VIV Africa 2026 concluded in Kigali after three days of bringing together the Feed to Food industry for business, knowledge exchange and innovation. The fifth edition welcomed a record 2257 visitors from 69 countries, highlighting the event’s growing international reach across the animal protein and agribusiness sectors.
Held at the Kigali Convention Centre, the event began with the Leadership Conference on 6 October, followed by two exhibition days on 7-8 October. It brought together professionals from across Africa and international markets to exchange knowledge, discover technologies and practical solutions, and develop new business relationships.
Across the exhibition floor, 153 exhibitors presented solutions spanning the Feed to Food value chain, including feed, animal health, breeding and hatching, farm production, processing and food engineering. The Leadership Conference drew 230 attendees, while 121 Industry Leaders participated in the VIV Africa 2026 edition.
Industry priorities take centre stage
The Leadership Conference brought together experts from across the region to share practical perspectives on strengthening Africa’s poultry and livestock sectors. Among the more than 30 speakers, Mary Were, Executive Director of the Kenya Poultry Farmers Association (KEPOFA), explored the potential of youth-led agribusiness to create sustainable livelihoods through poultry value chains.
She also addressed East African feed sovereignty, focusing on local sourcing, land productivity and regional integration. Dr Lawrence Ademu, Head of the Department of Animal Science at the Federal University Wukari, Nigeria, examined how stronger livestock cooperatives can improve quality and access to markets.
The focus on industry development continued on 7 October with the Investment & Market Access Forum. Powered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) and the Rwanda Food Innovation Partnership (RFIP), the invitation-only breakfast session featured a panel discussion on the market outlook, followed by discussions on concrete investment opportunities in Rwanda. The forum also addressed barriers to financing and ways to connect businesses with potential investors and partners to support Africa’s Feed to Food value chain.
Creating targeted business connections
VIV Africa 2026 marked the launch of its Hosted Buyer Program, connecting selected buyers with relevant exhibitors and supporting focused business conversations during the event. Together with the Industry Leaders program and meetings across the exhibition floor, the initiative created further opportunities for targeted business connections throughout the show.
The event also placed a dedicated focus on involving young professionals in the farming and agribusiness sectors. In partnership with the Rwanda Poultry Industry Association (RPIA), 180 young participants took part in the youth program.
The initiative connected participants with exhibitors, experts and industry professionals, providing practical knowledge, industry insights and a clearer understanding of opportunities across the sector.
Connections beyond the exhibition floor
Her Excellency Joan Wiegman, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Republic of Rwanda, hosted a networking evening at her residence, bringing together selected Dutch exhibitors and industry representatives.
The gathering extended discussions beyond the exhibition floor, creating opportunities to exchange views on business opportunities, industry developments and collaboration within Rwanda and the wider region.
VIV Africa expands into West Africa
Building on the strong participation in Kigali, VIV Africa will take place annually from 2027, alternating between East and West Africa to create more regular opportunities for the industry to connect across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The next edition will take place in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on 6-7 October 2027, marking VIV Africa’s expansion into West Africa and extending the platform’s reach across the region.
The organisers thanked exhibitors, visitors, speakers, industry leaders, partners and participating organisations for contributing to the 2026 edition in Kigali.
