Insights from the 3rd African Conference on Precision Agriculture (AfCPA 2024)

The recently held 3rd African Conference on Precision Agriculture (AfCPA) wrapped up its three impactful days this December 3 to 5, bringing together experts, practitioners and leaders to discuss the future of agriculture in Africa.

AfCPA is a biennial event organized by APNI through its partnerships with the International Society of Precision Agriculture (ISPA), the African Association for Precision Agriculture (AAPA), and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P).

The ongoing mission of AfCPA is to foster a forum dedicated to “building the connections between science and practice to put precision agriculture in action for Africa.” The conference has a uniquely networked structure. This year’s parent conference was in Marrakech, Morocco, and nine other in-person satellite conference sites were held concurrently in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. The AfCPA partner organizations serving as national satellite site hosts were:

  1. National Polytechnic Institute Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
  2. University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
  3. Genetics, Biotechnology & Seed Sciences Unit (GBioS), University of Abomey Calavi, Benin
  4. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
  5. National Authority for Remote Sensing & Space Sciences (NARSS), Cairo, Egypt
  6. Ethiopia Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  7. University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
  8. Plant Production Sciences and Technologies, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
  9. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Group photos from various AfCPA 2024 satellite sites.

Sessions were also available to a global audience via livestream. At its close, the conference featured over 100 presenters and 960 registrants representing 37 countries (21 in Africa).

This year’s event highlighted the transformative potential of precision agriculture to address critical challenges such as food security, climate change and sustainability. Speakers emphasized the importance of adapting precision agriculture technologies to Africa’s unique landscapes and resource constraints. From improving crop yields to enhancing soil health, these solutions aim to make farming more efficient, sustainable and inclusive.

“Precision agriculture is not just about technology; it’s about empowering farmers with knowledge and tools to make informed decisions, ensuring sustainability and food security for generations to come” – APNI’s Director General, Dr. Kaushik Majumdar.

 

Scenes from the main conference site in Marrakech, Morocco

Collaboration emerged as a driving force behind progress. Discussions underscored the need for inter-country cooperation to advance education, research, and policy frameworks. The AAPA shared success stories, including securing international funding for postgraduate programs and hosting networking forums that foster innovation and shared learning. Furthermore, technology was at the heart of the conversation, with drones, AI and digital soil sensors taking centre stage. These tools were showcased as game-changers, offering farmers new ways to optimize resource use, improve productivity, and build resilience against climate change. The role of women in agriculture also was another highlight. A panel discussion celebrated the contributions of female leaders, calling for greater inclusivity and opportunities to amplify their impact in precision agriculture.

The APNI Precision Agriculture Award that is offered in conjunction with the conference was presented to Mr. Tadesse Anberbir Awoke, Senior ICT Expert & Digital Ag Specialist with the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) who is currently coordinating different digital agriculture projects including wheat rust early warning and advisory, UAV applications for phenotyping in plant breeding trial fields, and expert systems using machine learning methods.

Throughout the event, participants were reminded of the urgent need for multi-stakeholder partnerships to address critical issues like soil degradation, access to inputs, and sustainable nutrient management. Initiatives like the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health (AFSH) Action Plan were spotlighted as essential frameworks for driving meaningful change. As the conference concluded it left a clear message: the future of African agriculture lies in innovation, collaboration and inclusivity. With the shared commitment of participants and organizations, the groundwork has been laid for a more sustainable, food-secure future for the African continent. As a biennial event, the 4th edition of AfCPA is anticipated to be held in late 2026.

The AfCPA Conference Proceedings has also been published and is available to download or search online at https://www.paafrica.org/Proceedings.