Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has launched the Africa Food Prize 2025, a USD 100,000 award recognising individuals and organisations transforming Africa’s agriculture and food systems.
The deadline for nominations is set for June 30, 2025, and the announcement is scheduled for September this year.
The nominees for this year’s edition will be subjected to a criteria that assesses their programme’s contribution to poverty reduction and nutrition security as well as improvement of livelihoods through employment and job creation.
The programmes will then be evaluated based on their demonstrated impact, sustainability, scalability and potential to inspire positive change within their communities and beyond.
Boaz Blackie Keizire, AGRA Head of Policy, Advocacy and Africa, during the launch of the award in Nairobi, said the winner will be selected through a transparent process guided by the charter of the African Food Prize under the guidance of the AGRA Board.
“We assure that the criteria will focus on the impact of the work an individual or organisation is doing in terms of ensuring food and nutrition security and also the scalability of the model.
Former Tanzanian President, who is the Chair of the Africa Food Prize Committee, Jakaya Kikwete, said the nominations for 2025 awards will seek to unearth the next generation of African food heroes whose ingenuity and resilience are shaping a brighter future for the African continent.
Each year, the African Food Prize shines a spotlight on the remarkable individuals and organisations that are dedicating themselves to building a more prosperous and secure Africa, he noted.
“This year, the Africa Food Prize is particularly interested in nominations that demonstrate a commitment in four key areas, namely, sustainable and resilient food systems encompassing environmentally sound practices and climate change adaptation.
The inclusive agricultural growth is another cluster which focuses on empowering smallholder farmers, women and youth through technological innovation, whose centerpiece covers the science and technology aspects of improving agricultural productivity and nutrition, while the market access and agribusiness development category aims at connecting farmers to markets and promoting value addition.
Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, a member of the Committee, observed that the challenges facing food systems in Africa are complex but pointed out that the solutions are within reach.
“The Africa Food Prize celebrates those who are daring to innovate and challenge the status quo, to build a more sustainable and equitable food future for all Africans,” she said.
Okonkwo encouraged everyone to nominate the inspiring leaders they know so that their impactful work can be recognised and amplified.
The Africa Food Prize award was started in 2005 by Norway-based Yara International ASA as the Yara Prize to honour achievements in the African agriculture sector. In 2015, it was renamed the Africa Food Prize to give it the distinctive African identity and ownership.
Zimbabwe’s Tindotenda Mhiko, Chief Executive of Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA), emerged the winner of last year’s (2024) edition for his groundbreaking programme on “Leadership and innovation in advancing food security through strategic irrigation initiatives,” which is revolutionising the Southern African country’s food system.
In 2023, the Pan-African Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) won the award after it was recognised for its exceptional leadership in the development of numerous bean varieties that improve farm productivity and profitability and meet the demands of consumers.
By Wangari Ndirangu
