Pricepally.com

Africa’s cities are growing faster than almost anywhere in the world, yet their food systems remain fragmented, informal, and wasteful. Farmers often earn too little despite high consumer prices, while urban households struggle with affordability, availability, and quality. Up to 40 percent of food is lost post-harvest due to weak distribution and opaque supply chains.

This session explores how digital commerce can change that equation. By aggregating demand in African cities and linking it directly to producers, technology makes it possible to deliver fresher food at better prices for consumers while increasing margins and turnover for farmers. With data-driven forecasting, logistics integration, and “phygital” models that combine online platforms with physical hubs, digital commerce creates more efficient supply chains and reduces systemic waste.

I will share lessons from building one of Africa’s leading farm-to-table commerce platforms, highlighting the role of AI, conversational commerce, and cross-border channels in transforming how food moves from rural farmers to urban households. The talk will show how resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems are not just possible in African cities but scalable, offering global insights for the future of e-commerce.