Gaborone – Strengthening agrifood systems in Southern Africa requires more than technical solutions. It demands practical knowledge, targeted investment and stronger collaboration across value chains.
To support this transformation, the European Union-funded Support Towards the Operationalization of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy (STOSAR II) project organized a series of regional webinars under its Inclusive Value Chains component.
The sessions gathered a diverse range of stakeholders, including national experts, private sector actors, commodity associations, cooperatives, farmer groups, innovators and women-led agribusinesses from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Highlighting the urgency of strengthening value chains in the region, Joseph Mpagalile, FAO Investment Support Officer, highlighted the scale of post-harvest challenges saying, “Losses in the SADC region occur primarily early in the supply chain, particularly during production, post-harvest handling and processing. Fruits and vegetables can experience losses of up to 40–50 percent due to their perishability, while cereals account for approximately 20 percent losses.”
He added that these losses result from limited technical capacity, inadequate infrastructure, weak logistic systems, and climate-related shocks, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted interventions in agro-processing and value addition.
Building the foundations for agroecological transformation
The first webinar focused on ‘Accelerating Agroecological transition in Southern Africa’. Delivered in collaboration with Biovision Foundation, participants were introduced to key principles of agroecology and practical tools designed to support evidence-based decision-making and performance monitoring.
These included FAO’s Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE), alongside complementary tools such as BioVision Foundation’s Agroecology Check for Enterprises (ACE) and the Business Agroecological Criteria Tool (B-ACT). Together, these tools enable stakeholders to assess environmental sustainability, social responsibility, economic viability and governance practices across agrifood systems.
By strengthening knowledge and application of these tools, the webinar equipped participants to better assess the agroecological transition at the farm and business enterprise levels, identify performance gaps, and inform policies, investments, and capacity-building programmes aimed at building sustainable food systems.
The second webinar focused on ‘Applying a business-centred approach to advance agro-processing and scale appropriate technologies in Southern Africa’. Delivered in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the session provided practical insights into emerging agro-processing technologies and technical solutions that enhance processing efficiency, preservation techniques, food safety and quality standards, and market-centric product development.
Discussions highlighted key constraints faced by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). These include inconsistent supply of quality raw materials, limited access to finance, gaps in market intelligence, and challenges in complying with food safety standards. In addition, stakeholders discussed pathways to scale agro-processing. These include, deploying and adapting fit-for-purpose, scalable technologies, improving processing efficiency, quality and product diversification, skills transfer, strengthening market access, partnerships, and business models. Transitioning innovations into sustainable enterprises and unlocking blended finance mechanisms to de-risk investments and enable scale were also emphasized.
Participants explored how innovation, technology localization and stronger business acumen can support agro-enterprises in improving competitiveness, enhancing profitability and scaling operations within regional markets.
Through STOSAR II, FAO is supporting SADC Member States to address these challenges by strengthening agro-processing capabilities, promoting the adoption of appropriate technologies and enhancing the capacities of agro-industry associations and producer organizations.
The webinar series concluded with a strong call for stakeholders to translate knowledge into action. Key actions recommended were: adopt market-driven agro-processing models, invest in technology and infrastructure, promote value addition beyond raw commodities, and harness the potential of indigenous crops through innovation.
As SADC Member States continue to operationalize the Regional Agricultural Policy, initiatives such as these webinars play a critical role in building the knowledge, skills and collaboration required to drive more inclusive, resilient and market-oriented agrifood systems across the region.