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As West Africa intensifies efforts to strengthen food security and reduce reliance on imported food, Lagos is set to host the inaugural edition of Growtech West Africa from 26–28 January 2027 at the Landmark Centre.
The international agribusiness platform is expected to attract more than 5,000 industry professionals, alongside over 100 exhibitors, international country pavilions, and more than 50 international speakers drawn from across agriculture, livestock, aquaculture, food production, agri-tech, irrigation, and supply chain sectors.
The launch comes at a time when West Africa continues to face mounting food system pressures, spending over $50 billion annually on food imports, while demand rises due to population growth, urbanisation, climate pressures, and evolving consumption patterns.
Nigeria, described as a key player in the region’s agricultural transformation, continues to leverage its vast arable land, large agricultural workforce, and growing investments in food production, processing, and supply chain infrastructure.
According to OECD estimates, West Africa’s food economy is projected to exceed $480 billion by 2030, positioning the region among the world’s fastest-growing agricultural markets.
In response, governments and private sector stakeholders across the region are accelerating efforts to improve productivity, modernise farming systems, and strengthen local food production capacity.
Against this backdrop, Growtech West Africa is being positioned as a platform to connect international expertise, technology, investment, and innovation with one of the world’s most dynamic emerging agricultural markets.
With roots in Antalya, Growtech has expanded its international footprint to Dubai, Italy, and now Lagos, reflecting growing global demand for agricultural innovation and cross-border industry collaboration.
The event is organised by Informa, a global B2B events and market intelligence group, and is aimed at advancing sustainable agriculture and food production across the region.
Ahmed Khalil, Growtech Middle East Director, said West Africa stands at a defining moment in its agricultural development.
“The region has the land, population, resources, and ambition to significantly strengthen food security and local production capabilities over the coming decade.
Growtech West Africa is designed to support that transformation by connecting global innovation with local market needs, while creating opportunities for investment, partnerships, and long-term sector growth,” he said.
He noted that the expansion of Growtech into West Africa reflects the region’s growing importance in global agriculture, particularly as countries seek to reduce food import dependency and build more resilient agricultural systems.
“There is increasing demand for modern technologies, controlled-environment agriculture, irrigation, livestock solutions, aquaculture development, and knowledge exchange,” he said.
Engin Er, Exhibition Director of Growtech Events, also described West Africa as a strategic next step for the brand, citing strong market potential and rising demand for innovation.
“Growtech has evolved into an international platform supporting agricultural advancement across multiple high-growth regions. West Africa represents a natural and highly strategic next step. The market potential is enormous, and there is a strong appetite for innovation, collaboration, and practical solutions that can improve productivity and sustainability across the agricultural value chain,” he said.
The event will feature a broad showcase of the agricultural ecosystem, including seeds and seedlings, plant nutrition and protection, irrigation, greenhouse technologies, controlled-environment agriculture, agricultural machinery, precision farming, livestock and poultry solutions, aquaculture and fisheries, and food processing.
A key highlight will be the Food Security and Sustainability Conference, which will convene policymakers, investors, development organisations, agribusiness leaders, researchers, and technology providers to discuss key challenges and opportunities in the sector.
Discussions will focus on reducing food import dependency, increasing local production, improving yield efficiency, enhancing climate resilience, promoting sustainable water use, expanding agricultural financing, and strengthening long-term food system resilience across West Africa.
The event also aligns with broader regional development priorities, where agriculture is increasingly seen as a driver of economic diversification, employment generation, rural development, and food security.