Agro exhibition: Stakeholders to address Nigeria’s post-harvest losses
The 10th edition of Nigeria’s Agrofood & Plastprintpack Exhibition, organized by FairTrade Messe, is set to provide a robust platform for addressing post-harvest losses in Nigeria’s agriculture sector. Scheduled for March 25-27, 2025, at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, this edition will feature Germany as the headline country and will bring together key industry players across the agri-food value chain.
At the pre-exhibition launch in Lagos, FairTrade Messe’s Senior Project Manager, Ms. Freyja Detjen, emphasized the critical need to mitigate Nigeria’s post-harvest losses, which stand at 20% for grains and fish, and 50% for tubers, fruits, and vegetables. According to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), nearly 50% of Nigeria’s fresh produce is lost at post-harvest stages due to poor transportation and storage infrastructure, requiring an estimated $3 trillion to bridge the infrastructure gap.
In a strategic move, FairTrade Messe is co-organizing the 7th West African Cold Chain Summit & Exhibition alongside the Agrofood & Plastprintpack event in collaboration with the Organisation for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa. This synergy aims to accelerate investments in cold chain solutions, transportation, and agri-food production.
The event will also highlight Nigeria’s growing role in plastics technology investments, with the country ranking 4th in Africa for investments in the sector at €134 million in 2023, reflecting a 13.9% annual growth rate. Similarly, Nigeria’s imports of printing and paper processing technology surged by 17% annually, reaching €92 million in 2022, solidifying its position as Sub-Saharan Africa’s second-largest investor in the segment.
With 100 exhibitors from over 15 countries, a three-day conference featuring 20 sessions, and more than 70 speakers in a 180-seat conference hall, the exhibition promises to be an impactful networking platform for stakeholders across agriculture, cold chain logistics, and agribusiness technology.
According to FairTrade’s Managing Director, Mr. Paul März, the event will serve as a dynamic marketplace for knowledge exchange and industry collaborations, while Modion Communications CEO, Mr. Odion Aleobua, stressed the importance of increased participation from local and international players to foster innovation and sustainable business partnerships in Nigeria’s agriculture sector.
Source- News Agency of Nigeria
Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
Nigeria’s persistent post-harvest losses remain a major bottleneck in the country’s food security and agricultural value chain. Addressing this challenge requires investment in cold chain logistics, improved storage facilities, efficient transportation networks, and agribusiness financing.
The upcoming Agrofood & Plastprintpack Exhibition presents a strategic opportunity for agribusiness investors, policymakers, and agritech innovators to explore modern solutions in food preservation, packaging, and distribution. With an increasing number of global players recognizing Nigeria as a hub for agricultural investment, the event can serve as a catalyst for policy shifts and private-sector-driven innovations in post-harvest management.
Key takeaways for agribusiness stakeholders:
- Cold Chain Investment Opportunities: The collaboration with the West African Cold Chain Summit underscores the need for refrigerated transport, temperature-controlled warehouses, and advanced storage solutions. Investors should explore public-private partnerships (PPPs) and funding opportunities to scale cold chain infrastructure.
- Smart Packaging & Plastics Technology: With Nigeria’s plastic technology market witnessing steady growth, agribusiness players should consider sustainable, biodegradable packaging solutions that can enhance the shelf life of agricultural products.
- Agri-Food Digitalization: Stakeholders should leverage smart logistics, IoT-based tracking for perishable goods, and AI-driven supply chain optimization to reduce waste and improve efficiency.
- Cross-Sector Collaborations: The event’s lineup of global exhibitors, international trade delegations, and agribusiness experts makes it an ideal platform for strategic partnerships, knowledge sharing, and capacity building.
- Government & Policy Engagement: Nigeria’s policymakers should utilize insights from the exhibition to revise trade policies, create incentives for cold chain investments, and support agribusiness innovation through targeted funding and infrastructure development.
For agribusiness decision-makers, this exhibition represents more than just an event, it is an avenue to shape the future of Nigeria’s agri-food industry by adopting innovative, investment-driven solutions for post-harvest management.
