Addy Mabasa

Ecobank Group has raised $450 million through the world’s first International Capital Market Association (ICMA) commercial bank-issued Nature Bond, listed on the London Stock Exchange. The bank raised the money from global investors to fund sustainable farming In May 2026, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated priced a $450 million Sustainable Agriculture & Natural Capital Bond — the world’s first ICMA-aligned Nature Bond issued by a commercial bank. The order book hit $1.36 billion, nearly four...

Henry Duckworth , CEO - Agridex In one of the more significant early-stage deals in African AgriTech this year, Agridex — a London-based but Africa-focused fintech — secured new equity funding from Launch Africa Ventures, with participation from Circle, WisdomTree, and Utila. While the exact amount was not disclosed, the round underscores growing investor appetite for solutions that modernise cross-border agricultural trade on the continent. Agridex is building infrastructure that slashes...

April 8, 2026 Bayer’s expert GenAI system is making better information more quickly and readily available A farmer in Limpopo opens WhatsApp on a basic smartphone and types (or speaks in Sepedi): “My maize leaves are turning yellow after the recent rains. What should I do?” Within seconds, an AI agronomist replies with a clear diagnosis, recommended actions, product suggestions available at the nearest co-op, and even a voice note explanation in the farmer’s preferred language. This is no...