Kenya Leverages Tech to Become Africa’s Global Food Hub

By Linet Amuli - Reporter

Kenya, 28 January 2026 - Kenya is leveraging its technology and innovation ecosystem to position Nairobi as Africa’s gateway to global food markets, following the announcement that the world’s largest food trade platform, Gulfood, will launch Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya from 4 May to 6 May 2027.

The event will bring together African farms, processors, manufacturers, and supply chains with global buyers, highlighting how technology is transforming trade, agribusiness, and food systems across the continent.

The expansion, announced at Gulfood 2026 in Dubai, formally designates Kenya as the official African host of the platform.

Organisers say the Nairobi edition will act as a catalytic hub, accelerating agricultural value addition, agro-industrialisation, SME participation, and foreign direct investment across the food value chain. It also provides a platform for global contracts, capital mobilisation, and cross-border supply chain integration.

Kenya’s competitive advantage lies in its thriving technology ecosystem. The country leads the continent in digital payments, logistics technology, supply-chain digitisation, and climate-smart agriculture solutions, supported by a youthful and tech-savvy population

Innovations such as AI-enabled supply chain management, cold chain tracking, and digital marketplaces are enabling farmers, processors, and manufacturers to connect efficiently with domestic and international markets.

Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui said the event reflects Kenya’s growing role in global trade and investment flows.

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“The launch of Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya signals a decisive step in Kenya’s trade and investment journey. Anchored by the Kenya-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and supported by structural reforms, this moment reflects a country mobilising its full value chain for global trade,” Kinyanjui said.

The platform also aligns with Kenya’s broader infrastructure and policy initiatives, including upgrades to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the Port of Mombasa, and multimodal trade corridors linking Eastern and Central Africa. These investments, combined with digital innovation, ensure that goods move efficiently from farms and factories to global markets.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe emphasised that technology is central to transforming Kenya’s agricultural strength into global opportunity.

“Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya reflects Kenya’s commitment to using technology and innovation to connect producers with the rest of the world,” he said.

With more than 90% of Kenya’s electricity generated from renewable sources, agribusiness, manufacturing, and logistics firms also benefit from reliable, low-cost, and sustainable energy.

By combining digital innovation, infrastructure, and sustainability, Kenya is setting a benchmark for how technology can drive operational efficiency, global competitiveness and economic transformation in Africa’s food sector.

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