What a Great Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF, 2023) We Had!

Last week was eventful for Yara Tanzania as we hosted our President and CEO Svein Tore Holsether and other senior executives who were visiting to attend the just ended Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF, 2023) from Sept. 4th to 8th, in Dar es Salaam.

The significant representation and participation of Yara at the AGRF platform highlighted our continued impact in the continent’s food systems transformation. It also brought heightened interest in our stated new ambition; ‘Growing a Nature-Positive Food Future’, going by the number of inquiries and engagements at our pavilion during the days of the forum.

 It was an honor to host Svein Tore Holsether at the Yara Terminal along the Dar es Salaam Port on his first day in the country, during which he toured our fertilizer handling and manufacturing facility. Svein Tore saluted the good work done by the staff in living the company’s mission to empower farmers and other business partners.

He singled out local manufacturing of MiCROP fertilizer blend, a technology breakthrough delivering value to farmers through its holistic crop treatment solution. Mr. Holsether also interacted with members of staff at the terminal, highlighting business challenges and opportunities that places Africa in a pole position to be Yara’s next business growth frontier. 

 For five straight days of AGRF, Yara executives sat in different plenary sessions and special events, expounding our value proposition in the agenda to transform Africa’s food systems, securing resilient food production and empowering smallholder farmer communities. Soil health, digital technology and partnerships that deliver for the famer and transforms the agriculture value chain were the key areas of Yara’s presentations.

Mr. Holsether sat with host President Samia Suluhu Hassan in the Youth Town Hall and the GoGettaz awards. He was also a panelist during the Presidential Summit that brought together several African Heads of State to cap an eventful participation.

Yara’s quality fertilizers received unsolicited endorsement from Kenyan President William Ruto who revealed at the summit that a policy decision by his government to ban DAP fertilizer for the alternative from Yara had led to increased productivity that eventually won over resistant farmers who had been used to DAP. President William Ruto position vindicates our efforts in partnering with farmers to enhance food production and raise farm level incomes.

Our other executives took time to share knowledge about our products and services with visitors at our busy pavilion with people from all walks of life popping in for insights and exploring opportunities to work with us. Yara branded coffee (Jambo Coffee) proved popular with delegates, with over 600 coffees served. 

Yara’s successful week was well captured in the media to amplify our public engagement messaging. It is equally significant that we are following up on our AGRF participation mid this month with the launch of our animal nutrition program in Tanzania. As Yara Tanzania, we are excited for the journey ahead and look forward to a more fruitful engagement with livestock and poultry farmers as well as would be partners in this line of business.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to CEO Svein Tore Holsether all participating Yara executives and staff for their contribution in making our AGRF participation a resounding success.

A special mention should go to our generous host, Yara Tanzania Managing Director Winstone Odhiambo , SVP- Business Unit Africa Luis Alfredo Pérez for the inspiration in staging a memorable AGRF and with all Yara executives for all their support during the entire week.