UK Partners with AGRA in £5m Deal to Boost African Food Security and Trade
The United Kingdom has committed £5 million to support agricultural trade and food security in Africa through a new partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). The announcement was made by Lord Collins of Highbury, UK Minister for Africa, during the Africa Food Systems Forum 2025 in Dakar, Senegal. The initiative is designed to strengthen food systems, unlock agribusiness opportunities, and reinforce key trade corridors across the continent.
According to Lord Collins, the investment will back the Kampala Declaration, a continental framework that promotes agricultural transformation and sustainable food systems. He stressed that agriculture, despite employing more than half of Africa’s workforce and contributing nearly 20 percent to its GDP, still faces chronic underinvestment. With the global food market valued at $7 trillion, the minister said Africa has enormous potential to grow its agribusiness sector and meet rising global demand.
The UK minister highlighted that the partnership reflects Africa’s resilience in the face of climate shocks, economic uncertainty, and aid reductions. He praised African nations for demonstrating decisive leadership and homegrown solutions to food challenges, describing the Kampala Declaration and its 10-year strategy as bold, African-led frameworks that can deliver lasting change.
Lord Collins further noted that the UK is committed to a new model of partnership with Africa, built on long-term cooperation, mutual respect, and shared interests. “We’ve heard the desire to diversify economies, create jobs, and add value through manufacturing and agribusiness,” he said. “The United Kingdom welcomes these ambitions and is ready to support them.”
Beyond financial aid, the UK has already invested in practical agribusiness projects across Africa, including £32 million in cashew processing in Côte d’Ivoire. It is also working with ECOWAS and COMESA to develop trade platforms for rice and horticulture, cutting down imports and creating new opportunities for African farmers and entrepreneurs.
Source: The sun