributing roughly 17% of its GDP. As a Sahelian nation, Senegal has made substantial investments in irrigation, storage infrastructure and resilient farming systems, reinforcing its leadership in regional food systems transformation.
Amath Pathe, Managing Director of the Africa Food Systems Forum, underscored the summit’s objective to engage young people.
“This year’s convening is a catalyst for reaching youth and young women in Africa so we can engage them as leaders, co-creators and movement builders,” Pathe said. “Six thousand voices from across the world will converge in Senegal to exchange ideas and build the future of food systems, and we can’t wait for the impact this will have.”
The Senegalese government has committed to delivering a high-impact event, implementing comprehensive security protocols, visa facilitation, advanced logistics, multilingual interpretation and protocol arrangements to ensure smooth execution.
Online registration for delegates is available on the official AFS Forum website at https://afs-forum.org/summit/2025/.
The Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) is the world’s largest forum on agriculture and food systems. It convenes stakeholders including policymakers, farmers, the private sector, youth, women and researchers to drive practical action and share lessons for advancing African food systems transformation. The forum’s core objectives include agenda setting, evidence-based policy reform, investment facilitation and finance, knowledge sharing, and partnership development. Established in 2010, the AFSF has evolved to include investment facilities and technical assistance. It has recently rebranded to broaden its scope, emphasizing agricultural production, nutrition, gender and youth, climate resilience, market and trade, infrastructure, energy, and integrated approaches, as well as government engagement, reporting and accountability, and private sector mobilization.
