Sub-Saharan Africa’s agrifood sector presents a rare combination of scale and untapped productivity gains. Around 70% of the region’s population works in agriculture and the sector contributes roughly 30% of GDP, yet yields remain low — cereal yields average only about 1–2 t/ha, roughly 60% below the global average. That gap is not inevitable: history shows other regions closed similar gaps through improved seeds, fertilizer, irrigation and mechanization. If deployed thoughtfully and adapted to local crops and conditions, those technologies can multiply yields, raise incomes and expand local food manufacturing.

This article breaks down the practical models and mechanics behind those results: staged equity joint ventures that let European firms scale ownership as they learn local markets; revenue-sharing arrangements that encourage continuous tech transfer and local capacity building; and supply-chain resilience assessments that prioritize logistics redundancy, climate adaptation and supplier diversification over short-term cost savings. It also explains how enhanced due diligence that examines cultural fit, regulatory complexity and stakeholder dynamics materially improves investment outcomes.