EAC and AGRA rally young entrepreneurs to transform regional food systems
East African leaders, investors and youth met in Nairobi to back agrifood innovation, as EAC and AGRA use EAYASE-25 to expand finance, markets and policy support.
Countries in East Africa are increasingly focusing on youth-driven innovation to transform their food systems, a sector that still sustains over 70 per cent of the region’s population.
Regional stakeholders argue that harnessing the creativity and enterprise of young people is now critical for the sector’s long-term resilience. With 60 per cent of East Africans under the age of 25, the region’s youthful population is emerging as one of its strongest assets.
More To Read
- EAC's Nairobi summit pushed to January amid regional tensions
- Kenya dismisses war fears as Mudavadi quashes claims of Uganda ‘overrunning’ the country
- Somalia takes over leadership of EAC Speakers Bureau from Kenya
- Sh39 billion organic city breaks ground in Tana River as residents eye new era of prosperity
- Kenya’s exports to EAC partners grow as diaspora sends Sh1 trillion home
- EAC trade revenues hit Sh4.9 trillion as regional commerce accelerates
At the three-day East African Youth in Agri-Food Systems Expo 2025 (EAYASE-25), held in Nairobi from December 3–5, participants highlighted how emerging financing pathways, modern agri-tech tools, and improved market access are creating fresh opportunities for young people.
To leverage this momentum, the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) are using the expo to bring together a wide network of stakeholders to collaborate on realising this vision.
The event unites agripreneurs, investors, policymakers, and development agencies, reinforcing the growing regional and continental drive to place youth at the forefront of food systems transformation.
According to Stella Clara Massawe, Senior Specialist, Policy and State Capability for Eastern and Southern Africa at AGRA, young Africans are already showing that agriculture can be innovative, profitable, and climate-resilient.
Strengthening youth-led agribusinesses
“Through EAYASE-25, AGRA and its partners are strengthening youth-led agribusinesses, enabling access to finance and markets, supporting digital and climate-smart solutions, and shaping policies that allow young agripreneurs not just to start, but to scale sustainable businesses,” Massawe said.
Fahari Marwa, Head of Agriculture and Food Security at the EAC Secretariat, said the region is committed to ensuring youths are fully integrated into regional development and food security strategies.
“Platforms such as EAYASE-25 enable young people to directly engage policymakers and investors, align national and regional priorities, and contribute to policy and market solutions that support inclusive and sustainable agri-food systems across the Community,” he said.
Sustainable regional network
He added that, beyond the convening, the Secretariat aims to build a sustainable regional network of youth agripreneurs that promotes ongoing collaboration, mentorship, and knowledge exchange.
“The Expo aligns with the EAC Youth Strategy and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, both of which emphasise youth empowerment, economic inclusion, and sustainable agriculture as cornerstones of long-term growth.”
Joyce Ng'ang'a, a young agripreneur attending the forum, welcomed the initiative, noting that it comes at a pivotal moment for the region.
“This is the time for youth to step forward and lead the transformation of East Africa’s food systems, not only to secure the region’s future food supply, but also to build resilient, innovative, and sustainable agri-food economies that can compete globally.”
She also called on governments and relevant organisations to prioritise inclusive agricultural practices and capacity-building initiatives that encourage participation by people with disabilities.
Declining youth involvement
These calls come amid declining youth involvement in the agrifood sector, a trend highlighted by recent FAO findings.
In its report, The Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems, the agency notes that the share of working youth employed in agrifood systems has steadily declined over the past two decades.
The report also highlights a growing disconnect between youth and one of the most important employment sectors, particularly in the less formalised agrifood systems of Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Since 2005, the global shares of working youth and adults in agrifood systems employment have decreased by about 10 percentage points, driven mainly by decreases in agricultural employment,” the report reads.
Top Stories Today
