Africa’s brightest young agri-tech innovators are heading to Kampala, Uganda, for the AYuTe (Agriculture, Youth, and Technology) NextGen 2025 Conference, set to take place from June 17 to 19.
The historic event, organised by Heifer International, is termed as a flagship platform designed by youth, for youth, where technology meets agriculture and the continent’s most promising agri-tech entrepreneurs take centre stage.
Themed “AgTech Generation Rising,” the 2025 conference, which convenes young innovators, investors, policymakers, and development partners, is a clarion call to recognise and support the game-changing solutions Africa’s young minds are building to revolutionise food systems.
The Challenge: A Growing Youth Population, a Stressed Food System
Africa’s population is the fastest-growing globally, projected to reach 4.3 billion by 2100.
Being a home to the world’s fastest-growing youth population, with more than 60 per cent under the age of 25, the continent is simultaneously grappling with a food system strained by climate change, market volatility, and outdated infrastructure.
Young people are often locked out of the agricultural sector, facing barriers to capital, mentorship, and viable markets. Many young Africans also view agriculture as outdated and unprofitable, resulting in a skills shortage in a sector critical to continental food security.
AYuTe (Agriculture, Youth, and Technology) is Heifer International’s strategic answer to these critical challenges.
By focusing on youth-led innovation, the initiative reframes agriculture as a modern, profitable, tech-enabled industry, and positions young Africans not as beneficiaries, but as the architects of Africa’s agricultural renaissance.
AYuTe NextGen 2025: Innovation Meets Opportunity
The 2025 AYuTe NextGen conference follows an intense, continent-wide competition that drew over 100 applicants from 10 countries.
Through rigorous technical assessment sessions in Lagos and Nairobi, 11 finalists emerged, armed with solutions that are climate-smart, market-ready, and laser-focused on access to finance and scale.
These finalists will pitch live before a distinguished panel of investors, policymakers, and ecosystem enablers, with the chance to secure catalytic seed funding, mentorship, and a place in the innovation ecosystem being provided by Heifer and its strategic partners.
From drone technology to AI-driven analytics, the solutions on display reflect the ingenuity, passion, and drive of Africa’s next generation.
“This is the AgTech generation rising, ready, capable, and already leading,” said Adesuwa Ifedi, Senior Vice President for Africa Programs, Heifer International. “With AYuTe NextGen, we are spotlighting youth as the true architects of Africa’s agricultural future and giving them the tools and partnerships they need to scale solutions that build resilient, inclusive food systems.”
Dayo Aduroja, Africa Youth and Innovation Lead at Heifer International, added that young people are proving that Africa’s agriculture can be both innovative and profitable. “This year’s competition generated many bold, creative solutions from across the continent. The conference provides a platform where ideas meet opportunity, and solutions gain the capital and support needed to scale.”
Original article from Daily News.
