Pan-African telecommunications, media
and technology group, Econet, and global crop nutrition leader, Yara
International ASA, have launched “Generation Africa”, a partnership initiative designed
to inspire young African entrepreneurs to invest in the agri-food sector and
take advantage of its viable business opportunities.
Generation Africa, which was launched in Johannesburg this week, will reach thousands of young people through its “GoGettaz” competition, which will award US$100 000 in prize money to two exceptional business ventures in the agri-food sector. The partnership initiative will support a cohort of 12 budding young agri-food entrepreneurs to scale and prosper their ventures.
“Africa’s agri-food sector presents a US$ 1-trillion business opportunity by 2030, especially when connected with the current technology revolution. Across Africa’s agri-food chain, innovations can be found in how we grow, harvest, process, store, transport, package, sell and consume food. Together with the pioneers of Africa’s next generation, we want to seize these opportunities. Generation Africa will help youth entrepreneurs launch, grow and mature agri-food businesses that will drive job creation, inclusive growth, and better food supply,” said Svein Tore Holsether, President and CEO of Yara.
Africa has about 600 million hectares of arable land, yet it imports US$35 billion worth of food every year – a figure that is estimated to rise to US$100 billion by 2025. At the same time, over 60 percent of young people across Africa are unemployed. Innovative entrepreneurship could retain more value on the continent, helping to counterbalance rural-urban migration, professionalize farming, generate employment and provide affordable, healthy food to Africa’s growing population.
“Africa is full of entrepreneurs. We have more
entrepreneurs than any other continent. But where the average age of an
entrepreneur is 19 years, the average age of a farmer is 60. The time is now
for Africa’s entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and embrace the incredible
opportunities that agri-food businesses offer. If we do not, someone else
will.” said Econet Founder and Group Chairman Strive
Masiyiwa.
Generation Africa’s vision is to strengthen the ecosystem for youth entrepreneurs in the agri-food sector across the continent, allowing them to unlock this untapped potential.
Generation Africa’s GoGettaz competition is open to young agri-food entrepreneurs aged 18-35 from across Africa. Budding ventures can be submitted to the competition via www.genafrica.org by July 15, 2019. Twelve finalists will be selected by an expert jury to pitch live at the African Green Revolution Forum in Accra, Ghana from September 3 to September 6, 2019. Two winners (one man and one woman) will each win US$ 50,000 to grow their businesses with guidance from Generation Africa.
