News

EU seeks to raise standards, aid African farm exports
The European Union wants to help Africa raise health standards in the farm sector to aid it to export more, a senior EU official said Friday in Addis Ababa.

EU will need African ethanol to meet targets: study
Imports of ethanol from Africa could become essential for the European Union (EU) to meet its 10 percent renewable energy target in gasoline for road transport by 2020, a study showed on Thursday.

Saudi Investors to Put $100 Million Into Ethiopia Farm
A group of private Saudi investors plans to invest 375 million riyals to plant wheat, barley and rice in Ethiopia, one of the investors said.

Zimbabwe bets on jatropha for 10 pct of fuel by 2017
Zimbabwe plans to use jatropha to produce up to 10 percent of its fuel needs or 100 million litres of biodiesel per year by 2017, the National Oil Company of Zimbabwe said on Monday.

Saudis to invest $40m into food sector in Africa
A consortium of Saudi agricultural companies is looking to invest SAR150 million (Dh146.8m, $40m) into food production in Africa, the Agriculture Ministry said.

Agri-Vie bullish on farming in Africa
The global food shortage coupled with vast tracts of surplus arable land in Africa made the continent the world's greatest farming opportunity, Avril Stassen, an investment adviser for Agri-Vie's $100 million (R957 million) agribusiness private equity fund, said last week

Ethiopia to double earnings from livestock exports
Ethiopia plans to more than double earnings from livestock exports to $85 million in 2009 by curbing illegal trade and opening new marketing centres, a government official said on Friday.

Foreign forays into African farming
Following are some of the agricultural deals involving foreign companies or governments elsewhere in Africa:

East Africa Seeks 'Green Revolution' In Agribusiness
Agriculture is a key driver of economic growth and development in sub-Saharan Africa, yet investment remains limited and the sector dominated by small-scale producers. Expanding the large-scale agribusiness sector could boost production and bring to Africa the fruits of a second green revolution.

Rwanda: ADB, Agra to Address Fertilizer Financing
AGRA's partnership with ADB brings together two of Africa's premier institutions to work with national governments and the private sector to address the transnational factors that impede fertilizer use to jump-start Africa's stagnant agricultural productivity.