RUFORUM 2026 AGM: Call for Exhibitions
22nd RUFORUM Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Theme: “Translating Higher Agricultural Education, Innovation, and Research into Action for Africa’s Agricultural Transformation and Development”
Call for Exhibitions
Background
The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), a network of 175 universities operating in 40 African countries, will host the 22nd RUFORUM Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lusaka, Zambia, from 30th November to 4th December 2026. The AGM serves as a continental platform for dialogue, innovation showcasing, partnership building, and knowledge exchange among universities, governments, private sector actors, development partners, innovators, farmers, and youth across Africa and beyond. Held under the theme, “Translating Higher Agricultural Education, Innovation, and Research into Action for Africa’s Agricultural Transformation and Development,” the AGM Exhibition is announced as a strategic platform for showcasing practical solutions, technologies, enterprise models, and partnerships that demonstrate how higher agricultural education, research, and innovation are contributing to the transformation of Africa’s agriculture and food systems.
Main Objective
To provide a platform for showcasing agricultural innovations, technologies, research outputs, and partnerships contributing to Africa’s agricultural transformation and sustainable development.
Specific Objectives
The exhibition aims to provide a dynamic platform for showcasing impactful agricultural innovations, technologies, research outputs, enterprise models, and partnerships that contribute to food security, climate resilience, value addition, agribusiness development, and inclusive economic transformation across Africa.
Specifically, the exhibition seeks to:
- Showcase research, technologies, and innovations from universities and partners;
- Highlight youth-led, women-led, and community-driven enterprises and solutions;
- Promote collaboration among academia, governments, private sector actors, development partners, and farming communities; and
- Demonstrate how higher agricultural education and research are translated into practical impact for Africa’s agricultural transformation.
Who Is Invited to Exhibit
Applications are invited from:
- Universities, research institutions, and innovation hubs;
- Students, youth innovators, startups, and agripreneurs;
- Government ministries, agencies, and extension institutions;
- Private sector companies and agribusiness enterprises;
- Farmer organisations, cooperatives, NGOs, and development partners; and
- Technology and digital agriculture solution providers.
Exhibition Categories
Exhibits may include:
- Agricultural technologies, climate smart solutions, renewable energy, and digital agriculture innovations;
- Agribusiness, value addition, food systems, seed systems, livestock, fisheries, forestry, and agroecological innovations;
- Research posters, multimedia presentations, prototypes, and interactive demonstrations;
- Community engagement models, extension approaches, and partnership success stories; and
- Youth-led, women-led, and inclusive enterprise models contributing to agricultural transformation.
Participants are encouraged to use engaging and interactive approaches that demonstrate scalability, innovation, inclusiveness, and practical impact.
Expression of Interest (EOI) Submission
Interested exhibitors are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) by 23rd October 2026 including:
- Name of institution/organisation;
- Contact person and details;
- Title of exhibition; and
- Logo of the institution/organisation
- Brief description of the proposed exhibition (maximum 250 words).
EOIs should clearly indicate how the exhibition aligns with the AGM theme and contributes to agricultural transformation and sustainable development.
EOIs should be submitted via email to: communications@ruforum.org; m.nada@ruforum.org; alice.mweetwa@unza.zm
Detailed exhibition guidelines and logistical arrangements will be shared with successful applicants.
Exhibition Participation Fee
Exhibitors will be required to pay an exhibition participation fee of USD 300 to support booth setup, exhibition space, and related logistical arrangements. In addition, a conference registration fee of USD 300 per participant will apply.
Online registration is mandatory for all exhibitors and participants. Kindly ensure that registration is completed through the official registration link: [Link]. Please note that, to support proper planning and logistics, we can confirm participation only after you complete the online registration process.
We kindly encourage all exhibitors and participants to complete their registration within the stipulated period.
Why Participate?
The exhibition offers an opportunity to:
- Showcase innovations and institutional achievements;
- Increase visibility among continental stakeholders;
- Build partnerships and investment opportunities; and
- Share scalable solutions contributing to Africa’s agricultural transformation.
