President Paul Kagame has called for a change in the way Africa approaches food, saying it should not be viewed merely as a basic right but as the foundation of human life and development.
Kagame made the remarks on the third day of the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS Forum) 2026 in Kigali, during a dialogue with young Africans working in agriculture and across the food value chain.
“Food should not just be seen as a right. It is the foundation of life because there is no life without food,” Kagame said.
The President said Africa’s ability to secure adequate and nutritious food is closely linked to the continent’s broader development ambitions.
He stressed the need for greater attention to agriculture and food systems as Africa seeks to improve livelihoods, create jobs and build resilient economies.
The dialogue brought together young entrepreneurs and innovators from different African countries, highlighting the growing role of youth in transforming the continent’s agricultural sector.
Among those who took part were Fareeda Mustapha, head of Ghana-based PureLube; Musa Mishamo, head of Tanzania’s Rada360; Imungana Malikana, head of Zambia-based Cranitech Software Solutions Limited; and Rwandan entrepreneur Lydia Murekatete, founder of All Greens.
Their participation reflected the forum’s emphasis on giving young Africans a greater role in developing practical solutions to challenges affecting agriculture and food production.
The 2026 AFS Forum is being held under the theme, “Investing in Africa’s Agri-Food Systems: Nourishing Nations, Growing Jobs, Building Resilience.”
The summit has brought together thousands of participants from across Africa and beyond to discuss ways of attracting investment into agriculture, strengthening food value chains, improving nutrition and building resilience against climate-related challenges.
The forum also seeks to promote innovation, technology and private-sector investment as Africa works to transform agriculture from predominantly subsistence activity into a more productive and commercially viable sector.
For Africa’s young population, this transformation could also create significant opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship, particularly in areas such as food processing, logistics, agricultural technology, finance and digital services.
Kagame’s message placed food security at the centre of Africa’s development agenda, arguing that efforts to improve economic growth and human welfare cannot succeed without reliable and sustainable food systems.
As discussions at the summit continue, the focus is therefore shifting beyond simply producing more food to building an integrated system that connects farmers with technology, financing, markets, processing and consumers.
For Kagame, the message is fundamental: Africa’s food systems are not simply an economic concern they are essential to the survival, health and future of its people.
