With the missions to Maputo, Mozambique, on 14 and 15 September, and Harare, Zimbabwe, on 17 and 18 September, the Cibus Tec for Africa project promoted by Cibus Tec, the global leading exhibition for food and beverage technologies, and by Italian Agrifood Technology for Africa, a network coordinated by Renzo Piraccini that brings together Italian companies interested in developing their presence in Sub-Saharan African markets, has come to an end. The support of ICE Agency, through its offices in the countries involved, of MAECI and of the Italian Embassies were fundamental to the success of the initiative.
After the missions to Dakar and Saint-Louis, in Senegal, and Nairobi, in Kenya, the project has completed a journey that has touched five important realities in Sub-Saharan Africa, fostering meetings between Italian companies producing technologies and local operators, companies and institutions.
Created to promote new development opportunities for Made in Italy food technologies in the markets of Sub-Saharan Africa, Cibus Tec for Africa brought Italian skills and technological solutions for the first time to five strategic markets, characterized by different needs and prospects, but sharing a growing demand for innovation, modernisation of production processes and enhancement of agri-food value chains.
All the stages of Cibus Tec for Africa followed a format designed to provide direct knowledge of the markets and their concrete opportunities, connecting Italian companies with local operators through presentations of Italian technologies, B2B meetings with local companies and visits to companies and facilities in the area. A direct dialogue with rapidly evolving markets and agri-food value chains that are increasingly looking to technologies as a tool to increase efficiency, quality and competitiveness.
The last two meetings in Mozambique and Zimbabwe confirmed the strong interest of local markets in Italian technologies.
In particular, in Mozambique, the initiative involved around 80 stakeholders from the agri-food sector and representatives of the country’s main organisations and institutions, with the support of the ICE Agency Office in Maputo and the Mozambique-Italy Chamber of Commerce.
The event was attended by the Minister of Agriculture of Mozambique, Roberto Mito Albino, the Italian Ambassador Gabriele Annis and the Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) in Maputo Fabio Strinati. Representatives of FAO, IFAD, the World Bank, the African Development Bank and APIEX, the national agency for investment and export promotion, were also present.
in Zimbabwe, the event, held with the support of the Italian Embassy in Harare, headed by Ambassador Giuseppe Giacalone, and in cooperation with the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI), ZimTrade, ARDA and ZIDA, involved more than 40 business and institutional stakeholders. One of the most significant moment of the event was the visit to Montgomery Farm, one of the main agricultural companies in the Harare area, which offered Italian companies an opportunity for direct exchange on the characteristics of the market and local technological needs.
The conclusion of Cibus Tec for Africa comes just a few weeks before the 54th edition of Cibus Tec, scheduled to take place in Parma from 27 to 30 October 2026, the global leading event for food and beverage industry technologies.
The international component is confirmed as one of the most relevant elements of the 2026 edition, with an expected share of foreign exhibitors and brands of more than 30% and a qualified presence from the world’s main markets for food and beverage industry technologies. In particular, of the more than 3,000 top buyers expected, more than 300 operators from 20 African countries will already be attending.
Photo: Fiere di Parma
