By Milliam Murigi
Across Africa, promising agrifood solutions often fail to reach their full potential because researchers, companies and policymakers lack visibility of what each other are doing.
However, a new platform has been launched that aims to bridge this gap by providing a clear picture of the sector and connecting key actors.
Dubbed Agrifood Innovation Intelligence (AFII), the platform was recently introduced in Kenya and Ethiopia to provide a comprehensive, data-driven view of private-sector agrifood actors, their technologies, products, and partnerships.
“Strong agrifood innovation depends on well-connected actors. Across Africa, public researchers and private-sector actors are continuously working on promising solutions, yet many opportunities to collaborate and scale impact are missed simply because it is difficult to see who is doing what,” said Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, Africa Managing Director for the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.
Developed by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, in collaboration with the University of Minnesota’s GEMS Informatics, AFII uses artificial intelligence to turn complex data into actionable insights for research, collaboration, and scaling decisions.
The platform aims to bridge a critical gap in Africa’s agrifood ecosystem. Across the continent, public researchers and private-sector actors are continuously working on promising solutions. Yet, many opportunities to collaborate and scale impact are missed simply because it is difficult to see who is doing what.
AFII addresses this challenge by combining manual research with AI-enabled workflows that capture verified data from companies, technologies, products, and value chains, while continuously refining classifications as new information emerges.
“AFII uses a machine-learning approach to provide a comprehensive, 360-degree view of private-sector agrifood actors and their innovative activities. By turning complex data into practical insights, the platform is designed to support research, partnership, and scaling decisions for public research institutions, national agricultural research systems, and private-sector stakeholders,” she added.
At the launch in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, stakeholders from government, research institutions, development agencies, and private-sector companies gathered to explore a live AFII prototype and provide feedback to ensure the tool meets real-world needs.
Prof. Ruth Oniango, who delivered the keynote address, emphasized the importance of technologies that reach all levels of the food system, including rural women who are the backbone of Africa’s farms.
“We are talking about Artificial Intelligence while even basic mobile money is still not accessible to some rural women,” Prof. Oniango said. “Yet it is these women who largely work on farms and feed Africa.”
She urged stakeholders to create solution-focused technologies that not only improve food systems but also create employment opportunities, particularly for Africa’s youth, who make up the majority of the population.
Dr. Jan Greyling, a GEMS Informatics researcher, noted that innovation efforts often fail when they focus too heavily on tools rather than outcomes. “Advanced technologies such as AI are powerful, but they are only useful when applied deliberately to real-world problems,” he said.
AFII is designed to make it easier for stakeholders to identify potential partners, understand market linkages, and make evidence-based decisions. By mapping how companies fit together within ecosystems and value chains, the platform supports research, commercialization, and scaling of innovations.
The Nairobi and Addis Ababa events also provided space for dialogue and co-creation, ensuring that the platform reflects user needs and practical realities. By bringing together CGIAR scientists, national research institutions, universities, and agrifood companies, the initiative aims to strengthen collaboration across the agrifood ecosystem and spark future partnerships.
