Italian agrifood firms partner with African companies to grow fruit, vegetable value chains

ITALY/AFRICA – Italian and African companies have joined hands under the Italian Agrifood Technology for Africa project to support fruit, vegetable, and processing value chains across sub-Saharan Africa.

The project team presented the initiative at the Fruit Logistica fair at the Kenya stand, where several network members met stakeholders from across the region.

Renzo Piraccini, manager and promoter of the project, said the sector offers strong prospects for both regions. “The agrifood sector in sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most strategic and promising in terms of food security, job creation, economic growth, and export opportunities,” he said.

The network brings together ten companies with expertise that ranges from smart systems and refrigeration to greenhouses, irrigation, seeds, and food processing.

Members include Aretè, F.C. Engineering, Ferrari Growtech, Futura, GreenExta, Idromeccanica Lucchini, Irritec, Suba Seeds, Tropical Food Machinery, and Unitec. Coface Group and Cibus Tec have also joined as partners to promote activities in the region.

Piraccini said many Italian firms struggle when they enter African markets alone. He explained that the network will help them work with trusted local partners and build long term business ties.

Sub-Saharan Africa has more than 1.4 billion people today, and experts expect the population to exceed 2.5 billion by 2050. Many countries need steady access to fresh produce at fair prices. The project leaders believe that stronger supply chains will help farmers reduce losses and reach markets faster.

Pilot projects and regional hubs

The network plans to roll out pilot projects that cover the full chain from nursery to processing plant. These projects will focus on tomato processing, mango processing centers, and avocado packaging and refrigeration facilities.

The team will also support subcontracting by building a network of service providers for African farmers.

The project will host promotional and technical events in three hubs: Dakar in Senegal, Nairobi in Kenya, and Johannesburg in South Africa. Organizers have set the Dakar event for 30 and 31 March and the Nairobi event for 17 and 18 June.

Piraccini said the group will also support training and recruit local staff to join member companies. “We want to create practical links between European technology and African producers so that both sides grow together,” he said.

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