Farmers, vets call for stronger food value chain as AgroFood Expo opens in Nairobi

The three-day exhibition, running from August 20 to 22 at the Sarit Expo Centre, has brought together more than 200 exhibitors and thousands of trade visitors from more than 60 countries across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

The event, jointly hosted by MXM Exhibitors and the Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA), is bringing together stakeholders in agriculture, livestock, food processing, packaging, manufacturing and related sectors.

Speaking during the opening, Kenya National Farmers Federation (KENAFF) Membership Service official Enoch Mutai said farmers must be recognised as key players in the market rather than merely producers of agricultural commodities.

Mutai said farmers need to understand market requirements from the production stage to secure better returns, urging them to conduct cost-benefit analysis, comply with quality standards and establish direct market linkages.

He also called for greater use of aggregation, value addition, digitisation and traceability, saying the integration of farming with agribusiness would increasingly determine the competitiveness of Kenya’s agricultural sector.

The Kenya Veterinary Association echoed the call for closer collaboration, highlighting the role of veterinary professionals in protecting food safety and public health.

KVA National Vice President Dr Ambrose Kipyegon Ng’eno said veterinarians are central to ensuring the safety of food, particularly products of animal origin, adding that the association was ready to work with stakeholders across the agricultural and food sectors to strengthen food safety systems.

The expo has also attracted international interest, with Sri Lanka calling for stronger economic and agribusiness ties between Asia and Africa.

Sri Lanka’s Acting High Commissioner to Kenya, Ruvini De Silva, said exhibitions such as the AgroFood Expo provide an avenue for countries and businesses to exchange expertise, technology and investment opportunities.

She said stronger partnerships could help businesses access new markets while facilitating the exchange of agricultural technologies and expertise between the two regions.

The exhibition is showcasing technologies and innovations in agriculture, livestock, poultry farming, irrigation, greenhouse technology, food processing, cold-chain logistics, plastics manufacturing, printing and sustainable packaging.

Among the technologies on display are smart irrigation systems, artificial intelligence-powered farm management tools, agricultural drones, automated poultry systems, biodegradable packaging, recyclable plastics and energy-efficient food processing equipment.

Stakeholders say the innovations are coming at a time when farmers are under increasing pressure to improve efficiency while meeting changing consumer preferences, food safety requirements and international export standards.

The expo has also highlighted the need to move beyond increased production by strengthening market linkages, processing capacity, quality assurance, storage, packaging and traceability to ensure farmers benefit from growing domestic and international demand.

The growth of food processing is meanwhile driving demand for modern packaging technologies, including flexible packaging, corrugated cartons, food-grade containers and biodegradable and recyclable materials.

Kenya’s plastics industry is also undergoing changes, with increasing focus on recycling, circular economy models and environmentally sustainable manufacturing.

Beyond the exhibition floor, participants are engaging in business networking sessions, technical workshops, live demonstrations and expert presentations focusing on food security, agribusiness financing, mechanisation, sustainable farming, climate resilience, packaging innovation, export markets and investment opportunities.

The convergence of farmers, veterinarians, manufacturers, investors and international partners is expected to strengthen integration across Kenya’s food value chain.