Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to play a transformative role in agriculture across sub-Saharan Africa, offering solutions to persistent challenges such as inadequate extension services, weak supply chains, poor access to credit, limited insurance, and underdeveloped markets. Yet, despite its potential, adoption has been slow due to weak digital public infrastructure (DPI), uneven investment across regions, and limited capacity to develop sustainable funding models. Current gaps in safeguards, regulatory frameworks, and multi-stakeholder coordination continue to hinder progress, leaving much of AI’s potential for agri-SMEs untapped. Unlocking these opportunities requires deliberate investment in infrastructure, inclusive policies, and strategies that also build the skills of youth and women, who remain underrepresented despite their central role in agriculture.

Alongside AI, geospatial technologies present significant opportunities for agri-SMEs by enabling smarter data use in finance, insurance, climate-informed extension services, and evidence-based decision-making. While other sectors such as security and transport already leverage geospatial data, agriculture has yet to maximize its benefits. When combined with AI, these innovations can derisk agri-SME investments, boost investor confidence, and unlock new pathways for sustainable growth. However, the gap remains at the intersection of scaling AI and geospatial solutions with the right investments, frameworks, and collaborations that allow agri-SMEs to thrive.

At ALE 2025, this session will be aimed at:

• Exploring strategies to bridge infrastructural gaps that limit AI innovation for agri-SMEs in Africa.
• Identifying investments to scale African AI for agriculture through talent, infrastructure, and innovation.
• Unlocking the potential and investment options for geospatial and AI innovations in agri-SMEs.
• Showcasing possible use cases for advisory and investment opportunities focused on AI and geospatial solutions at the agri-SME level.