At a Glance
- Nigeria leads with $2.5 billion meat-processing investment to tackle food insecurity and job creation.
- TAAT drives $1 billion tech expansion across 31 African nations, boosting yields and farmer incomes.
- Solar-powered agro hubs in Nigeria address energy needs and protein supply chain gaps.
Africa is poised for a major agri‑investment surge in 2025, driven by ambitious public‑private projects across the continent.
Nigeria, for example, has launched a $2.2 billion initiative to build agro‑processing zones in 28 states—starting with Kaduna—to cut food imports, reduce post‑harvest losses and create local jobs.
Another high‑impact effort in Nigeria aims to double milk production by importing high‑yield Danish dairy cows and registering eight new pasture species to slash its $1.5 billion annual milk import bill.
The African Development Bank’s TAAT programme is accelerating technology spread across eight value chains—maize, rice, wheat, cassava, beans, sweet potato, sorghum and livestock—aiming to reach 40 million farmers, produce 100 million tonnes of food and lift 40 million people out of poverty by 2025.
Already, drought‑tolerant wheat in Ethiopia and pest‑resistant maize have significantly boosted yields. Additional mega‑projects include a $3 billion AfDB‑funded Special Agro‑Industrial Processing Zones scheme across 11 countries and much more.
These flagship investments span dairy, meat, rice, and high‑tech processing, blending large‑scale industrial assets with smallholder support.
While they promise improved food security, export growth and rural employment, success depends on resolving infrastructure gaps, land rights, and integrating small‑scale farmers alongside agribusiness giants.
Here are seven of the biggest agricultural investments and initiatives in Africa for 2025 as chronicled by Shore Africa:
1. Nigeria – $2.5 billion JBS Investment
JBS pledged a $2.5 billion plan to build six meat-processing plants across Nigeria—its largest private-sector food-security investment.
2. Nigeria – AfDB $2.2 billion Agro‑processing Zones
African Development Bank plans $2.2 billion to develop agro-processing hubs in 28 Nigerian states.
3. Uganda – $1 billion TAAT Initiative
AfDB, Gates Foundation, and partners launched a $1 billion TAAT scheme to scale agri-tech across 31 African countries.
4. Nigeria – $936 million Solar-Powered Agro Boost
Sun Africa invested $936 million in Nigeria to deploy solar infrastructure and strengthen agro-processing and protein supply chains, part of the country’s broader push for energy transition and agricultural resilience. The move comes as Nigeria continues to struggle with protein production, currently meeting only 40 percent of local demand. By providing stable, renewable power to agro-processing zones and rural communities, the project aims to boost food production, reduce post-harvest losses, and close the protein gap affecting millions.
5. Kenya – $800 million Irrigation Push
Kenya invested $800 million in irrigation and agricultural infrastructure under its export-driven “Planting for Food” strategy.
6. Ethiopia – $600 million Dairy & Farming JV
Ethiopia’s sovereign wealth fund partners with a UK investor for a $600 million dairy, cotton, oilseed, and rice project.
7. Senegal – $139 million Italian Agri-Project
Senegal teams with Italian firm Bonifiche Ferraresi on a $139 million project to boost regional food sovereignty.
