Africa’s Top Agribusiness Minds Meet in Gqeberha
Some of Africa’s leading agribusiness figures will gather in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, from 8 to 10 March 2026 for IBMA 2026, a three-day conference focused on connecting African agricultural innovation to global markets.
Key Points
- The conference is hosted at The Boardwalk Hotel and Convention Centre in partnership with the African Organisation of Technology in Agriculture (AOTA) in Rwanda
- This year’s theme is AgriFuture: Connecting African Innovation to Global Markets
- Day one includes a hands-on farm tour of Rosedale Organic Farm in Addo, a certified organic citrus operation supplying UK, EU, and local markets
- Day two features a high-level policy dialogue on trade barriers, climate resilience, land access, and global market integration, with speakers including Rwanda’s High Commissioner to South Africa and the executive mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay
- Scientific sessions will cover AI-driven crop protection, industrial hemp as a regenerative business model, and pan-African enterprise scaling
- Day three explores innovative funding models and university research partnerships, with a keynote on the Farming Hope model that integrates food production, education, and poverty alleviation
- The conference concludes with a flag handover to the IBMA 2027 host country and a gala dinner
Context
Africa holds 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, yet food insecurity remains a major challenge across the continent. IBMA positions agribusiness as a driver of export revenue, youth employment, climate resilience, and global food security. The 2026 edition draws policymakers, commercial farmers, researchers, financiers, and entrepreneurs from across Africa and beyond.
Why It Matters
Conferences like IBMA are increasingly important for translating Africa’s agricultural potential into bankable, scalable models. With global attention on Africa’s role in feeding the world, the Gqeberha gathering offers a practical platform for partnerships, investment conversations, and policy alignment at a critical moment for the continent’s food systems.
Source: Farmers Weekly. For more information visit ibmaconference.org.