East and Southern Africa fertiliser and agribusiness leaders will converge in Maputo, Mozambique next month to discuss how to boost regional food security and prosperity.

According to a media release from the organisers, the East and Southern Africa Agribusiness Conference will focus on critical issues such as easing access and the cost of fertilisers, and how to improve the supply chains of agricultural inputs. It will also discuss ways to create collaboration between governments and international fertilizer suppliers to build strong agribusiness in the two regions and enhance sector performance and hence boost production and food security.

"Government officials and leading industry executives from 28 countries will gather in Maputo to discuss the technical and commercial challenges facing the fertiliser and agribusiness industries in the region. The three-day conference, slated for October 9-11, is organised by CRU, a leading, independent, global fertiliser analysis, consultancy and events business, and the African Fertiliser Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP),” the statement indicates.

The event is expected to attract over 300 visitors, including leaders of the fertiliser production and trade from across the two regions such as OCP Africa, ICL, Indorama, ETG, Farmers World and Chemplex. They will be joined by representatives of the development and investment community such as the African Development Bank, AGRA, One Acre Fund and the Alliance for Commodity Trade in East and Southern Africa (ACTESA), the statement released last week adds.

"With sessions on critical issues, such as how the cost of fertiliser, how supply chains of agricultural inputs can be improved, and how local government and international suppliers of fertiliser can work in partnership to build strong agribusiness, the event will be invaluable,” said Nicola Coslett, the CEO of CRU Events.