Agri-Energy Coalition launches at the Africa Food Systems Forum

Dakar, Senegal, 1 September  — A newly established multi-stakeholder alliance — the Agri-Energy Coalition — is officially launching at the 2025 Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) to address the critical challenges at the intersection of agriculture and energy in low to middle-income countries.

The coalition brings together leading organisations from the agriculture, energy and development sectors — AGRA, Energy Saving Trust, GAIN, GEAPP, GIZ, GOGLA, IKEA Foundation, IRENA, IWMI,  Partners in Food Solutions, REEEP, SEforALL, SNV, and Wageningen University & Research. Together, they aim to deliver sustainable and scalable solutions to transform food systems through integrated energy access.

Worldwide, 685 million people live without electricity, the majority in rural areas where more than 70% of the world’s poor reside. In these regions, agriculture is the backbone of local economies, yet the sector faces significant hurdles, including post-harvest losses, inefficient value chains and high cost of food production. These challenges are largely driven by limited access to sustainable, reliable and affordable energy. 

The productive use of renewable energy (PURE) and decentralised renewable energy (DRE) solutions—such as solar irrigation and cold storage—offer a critical pathway to increasing yields, reducing food waste and improving livelihoods, but require coordinated efforts to increase uptake.

‘’This Coalition is a timely and essential platform to drive collaboration between agriculture and energy sectors, harmonise approaches and ensure the right strategies, policies and investments are in place. Our shared mission is to unlock low‑emission growth pathways, improve smallholder livelihoods and strengthen food security and nutrition by working towards a future where every step—from irrigation and processing to storage and transport—is powered by clean, affordable energy,” said Carlos Sordo, Senior Project Manager Productive Uses of Renewable Energy, GOGLA.

The Coalition’s activities include:

• Strengthen coordination among agri-energy actors and facilitate cross-sector partnerships.
• Enhance policy advocacy through unified messaging and strategic presence at global and regional events.
• Promote integration across energy, agriculture, food systems, water and environmental sectors.
• Facilitate stakeholder engagement and knowledge exchange to bridge implementation gaps.

The initiative builds on momentum generated during the African Food Systems Forum in 2024, where like-minded institutions first convened to align strategies and co-develop knowledge products. Since then, the Coalition has developed joint positioning documents and fostered peer-to-peer learning across organisations and governments. 

“The Agri-Energy Coalition brings together many of our trusted partners who share our commitment to powering food systems with renewable energy. At the IKEA Foundation, we are proud to support this collective effort and stand alongside our partners across Africa to drive food systems transformation through people-centred, locally led solutions that connect agriculture and energy,” said Ahmed Sameh, Programme Manager, IKEA Foundation.

New partners from the public, private and non-profit sectors that are committed to developing integrated solutions for the future of food and energy systems are encouraged to join the coalition and collaborate.

About the Agri-Energy Coalition

The Agri-Energy Coalition is a global alliance of partners working across energy, water, agriculture, nutrition, climate and finance, created to unlock the potential of agri-food systems with clean energy. By advancing practical strategies, influencing policy, guiding investments and scaling proven solutions, the Coalition supports resilient, inclusive and sustainable food systems powered by clean energy in low to middle-income countries.

The Agri-Energy Coalition brings together many of our trusted partners who share our commitment to powering food systems with renewable energy. At the IKEA Foundation, we are proud to support this collective effort and stand alongside our partners across Africa to drive food systems transformation through people-centred, locally led solutions that connect agriculture and energy

Ahmed Sameh

Programme Manager, IKEA Foundation