The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST Africa) has published a new AgriTech report charting the technologies, startups and investment opportunities transforming agriculture across West Africa, as the region seeks to modernise food systems and improve farmer livelihoods through innovation.
Released in Accra, the MEST Africa AgriTech Report provides a detailed snapshot of how local entrepreneurs are deploying mobile platforms, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT) and solar-powered infrastructure to address some of agriculture’s most persistent challenges, including post-harvest losses, inefficient market access and limited financing for smallholder farmers.
The report was produced as part of the 2024 edition of the MEST Africa Challenge, MEST Africa’s flagship startup competition, and developed in partnership with the Norwegian Embassy in Accra. Together, the initiative aims to strengthen early-stage technology ventures with the potential to drive economic growth and food security across the region.
“Agriculture has always been the backbone of West Africa’s economy, but today we’re seeing the emergence of a new chapter; one driven by innovation, local ingenuity, and technology,” said Ashwin Ravichandran, Portfolio Advisor and MAC Lead, MEST Africa. “This report captures that transformation and calls for greater collaboration between entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to ensure the promise of AgriTech benefits every farmer.”
Drawing on market data and case studies from five countries — Ghana, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Benin — the report profiles more than 40 AgriTech startups that are already delivering measurable impact on the ground. These ventures span the agricultural value chain, from mechanisation and input access to storage, logistics and digital marketplaces.
Among the highlighted companies is SAYeTECH, the winner of the 2024 MEST Africa Challenge, which designs and manufactures mechanisation tools adapted to local farming conditions in Ghana. In Nigeria, ColdHubs is featured for its network of solar-powered cold rooms, which the report says have helped prevent the spoilage of more than 40,000 tonnes of fresh produce by extending shelf life for farmers and traders.
The analysis also examines the wider support ecosystem underpinning AgriTech innovation in West Africa. Organisations such as Kosmos Innovation Center and CcHUB are cited as key enablers, providing incubation, mentorship and early-stage capital to founders building technology-led solutions for agriculture.
Despite this progress, the report notes that AgriTech remains underfunded relative to its economic importance. According to MEST Africa’s findings, the sector attracts only around four per cent of total venture capital deployed across Africa, pointing to a significant funding gap at a time when food security and climate resilience are rising priorities for governments and investors alike.
The report argues that this imbalance represents an opportunity for investors seeking scalable solutions with both commercial potential and social impact. By backing technologies that reduce losses, improve productivity and increase farmer incomes, AgriTech startups could play a central role in supporting inclusive growth across West Africa’s largely agrarian economies.
“Our goal with this report is not only to spotlight innovation but to drive collaboration,” Ravichandran added. “By investing in data, infrastructure, and people, Africa’s AgriTech ecosystem can scale sustainably; ensuring technology works for the farmer first.”
Founded in 2008, MEST Africa has trained and supported more than 2,000 entrepreneurs and invested in over 90 startups across the continent. Through initiatives such as the MEST Africa Challenge, the organisation continues to position itself at the centre of Africa’s early-stage technology ecosystem, with agriculture emerging as one of its most strategically important sectors.
As West African countries balance population growth, climate pressures and the need for economic diversification, the report concludes that locally developed AgriTech solutions will be critical to building more resilient and efficient food systems in the years ahead.
