Visionary AgriTech Leaders in Africa, 2026
ON THE COVER
Gjizelle Nel
Gjizelle Nel is an agronomist at AGT Foods Africa, one of Southern Africa’s leading processors and suppliers of pulses, staple foods, turf and field seeds, confectionery seed and popcorn for domestic and international markets. AGT Foods Africa forms part of AGT Food and Ingredients Inc., a global food and ingredients group headquartered in Canada. Its extensive seed portfolio includes sorghum, forage sorghum, cowpeas, dry beans, oats, rye and lupins, while the company also operates a world-class popcorn processing facility in South Africa.
Kiasili Farm
Fiona Njeri Macharia, Co-founder and Social Impact & Sustainability Lead at Kiasili Farm, is helping shape a more inclusive and resilient future for agriculture in Kenya. As a Kenyan AgriTech social enterprise, Kiasili Farm works with smallholder farmers to improve access to finance, quality agricultural inputs, reliable markets, and technology. Its work focuses strongly on Indigenous and climate-resilient crops, particularly sorghum, while creating stronger connections between farmers and premium and institutional buyers.
Hemp Solutions
Johan Jacobs
Johan Jacobs, Founder and CEO of Hemp Solutions South Africa and Co-Founder of Agri Hemp Botswana, is working to transform the future of agriculture across Africa. Instead of focusing only on growing crops, he believes agriculture should create long-term value through processing, manufacturing, and exports.
Premier Agric
Khanya Nyawo’s
Khanya Nyawo’s journey in agriculture is rooted in experience, community, and a strong belief that technology should create real opportunities for farmers. Raised in eMaphephetheni, a small rural village in KwaZulu-Natal, Nyawo developed an early connection with rural life and agriculture.
OKO
Simon Schwall
Simon Schwall is the Founder and CEO of OKO, an AgriTech and InsurTech company working to create a stronger financial safety net for smallholder farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa. Operating in countries including Mali, Uganda, and Côte d’Ivoire, OKO combines climate-parametric crop insurance, satellite technology, mobile solutions, and digital financial services to help farmers manage the risks created by an unpredictable climate.
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