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02.09.2014 Africa

AGCO Partners With AgriBusiness Forum 2014 To Put Spotlight On Tech Solutions For Sustainable Agricultural Efficiency In Africa

By Jessica FROMMER
AGCO Partners With AgriBusiness Forum 2014 To Put Spotlight On Tech Solutions For Sustainable Agricultural Efficiency In Africa
02.09.2014 LISTEN

2nd September 2014 Brussels, Belgium: AGCO, a global leader in technology farming solutions, will present its vision for the future of Africa's agri-food sector to a global audience during the pan-African AgriBusiness Forum 2014, to be held in Kinshasa DRC from 26-29 October 2014.

“The private sector can, and does play a significant role in developing the agri-food sector in Africa,” explains Nuradin Osman, AGCO's Director of Operations for Africa and the Middle East, in the run-up to the forum. The global company's focus is for large-scale commercial farmers as well as emerging farmers to access appropriate technology that will boost their productivity and in turn their profitability.

To achieve this AGCO develops new technologies adapted for the demands of a diverse African agri-food sector. “Alongside our existing product range, AGCO will introduce to the market modern implements that develop new methods for crop establishment, tillage and planting supporting the conservation farming movement,” Osman states.


The AgriBusiness Forum 2014, entitled “Towards Inclusive Growth: A Vision for Africa's Agricultural Transformation” mirror's AGCO vision to provide technological solutions for an inclusive agri-food sector.

Co-organised by EMRC and DRC's Ministry of Agriculture (MINAGRI), and in partnership with the UNDP, FPI (Fund for the Promotion of Industry), FAO, Rabobank Foundation, Trust Merchant Bank (TMB), AGCO and others, the forum will bring together over 400 people working in and with Sub-Saharan Africa to discuss the most pressing issues concerning African agricultural and agribusiness sectors.

Finding solutions for African farming is key to AGCO's vision for its own commercial initiatives in Africa. Technologies need be adapted to the continent's agrarian needs, which AGCO is implementing through developing productivity-boosting hybrid combines, state of the art grain storage and protein technology and the newly launched Fuse technologies.

Parallel to this, AGCO also emphasizes the need to implement well-crafted incentives linked to training and income to attract the young to the agri-food sector. “Government and the private sector need to come together to make agriculture more attractive to young people. Mechanizing agriculture combined with training is a great way to increase agricultural productivity and incomes and will engage more young people in the industry as they can move away from the physical labour to technological thinking and can increase their productivity,” adds Osman.


“Technology is mainly coming from the private sector, and it is key to provide farmers with the necessary tools to get more yields in a more efficient and sustainable way. Agricultural development goes hand in hand with private sector's initiatives,” explains, Idit Miller, EMRC Vice President and Managing Director.

“Engaging” and “partnerships” are key words that will spotlighted throughout the forum's panel discussions. To encourage collaboration, One-on-One pre-arranged business meeting sessions (B2B) will be held, providing a 'live' platform to build South-South and North-South Partnerships.

Delegates from public and private sectors, including international agricultural experts, Government officials, multinationals, farmer and private sector associations, donor organisations, civil society, investors and financiers from Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas will be taking part in the B2B sessions.

In addition, the EMRC-Rabobank Project Incubator Award will be held. This award promotes African business projects that push the boundaries in innovation and sustainability in community agriculture and rural development. Nominees will present their projects to the international audience and the winner will receive a cash prize of US$15.000.


About EMRC
EMRC's mission is to lead the private sector in Africa to sustainable economic development and to drive regional change via partnerships. Established in 1992 in Brussels, EMRC is a non-profit International Association composed of a network of entrepreneurs, financiers, consultants and officials based throughout the world

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About AGCO:
AGCOs vision to provide high tech solutions to professional farmers feeding the world is what drives innovation right through to the core of our business as evidenced by the numerous awards we have won for innovation.

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