The role of business accelerators as catalysers of food systems transformations in East and Southern Africa
The transformation of global food systems is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fulfilling the Paris Agreement commitments, especially in vulnerable regions like East and Southern Africa (ESA). In such regions, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across food systems...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
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Frontiers Media
2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176904 |
| _version_ | 1855526153692905472 |
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| author | Lozano Lazo, Denise P. Nguvi, Caroline Peterson, Nathanial Dam Lam, Rodolfo Dompreh, Eric B. Manyise, Timothy Rossignoli, Cristiano M. |
| author_browse | Dam Lam, Rodolfo Dompreh, Eric B. Lozano Lazo, Denise P. Manyise, Timothy Nguvi, Caroline Peterson, Nathanial Rossignoli, Cristiano M. |
| author_facet | Lozano Lazo, Denise P. Nguvi, Caroline Peterson, Nathanial Dam Lam, Rodolfo Dompreh, Eric B. Manyise, Timothy Rossignoli, Cristiano M. |
| author_sort | Lozano Lazo, Denise P. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | The transformation of global food systems is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fulfilling the Paris Agreement commitments, especially in vulnerable regions like East and Southern Africa (ESA). In such regions, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across food systems value chains can drive transformative innovations, but often require external support to build capacity. Business accelerators, originally from the corporate and tech sectors, have emerged as key players in supporting early-stage ventures, yet their role in agriculture and food systems remains underexplored. This paper presents findings from the first cohort of the CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator (CFSA), which supports agribusinesses in ESA in scaling climate-smart innovations. Through its science-backed, tailored approach, CFSA enhances investment readiness and technical capabilities among SMEs. The assessment, based on interviews with agribusiness founders (n = 10), reveals perceived improvements in entrepreneurial skills, partnership opportunities, and organizational capabilities, though challenges related to financial constraints and enabling environment remain. This study highlights the potential of non-profit accelerators in fostering food systems transformation through SME development, with important implications for poverty reduction, food security, and climate adaptation. Expanding such programs and studying their long-term impacts is crucial for driving sustainable growth in food systems in the Global South. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace176904 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media |
| publisherStr | Frontiers Media |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1769042025-12-08T10:29:22Z The role of business accelerators as catalysers of food systems transformations in East and Southern Africa Lozano Lazo, Denise P. Nguvi, Caroline Peterson, Nathanial Dam Lam, Rodolfo Dompreh, Eric B. Manyise, Timothy Rossignoli, Cristiano M. food systems value chains small and medium enterprises agro-industrial sector-agribusiness The transformation of global food systems is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fulfilling the Paris Agreement commitments, especially in vulnerable regions like East and Southern Africa (ESA). In such regions, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across food systems value chains can drive transformative innovations, but often require external support to build capacity. Business accelerators, originally from the corporate and tech sectors, have emerged as key players in supporting early-stage ventures, yet their role in agriculture and food systems remains underexplored. This paper presents findings from the first cohort of the CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator (CFSA), which supports agribusinesses in ESA in scaling climate-smart innovations. Through its science-backed, tailored approach, CFSA enhances investment readiness and technical capabilities among SMEs. The assessment, based on interviews with agribusiness founders (n = 10), reveals perceived improvements in entrepreneurial skills, partnership opportunities, and organizational capabilities, though challenges related to financial constraints and enabling environment remain. This study highlights the potential of non-profit accelerators in fostering food systems transformation through SME development, with important implications for poverty reduction, food security, and climate adaptation. Expanding such programs and studying their long-term impacts is crucial for driving sustainable growth in food systems in the Global South. 2025-07-23 2025-10-09T06:38:13Z 2025-10-09T06:38:13Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176904 en Open Access application/pdf Frontiers Media Lozano Lazo, D.P.; Nguvi, C.; Peterson, N.; Dam Lam, R.; Dompreh, E.B.; Manyise, T.; Rossignoli, C.M. (2025) The role of business accelerators as catalysers of food systems transformations in East and Southern Africa. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 9: 1519125. ISSN: 2571-581X |
| spellingShingle | food systems value chains small and medium enterprises agro-industrial sector-agribusiness Lozano Lazo, Denise P. Nguvi, Caroline Peterson, Nathanial Dam Lam, Rodolfo Dompreh, Eric B. Manyise, Timothy Rossignoli, Cristiano M. The role of business accelerators as catalysers of food systems transformations in East and Southern Africa |
| title | The role of business accelerators as catalysers of food systems transformations in East and Southern Africa |
| title_full | The role of business accelerators as catalysers of food systems transformations in East and Southern Africa |
| title_fullStr | The role of business accelerators as catalysers of food systems transformations in East and Southern Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of business accelerators as catalysers of food systems transformations in East and Southern Africa |
| title_short | The role of business accelerators as catalysers of food systems transformations in East and Southern Africa |
| title_sort | role of business accelerators as catalysers of food systems transformations in east and southern africa |
| topic | food systems value chains small and medium enterprises agro-industrial sector-agribusiness |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176904 |
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