In a newly released white paper, DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), in collaboration with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) Centre for African Management and Markets (CAMM), explores the evolving face of agriculture across the African continent. The document, titled African Agritech: The State of Play and Potential for Prosperity, presents an honest look at both the hurdles and the promise lying within Africa’s farming sector. At the heart of the report is a central idea: technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), is beginning to change the way farming is done — and this change could have real implications for poverty alleviation and broader economic health.
While the paper doesn’t offer a one-size-fits-all solution, it draws from current trends and data to outline how targeted technological interventions could support farmers, boost productivity, and open up access to new markets. According to the research, even small improvements in farming efficiency can translate into large gains in poverty reduction. A mere 1% increase in agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) could lead to a 1% reduction in the number of people living in extreme poverty. For a continent where a significant portion of the population still relies on agriculture for their livelihood, this statistic is more than just data — it signals hope.
Agriculture’s Role in a Changing Africa
Africa’s agricultural sector has always played a central role in its economy. Contributing roughly 15% to the continent’s overall economic output — a figure that significantly outpaces the global average of around 5% — farming continues to be a key source of employment and income. Yet, it’s clear that traditional farming practices alone may not be enough to meet the needs of a fast-growing population and increasingly competitive global food markets.
The report underscores a reality that many African policymakers and agricultural entrepreneurs are already confronting: if the continent is to sustain long-term development, the agricultural sector needs to evolve. That evolution doesn’t necessarily mean replacing age-old practices but rather integrating them with newer, more efficient methods — many of which are enabled by digital tools.
Artificial intelligence, satellite data, and mobile applications are becoming more accessible to African farmers, and these technologies are being used in ways that are directly influencing yields, crop health, and even how food is transported. For those who work the land, these tools offer more control over the variables they contend with daily — from weather patterns to pests.
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Ian Macleod, a member of the CAMM research team, emphasized how eye-opening the research process was. “We knew agrotech was a powerful driver of prosperity, but we were impressed with what we unearthed during the research. Tech is being used in amazing ways to improve everything from soil management and crop spraying to transportation and fire detection.”
Facing Challenges with New Tools and Ideas
The report doesn’t ignore the challenges. Land degradation, access to finance, poor infrastructure, and climate change continue to affect productivity. But by outlining examples of how technological tools are being used to tackle some of these issues, it gives a clear message: progress is possible when public and private sector players work together.
Technology alone won’t transform agriculture in Africa — but when combined with local knowledge, strong logistics, and supportive policies, it has the potential to bring about meaningful change. And that’s a point echoed by DHL Express SSA CEO Hennie Heymans, who said, “This paper highlights our commitment to supporting sustainable growth and innovation in the agricultural sector, particularly on the African continent. DHL’s purpose revolves around connecting people and improving lives. Through this paper, we hope to provide a glimpse of what lies ahead for the industry and demonstrate our commitment to sustainable economic growth.”
The emphasis, according to the report, should be on building ecosystems where innovation is accessible and scalable. That means thinking not just about the technologies themselves, but also about how they are delivered — and who gets to benefit from them.
DHL Agri-Express: Meeting a Specific Need for SME Exporters
One concrete example of this ecosystem-building approach is DHL’s recent introduction of a specialized logistics solution: DHL Agri-Express. Targeted at agricultural small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Sub-Saharan Africa, this new offering is aimed at helping farmers and small businesses ship produce — starting with avocados — to international markets.
The solution focuses on small sample shipments, typically ranging from six to fifty avocados. What sets it apart is the packaging system. Rather than relying on active cold chain logistics — which can be expensive and difficult to manage in some parts of Africa — DHL Agri-Express uses passive cooling technology. This more sustainable method still maintains the necessary freshness standards and makes it easier for producers to get their products to potential buyers abroad quickly and reliably.
By enabling producers to send small quantities of fruit efficiently, this service opens up the possibility of more frequent and lower-risk engagement with global buyers. It is a nod to the importance of logistics in agriculture — a part of the process that often gets less attention than soil health or irrigation but is equally vital when farmers are aiming to scale up or enter new markets.
Cooperation and Practical Solutions
The report makes it clear that no single player can carry this effort alone. Governments, educational institutions, private businesses, and farmers themselves all have a role to play. There’s a strong case for increased investment in infrastructure, education, and regulatory support to ensure that innovations in agrotech actually reach the people they are designed to help.
At the same time, case studies like the DHL Agri-Express solution show how focused initiatives can address specific market needs. Whether it’s helping an avocado grower send samples to a buyer in Europe, or using AI to forecast crop health with greater accuracy, these are the kinds of tangible changes that collectively can lead to a stronger agricultural economy.
As Africa stands at a demographic and developmental crossroads, its farming sector is poised for change — not just in terms of how food is grown, but also in how that food reaches consumers, how farmers earn income, and how communities sustain themselves. The report doesn’t pretend that this transformation will be easy. But by grounding its findings in data, examples, and real-world applications, it offers a thoughtful and practical look at what’s possible when agriculture is taken seriously as both a livelihood and an engine for broader economic opportunity.