The inaugural African Conference on Agricultural Technology (ACAT), was organised and hosted by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and the Government of the Republic of Kenya, in Nairobi, Kenya from 30 October to 3 November, 2023. Topics ranged from the application of Biotechnology, Mechanization, novel products and market access, the role and capacity in STI, technology that support small holder driven initiatives, One Health, Climate Smart Farming and much more. You can read more on the program here.

The event was a huge success , bringing together more than 600 attendees from over 30 countries. The event was graced by high profile speakers and participants, such as the ex-president of Nigeria, HE Goodluck Jonathan, ministers and other government officials from a number of countries, industry leaders, researchers and entrepreneurs. The event was lively, colourful and filled with a sense of opportunity and hope, but also with a clear message of urgency for all role-players to step up efforts to enable technology access and focused adaptation to support the sustainable development of African Agriculture, for the benefit of African farmers and the broader African society.

Prof. Bernard Slippers participated in the meeting as a panellist in a session on Digitization of Agriculture, together with other leaders in the field. Prof Slippers also serves on the Board of AATF and thus also engaged in that capacity with the meeting and meeting participants.

AATF is about farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa and providing them with practical technology solutions capable of addressing their farm productivity constraints and improving their livelihoods. Founded in 2003 to address Africa’s food security prospects through agricultural technology, AATF believes that the agricultural sector is a key foundational pillar as Africa consolidates its economic growth and carves out its new position as a major global economic powerhouse and the next growth market in the world. AATF is active in 23 countries of East, Southern and West Africa, currently addressing challenges facing key staples in Sub-Saharan Africa that include maize, rice, cassava, cowpeas, bananas and potatoes.