The AFMASS Investing in Sustainable Food Businesses in Africa MasterClass Webinar will re-imagine the food industry of the future and will cover the most critical issues in the food industry value chain in Africa – especially in the future of investments and sustainability in the Continent now and after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Africa’s population is projected to double by 2050, hitting the 2.5 billion mark, as the World’s youngest continent’s share of the population grows from 17% in 2020 to 26% in 2050; and then growing even further to 39% of the World’s population by 2100, when it will have more than 4.3 billion people. 

The growth in population can be argued to be good for the Continent in many ways – growing demand for necessities and a growing labour force to drive the economies of the Continent. The fast population growth, young and vibrant population, increasing incomes and a more urbanised population in the Continent are important drivers for the increased investments seen over the last 10 years in Africa’s food industry.

However, the  fast growth in population in Africa poses many challenges, especially if the massive growth in numbers and the surging urbanisation take place while the bulk of the population lack basic access to nutritious, affordable food, clean water and sanitation, basic infrastructure and quality jobs. 

The challenges in Africa are not only population related. According to the UN Environment Program (UNEP) the Continent disproportionately faces challenges brought by climate change due to the region’s limited adaptive capacity that is exacerbated by widespread poverty. 

The Cover-19 pandemic has exposed the yawning gaps in investments and adoption of sustainable business technologies and practices in the Continent, as it grapples with challenges of meeting the growing needs of its people, while balancing environmental concerns and developing local enterprises that can invest in the region’s food industry value chain to feed the rising population.