GrowTech West Africa 2027 Aims to Strengthen Regional Food Security

Funmi Ogundare

Growtech West Africa, a major international agribusiness exhibition, is set to launch as West African nations intensify efforts to strengthen food security, modernise agriculture, and reduce reliance on food imports.

The three‑day event will run from January 26 to 28, 2027, at the Landmark Centre in Lagos. Organisers expect more than 5,000 industry professionals, over 100 exhibitors, and more than 50 international speakers from the agriculture, livestock, aquaculture, food production, agri‑tech, irrigation, and supply‑chain sectors.

In a statement, organisers said the launch comes at a critical time for the region’s agriculture and food sector. West Africa spends over $50 billion annually on food imports amid rising population growth, urbanisation, climate‑change pressures, and shifting consumption patterns.

The statement noted that Nigeria remains central to the region’s agricultural transformation because of its vast arable land, large agricultural workforce, and increasing investments in food production, processing, and supply‑chain infrastructure.

Governments and private‑sector stakeholders across West Africa are currently intensifying efforts to improve agricultural productivity, modernise farming systems, and strengthen local food production to achieve greater regional self‑sufficiency.

According to OECD projections cited in the statement, West Africa’s food economy is expected to exceed $480 billion by 2030, making it one of the fastest‑growing agricultural markets worldwide.

The exhibition, organised by Informa—a global B2B events and market‑intelligence company—will provide a platform that connects international expertise, innovation, investment, and agricultural technology with emerging opportunities in West Africa.

Speaking about the development, Growtech Middle East Director Ahmed Khalil described West Africa as a region at a defining moment in its agricultural evolution.

“West Africa stands at a defining moment for its agriculture and food sector. The region has the land, population, resources and ambition to significantly strengthen food security and local production capabilities over the coming decade,” he said.

Khalil explained that Growtech West Africa was designed to support the region’s agricultural transformation by linking global innovation with local market needs while creating opportunities for investment, partnerships, and long‑term sector growth.

He added that the expansion of the Growtech brand into West Africa reflects the increasing strategic importance of the region within global agriculture, particularly as countries seek to reduce food‑import dependency and build more resilient agricultural systems.

Also speaking, Exhibition Director of Growtech Events Engin Er said the platform had evolved into an international hub supporting agricultural advancement across high‑growth regions.

“Following the success of our events in Türkiye and other international markets, West Africa represents a natural and highly strategic next step. The market potential is enormous, and there is a strong appetite for innovation, collaboration and practical solutions that can help improve productivity and sustainability across the agricultural value chain,” he said.

Organisers disclosed that the exhibition will cover key areas including seeds and seedlings, plant nutrition and protection, irrigation systems, greenhouse technologies, precision farming, agricultural machinery, livestock and poultry solutions, aquaculture, fisheries, and food processing.

A major highlight of the event will be the Food Security and Sustainability Conference, expected to convene policymakers, investors, development organisations, agribusiness leaders, researchers, and technology providers to discuss solutions to the region’s agricultural challenges.

Discussion topics will include reducing food‑import dependency, improving local production capacity, climate resilience, sustainable water use, agricultural financing, and strengthening long‑term food‑system resilience.

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