Youth, innovation and climate-smart seeds driving Africa’s agri-tech growth

CIMMYT DG Bram Govaerts shares how Africa’s youth and women use climate-smart seeds, innovation, and investment to drive resilient, job-creating food systems

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At the Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar, CNBC Africa spoke with Dr. Bram Govaerts, Director General of CIMMYT, who highlighted how Africa’s youth and women farmers are driving transformation by adopting climate-smart, tech-driven practices, including the planting of over 8.3 million hectares of drought-tolerant maize that has helped communities overcome drought. He emphasized the need to view agriculture as a space for development, using climate-smart seeds, diversified crops, and AI-powered tools to create jobs and improve nutrition. Dr. Govaerts called for greater investment from the private sector and governments to energize the sector, align science and innovation with African needs, and empower young people to turn agriculture into a true engine of resilience and opportunity.

Watch the full interview.

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