6th National Agribusiness Summit Opens in Nairobi, Focus Shifts to Investment and Innovation

By Maurice Momanyi

The 6th National Agribusiness Summit has opened at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, bringing together policymakers, farmers, investors, researchers, private-sector players and development partners to chart a new course for Kenya’s agricultural sector.
The three-day summit, running from September 9–11, 2026, is being convened by the Agriculture Sector Network (ASNET) in partnership with Radeecal Communications and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. It is being held under the theme “From Policy to Prosperity: Fixing Kenya’s Agribusiness Ecosystem for Investment, Innovation and Inclusive Growth.”
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Senator Mutahi Kagwe was the chief guest at the opening ceremony, though he sent a senior Ministry representative.
The summit comes at a time when stakeholders are calling for a shift from traditional agricultural production towards a more competitive, commercially oriented and investment-ready agribusiness sector.
According to ASNET, the forum seeks to turn policy discussions into practical interventions by addressing challenges related to regulation, investment, technology, market access, value addition, inclusivity and climate resilience.
Organisers say agriculture contributed approximately 22.5 per cent of Kenya’s GDP in 2024 and provides livelihoods to more than 70 per cent of the rural population.
However, the sector continues to face challenges including climate change, inadequate access to finance, fragmented markets and weak coordination of policies and programmes.
“The need to transform agriculture into a competitive, inclusive and sustainable agribusiness sector has never been more urgent,” ASNET says in its summit concept material.
The summit is therefore designed to bring government, the private sector and farmers closer together to develop practical solutions capable of improving productivity, attracting investment and creating employment across agricultural value chains.
Investment and technology take centre stage
Among the key objectives of the 2026 summit is to mobilise collective action to address bottlenecks affecting the competitiveness and resilience of Kenya’s agriculture sector.
The organisers are also seeking to promote sustainable investment, innovation and employment; improve opportunities for women and young people; accelerate adoption of digital agriculture, mechanisation and climate-smart technologies; and strengthen public-private partnerships.
Investment is expected to be a major component of the discussions, with AGRA serving as the summit’s Investment Partner.
ASNET says the partnership is intended to help unlock capital for agribusinesses, strengthen value chains and expand market opportunities for agricultural enterprises.
The Netherlands Embassy in Kenya is also supporting the summit as a Transformational Partner, bringing expertise in sustainable agriculture, food systems, innovation, water, technology and private-sector-led transformation. GIZ Kenya is the Main Strategic Partner.
The summit is also placing emphasis on women and youth, who remain important players in Kenya’s agricultural economy but often face difficulties accessing finance, technology, markets and leadership opportunities.
Organisers say the 2026 edition will seek to create stronger pathways for women and young agripreneurs to participate in profitable agricultural value chains.
The event will also showcase innovations designed to improve productivity, processing, market access and resilience, while creating business-to-business, business-to-government and investor linkages.
Running concurrently with the summit are the 3rd Foodtec Africa Expo and Dairytech Africa Expo 2026, which will showcase agricultural machinery, food-processing technologies, packaging solutions, dairy technologies and other innovations.
According to the organisers, the exhibitions are intended to bridge the gap between policy and practical solutions by connecting technology providers, manufacturers, processors, investors, buyers and other value-chain actors.
The three platforms are expected to provide opportunities for participants to explore partnerships, investment and technology-transfer opportunities while discussing ways of strengthening Kenya’s food systems.
Agribusiness awards
The summit will culminate in the National Agribusiness Excellence Awards, which will recognise farmers, agripreneurs, cooperatives, enterprises, service providers and other players contributing to transformation across Kenya’s agricultural value chains.
ASNET says the awards are intended not only to recognise outstanding performers but also to highlight role models, encourage partnerships and spotlight high-potential youth agripreneurs.
The organisers say the overall objective is to move Kenya’s agricultural conversation beyond policy promises and towards measurable investment, innovation and enterprise development.
The summit is thus positioning agribusiness not merely as an agricultural activity, but as a major engine for food security, job creation, investment, value addition and inclusive economic growth.