17-04-2025
African Forum on Agricultural Investment Gathers Momentum in Benguerir
Rabat – Benguerir became a meeting point for Africa's agricultural changemakers this week, as the third edition of the African Forum on Investment in Agricultural Value Chains opened its doors.
The event is part of the MAVA, a growing initiative launched by INNOVY in partnership with the OCP Group and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Since its launch in late 2023, MAVA has worked to lay the groundwork for more sustainable and resilient food systems across the continent. It brings together private and public actors, smallholder farmers, startups, and investors under the vision to unlock Africa's agricultural potential through bold ideas and targeted capital.
This year's edition turned its attention to innovation and investment as tools for long-term transformation. The conversations moved beyond general declarations, aiming instead to forge practical alliances and help promising projects progress.
'MAVA reflects a shared ambition between INNOVX, IFC, and the OCP Group. We believe in creating real impact by connecting innovation to local needs,' said Amine Houssaim, CEO of INNOVX.
'We want to rethink agriculture across the continent. Our goal is to mobilize $800 million by 2030 for projects that strengthen value chains and give farmers the tools to thrive,' added Younes Addou, Vice President for Agribusiness & Sustainability Solutions at INNOVX.
For Mohamed Hettiti, CEO of OCP Africa, the forum served as another reminder of what's possible when vision meets local commitment. 'We support integrated solutions that meet the real conditions African farmers face,' he argued. 'That's where lasting change begins.'
MAVA started as a platform to connect finance and farming. Today, it acts as a launchpad for concrete action. The initiative now operates under the umbrella of INNOVX, a business builder linked to Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), with OCP Group and IFC bringing in agricultural and financial expertise.
The energy on the ground matched the urgency of the mission. The forum featured local entrepreneurs, global investors, and researchers working toward the same goal, to build better systems that feed communities, protect the land, and support livelihoods.
One of the event's key announcements came from the French Development Agency (AFD), which pledged €350,000 to INNOVX in support of MAVA's mission. The funding will help launch studies on five priority areas, including the recovery of agricultural by-products and the measurement of carbon absorption on farms. These efforts support broader goals around food security and climate resilience.
Turning ideas into results
MAVA has already supported several pilot projects. In the cashew sector, one team turned agricultural waste into biofuel and biochar. In the rice value chain, a new insurance model helped reduce exposure to processing and yield risks. These projects point to what's possible when the right support reaches the right hands.
Alongside IFC, OCP, and other partners, MAVA plans to support even more startups and scale ideas that prove their worth on the ground. A recent startup challenge, launched with Digital Africa, offered investment of up to $100,000 to entrepreneurs in Agtech, Fintech, and Insurtech, tools that could reshape the way farmers manage their work and protect their income.
A platform with long-term vision
As the forum draws to a close, one thing is clear: MAVA has already carved out its space in Africa's agricultural future.
It does not seek quick wins or fleeting visibility. Instead, it seeks to build a model that lasts, grounded in local realities, backed by serious investment, and open to creative thinking.
Follow-up regional forums and project launches will take place over the coming months. The story of MAVA continues, and so does the work of everyone it brings together.
