Kigali, Rwanda | 12 June 2025 – The Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA), participating at the African Conference on Agricultural Technology (ACAT), highlighted the importance of youth empowerment and collaborative innovation hubs in driving the future of sustainable agriculture. RICA Interim Vice Chancellor and DVC Academic Affairs, Dr. Olusegun Yerokun, underscored the need for a unified approach that leverages the strengths of public, private, and academic sectors to unlock the potential of Africa’s youth in the ag-tech space.
Speaking at the closing of the conference, Dr. Yerokun highlighted the urgent need for increased investment in scalable and accessible innovation hubs to foster the development and adoption of impactful ag-tech solutions.
“For too long, we’ve discussed public-private partnerships without seeing the transformative results we need. Innovation hubs and accelerators offer a concrete pathway for collaboration and co-creation, bridging the gap between research, investment, and practical application.” – Dr. Yerokun stated.
He further emphasized the unique strengths each sector brings to the table, leading to a synergistic approach necessary for ensuring that innovations translate into tangible benefits for farmers. “The public sector and research institutions possess invaluable human resource expertise, while the private sector has the financial capacity and the agility to mobilize the finance sector more effectively.”, he said.
Dr. Olusegun Yerokun, RICA’s Interim Vice Chancellor, discusses stewardship and a sustainability of Ag-Tech solutions during the closing session of ACAT2025.
Catering to all Generations: A Prerequisite for Ag-Tech Success
Echoing this sentiment, RICA Deputy Vice Chancellor for Applied Research and Extension, Dr. Nzaramba Magnifique, during a panel discussion on building a robust rural digital infrastructure, stressed that digital solutions for rural agriculture must be tailored to meet the real-world needs of farmers, and deliver clear value to drive widespread adoption and boost productivity.
Dr. Nzaramba Magnifique (2nd Right), RICA DVC of Applied Research and Extension, discusses leveraging digital solutions to accelerate the adoption and application of agricultural innovations during ACAT2025.
Dr. Nzaramba emphasized that these solutions must be inclusive, catering to both young and old generations of farmers to maximize their impact. In fact, rural agriculture transformation require digital solutions that are not only innovative but also relevant, accessible, and user-friendly for all farmers, as “farmers adopt what they really feel address their concerns” – Dr. Nzaramba noted.
Reinforcing this perspective, Dr. Yerokun further elaborated on the importance of aligning incentives across sectors to ensure sustainable success: “The innovations developed must benefit farmers and their livelihoods. A collaborative ecosystem provides a crucial balance: The public sector secures public good, the private sector can commercialize and generate reasonable profits, and research institutions can continue to generate vital knowledge.”
Fueling Innovation Through Youth Involvement and Empowerment
In his opening remarks, Rwandan Prime Minister, Right Honorable Dr. Ngirente Edouard, reminded that agriculture remains the backbone of the economies, employing 60% of the population, and contributing approximately 23% of Africa’s GDP, thus calling for youth engagement and technology in agriculture: “Agriculture must be accessible and attractive especially for young generation. To achieve this, we need to integrate technology and boost our efforts to transform the sector” he stated, adding that “technology and innovation are essential pillars of modern agriculture and are no longer optional”.
RICA’s Interim Vice Chancellor also underscored the urgency of supporting Africa’s burgeoning youth population: “We have a high youth population eager to contribute their innovations, but research institutions cannot address this challenge alone. The private sector must be intentional about its support and actively engage in the process, providing the resources and mentorship these young innovators need to thrive.”
RICA’s call for greater collaboration and strategic investment in youth-focused innovation hubs resonated strongly with attendees at ACAT2025. By bridging the gap between research, private sector investment, and the needs of farmers on the ground, RICA believes in a more sustainable, equitable, and technologically advanced agricultural sector in Rwanda and across Africa will take place.
The African Conference on Agricultural Technology (ACAT) was held for the second time in Kigali from 09 – 12 June 2025, serving as an opportunity to accelerate progress in agriculture technologies through solution-driven discussions. ACAT2025 gathered more than 600 participants, including policy makers, farmers, researchers, agri-innovators and agripreneurs and development partners from across 20 countries in Africa.
