Freetown, 19 October 2026 – Sierra Leone has welcomed over 500 participants from across West and Central Africa for the sixth edition of the Market for Agricultural Innovations and Technologies (MiTA 2026), bringing together eight countries implementing the Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP). The regional event, officially opened by Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh at the Bintumani Hotel in Freetown, features over 100 agricultural innovations and technologies, with a particular focus on livestock and aquaculture. Organised by CORAF and hosted by the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) and the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), with World Bank financing through FSRP, MiTA provides a regional platform for showcasing agricultural technologies, exchanging knowledge, and strengthening partnerships to accelerate agricultural transformation. The opening ceremony brought together agriculture ministers from the eight participating FSRP countries, policymakers, researchers, farmers, technology developers, development partners, and private-sector representatives, signalling a shared commitment to advancing agricultural innovation and food system resilience across the region.
Delivering the keynote address, Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh emphasised that agricultural innovation must go beyond research and exhibitions to deliver tangible benefits to farmers. He called for greater efforts to scale up proven technologies, strengthen regional knowledge-sharing networks, and deepen partnerships among governments, researchers, the private sector, and development partners to improve agricultural productivity and food security.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Henry Musa Kpaka, highlighted the vulnerabilities in global food supply chains exposed by recent crises, underscoring the urgency of strengthening domestic agricultural production. He reaffirmed the Government's commitment to agricultural transformation through President Julius Maada Bio's flagship Feed Salone initiative, which seeks to boost local food production, strengthen food security, and expand economic opportunities. Calling on Sierra Leoneans to “grow what they eat and export what they grow,” Dr Kpaka stressed the critical role of private-sector investment, technology, and strategic partnerships in unlocking the country's vast agricultural potential.
Representing the World Bank, FSRP Task Team Leader Adetunji Oredipe underscored the importance of expanding farmers' access to improved seeds and appropriate agricultural technologies, particularly in the face of increasing climate-related challenges. He highlighted stronger regional collaboration and technology-sharing networks as essential to accelerating innovation adoption and building more resilient food systems.
Speaking on behalf of CORAF, Dr Kalifa Traore, a member of the CORAF Board of Directors, described MiTA 2026 as an important opportunity to connect agricultural research with practical solutions, promote the transfer of proven technologies, and strengthen their adoption across participating countries.
The opening day established a common message:
"Agricultural transformation depends not only on developing innovative technologies but also on ensuring that farmers can access, adopt, and benefit from them."
For Sierra Leone, hosting MiTA 2026 reinforces its commitment to advancing the Feed Salone agenda while strengthening regional cooperation under FSRP. The event provides an opportunity to connect research institutions, technology developers, farmers, investors, and policymakers around practical solutions to agricultural productivity, climate resilience, and food security. As MiTA 2026 progresses, attention will increasingly focus on the technologies being showcased, the opportunities they present for farmers and agribusinesses, and the partnerships needed to translate innovation into measurable agricultural outcomes. Day One has set the direction. The days ahead will reveal how participating countries can turn shared ambitions into practical innovations, stronger partnerships, and lasting improvements in food system resilience.