Africa taps into Chinese agri-tech for food security

African farmers have been urged to harness Chinese agricultural technologies as a solution to food security and rural transformation and expand export-ready production to unlock the continent's vast food potential, officials said at the launch of the 2025 Africa International Agricultural Expo in Kenya's Nairobi on Tuesday.

Set to take place from Oct 28 to 31 in Nairobi, the expo will convene over 15,000 participants and 300 exhibitors from countries around the world, including nearly 50 Chinese firms showcasing advanced agricultural machinery, smart irrigation tools, and agri-fintech innovations.

The upcoming expo will include dedicated zones for agricultural processing, veterinary science, green inputs, fintech, and cross-border trade partnerships. Organizers also plan to host various cultural events alongside technical sessions, including the World Mid-Autumn Food Contest, to deepen ties between the two nations.

"This event comes at a critical time," said Paul Kipronoh Ronoh, Kenya's principal secretary in the State Department for Agriculture. "Africa's population is nearing 1.5 billion, and with the mounting threats of climate change, we must act fast to secure our food systems. Innovation and market access must lead the way."

Paul emphasized the need for African nations to shift from subsistence to commercially viable agriculture by embracing mechanization, technology transfer, and regional trade infrastructure. "We expect to see solutions on how to transport food more efficiently within and outside Africa, how to empower our women and youth through agri-tech, and how to attract private sector investment in food production," he said.

Richard Ndung'u, chairman of China/Asia-Kenya Trade and Investment Promotion Committee at the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, urged Kenya's local counties and youth-led enterprises to take advantage of new bilateral trade pathways opened by a recent agreement between Kenya and China, following a visit by Kenya's President William Ruto to China. "China's population is 1.4 billion. That is a massive market, and they are eager to work with us — but we must organize ourselves locally first," he said.

"We must tap into Chinese technologies — in irrigation, mechanization, and post-harvest handling — because they are tried and tested. If we fail to seize this moment, we'll fall behind. China is the way to go," he added.

Ndung'u encouraged devolved governments to organize county-level expos feeding into national and international markets to enable them to tackle youth unemployment and scale up value addition in the country.

The 2025 Africa International Agricultural Expo is jointly organized by Kenya's agriculture ministry and Hongxin International Exhibition Company, which is spearheading the China-Africa agri-industrial cooperation platform.

Ding Guiping, CEO of Hongxin International Exhibition Company, said the event is part of a broader push to implement outcomes from the 2024 Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. He said the expo is an implementation of China's vision for China-Africa agricultural modernization.

"This isn't just about crops. It's about connecting minds, mobilizing investment, and empowering rural Africa to rise," Ding said.

"We believe Africa's transformation will come from the soil — and from science."