The Africa Food Systems Forum 2025 which took place in Senegal this week, was a reminder that Africa’s agricultural transformation is being shaped daily by young farmers, entrepreneurs, and partners. Held in Dakar under the theme ”Africa’s Youth: Leading Collaboration, Innovation and Implementation of Agri-Food Systems Transformation”, the Forum gathered nearly 6,000 participants from 80 countries.
For East-West Seed and East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation (EWS-KT), this Forum was proof that our seeds, training, and partnerships are resonating where they matter most: in the hands of farmers.
Around the Booth
Last year in Rwanda, our pumpkins stole the show. This year in Dakar, pumpkins still drew attention, but so did our seedlings grown in mango leaves and eggshells. Farmers had a look at Knowledge Transfer Foundation’s French-language crop guides, and some East-West Seed company’s seedling raisers sought us out just to say thank you.
Our distributor in Senegal had a desk nearby. Every seed request we received could be referred directly to them.
The Face of Impact: Farmer Souleymane
The story that best illustrates our impact is that of Souleymane, a young farmer in Niger.
-
He completed a six-month training with EWS-KT.
-
He now applies those lessons daily: seedling trays, cucumber trellising, papaya propagation.
-
He sells quality papaya seedlings to local farmers using East-West Seed varieties.
-
He is active on Agricultural Advisory, the RECA-Niger platform, warning peers about fake seeds branded with our name.
When asked why he champions our work, his answer was simple: “You are different from other seed companies, more human.”
Souleymane’s growth story is a living example of how knowledge, seed quality, and trust combine to drive transformation.
Innovation, Recognition, and Reach
-
Youth Innovation: We demonstrated seedling raising in mango leaves.
-
Champion Farmer: We welcomed Abdul Kader from Niger, who proudly grows several hectares of Red Royale. His plants alone were enough to impress.
-
Media Attention: A Guinean journalist recorded a video at our booth, eager to share our story in French-speaking markets.
-
Digital Access: The QR code to EWS-KT’s website proved invaluable, letting participants explore training resources instantly in English and French.
Why It Matters
AFSF 2025 confirmed what we already sense:
-
Farmers want seeds they can trust.
-
Youth are eager for training that empowers them to innovate.
-
Partners, distributors, and media are watching, ready to amplify authentic stories.
We left Dakar energized and committed to keep leading with seeds, knowledge, and stories that inspire.
If you are interested to learn more about our work in West Africa, you can watch our Who-We-Are video below:
