Transforming nature-positive supply chains for Africa

A research and industry partnership for fairer and greener distribution value chains

Green Farm Africa (GFA) is a collaborative partnership programme led by Middlesex University and EnrichGeo Technologies, working alongside a growing network of specialist partners and stakeholders across Sub-Saharan Africa and the United Kingdom. The programme represents a transformative approach to African agriculture, combining cutting-edge technology with traditional knowledge, sustainable practices with economic viability, and local empowerment with global market access.

GFA aims to put Sub-Saharan Africa farmers at the centre of efforts to drive forward more efficient and sustainable farming, empowering Africa's farmers to create wealth whilst addressing global food security challenges. The programme offers a total end-to-end sustainable e-commerce solutiosn to provide transparent governance over the agrifood supply chain, facilitating stable, secure, and trusted export markets for Africa's fresh food produce.

The GFA Solution

Addressing Critical Challenges

Sub-Saharan Africa faces significant agricultural challenges despite the sector contributing approximately 25% of regional GDP. Millions of smallholder farmers operate at subsistence level, facing obstacles including limited access to education and training, inadequate infrastructure, restricted access to clean water and modern farming techniques, lack of certification for existing organic practices, and poor market access with unfavourable trading terms.

GFA provides a holistic solution through an integrated programme offering comprehensive certification systems, smart technology integration, capacity building for local agronomists and farmer cooperatives, and direct market access to UK retailers and premium buyers.

The GFA Solution: End-to-End Supply Chain

GFA integrates cutting-edge technology with practical certification systems to create transparent, verifiable supply chains offering:

Smart Technology – AI-powered farming systems including satellite mapping, real-time environmental monitoring (soil quality analysis, weather prediction, climate stress assessment, water usage optimisation, and biodiversity tracking), drone surveillance for precision agriculture, mobile applications supporting farmer training and decision-making, and AI crop selection recommendations with integrated pest management guidance
Certification – GlobalG.A.P and MDX Green Stamp accreditation for premium market access. The MDX Green Stamp, developed in collaboration with third-party accreditation providers (e.g. Bureau Veritas), provides accessible, affordable interim certification for premium high-value sustainable fresh food exports to the UK and Europe, meeting UK import market standards

Traceability – Complete farm-to-fork transparency through logistics supply chain and technology, creating an e-commerce blueprint for sustainable agrifood exports

Capacity Building – Training for local agronomists and farmer cooperatives in sustainable practices
Direct Market Access – Connections to UK retailers ensuring fair prices and guaranteed markets

GFA Service Package

GFA partners collectively deliver five integrated service packages:

Package 1: Sustainable Farming Training and Support – preparing farmers for Global GAP and Green Stamp accreditations, developing green smart farming solutions from farm inputs through farming practices to packaging and farm storage
Package 2: Farm Regulations and Food Hygiene – training and guidance relating to fresh food exports to the UK
Package 3: Sustainable Agrifood Logistics – relating to cold chain storage and freight management
Package 4: Fair Trade Economics – development of e-commerce green end-to-end export blueprint, working with Destination Produce to identify key crops, seasonality, scale of production, and in-demand delivery, raising high-value premium Green Stamp accredited product payments for guaranteed export markets
Package 5: Technological Development Support – ranging from 'smart farmer' training to building the agrifood green supply chain accreditation technology

Partnership Leadership

GFA is led by a strategic partnership between Middlesex University (Centre for Enterprise, Environment and Development Research and the GreenFin research cluster) and EnrichGeo Technologies, working in close collaboration with key UK market partners and other UK universities.

GFA brings together complementary expertise:

Middlesex University – academic research, Green Stamp certification, training and sustainability expertise. MDX offers data collection, training, collaborations with African universities, agricultural colleges, and agronomist experts on the ground to deliver the e-commerce blueprint for local sustainable agrifood exports.
Royal Holloway University of London (agrifood logistics), and the University of Reading (environmental science)
University of Lincoln (food regulations and hygiene)
EnrichGeo Technologies – EnrichGeo Technologies is a UK-based technology company specialising in innovative artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and data analytics for market intelligence in agriculture. Operating in Nigeria and India, EnrichGeo provides 'smart farm' technologies that support smallholder farming cooperatives with satellite mapping, drone surveillance, and soil testing to increase crop yield and quality.

Destination Produce – Destination Produce is a UK food buyer working closely with EnrichGeo and the GFA programme to connect African farm produce with top UK supermarket buyers, including Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, Aldi, and Lidl. They inform the project of UK market requirements and enable matching of demand with supply, ensuring that products meet UK retail buyer and consumer demands for green, sustainable, and socially equitable standards.
Growing partner network – Tierrasphere, Green Forest Farming, African Golden Farm, local cooperatives, and technology companies

Growing Partner Network

GFA has developed an expanding stakeholder network across Africa and the UK, including:

Technology and Farming Support Partners

• Tierrasphere – providing agricultural technology solutions and farming support services

• Green Forest Farming – offering farming expertise and sustainable agriculture practices

• PES Technologies – delivering technical assistance and innovation

• Nomabea – supporting farming operations in Zimbabwe

Farming Organisations and Cooperatives

African Golden Farm – large-scale farming operations and agricultural development
Maizube Farm – established farming operations supporting programme pilots

SheFarmers (Nigeria) – supporting women farmers and promoting gender equality in agriculture

Local farmer cooperatives – small-scale farming groups across Nigeria and Zimbabwe

Innovation and Acceleration Support

MDX Nature Positive Tech Accelerator – supporting technology innovation for environmental impact
Impact Driver Accelerator (Port Harcourt, Nigeria) – supporting social enterprise development
Niger Delta Climate Tech Series (River State) – promoting climate technology solutions

Market Context and Opportunity

The global context for GFA's work has never been more critical. Increasing food security problems resulting from combinations of conflicts, tariffs, and extreme climate conditions are growing challenges for UK food import markets. Spain, a major UK supplier of fresh food, has suffered successive crop failures on an unprecedented scale.

Sub-Saharan Africa represents a significant untapped resource for UK fresh food imports. McKinsey projects this market will reach £1 trillion by 2030, yet productivity and infrastructure constraints limit current potential. Strategic investment could unlock this 'fresh food basket' whilst supporting regional development goals.

Research indicates the region could produce 2-3 times current cereal crop yields and significantly expand horticultural production. The GFA programme's locally-funded pilots in Nigeria and Zimbabwe demonstrate proof of concept, but scaling to commercial viability requires strategic government and private sector support.

The Sub-Saharan Africa agricultural market is projected to reach £1 trillion by 2030 (McKinsey). With UK facing increasing food security challenges from climate impacts on European suppliers, and research indicating Africa could produce 2-3 times current crop yields, GFA offers a strategic solution connecting untapped agricultural potential with critical market needs.

Current locally-funded pilots demonstrate proof of concept. Scaling to commercial viability requires strategic government and private sector investment in technology transfer, certification systems, and trade facilitation to establish the UK as the preferred partner for premium African fresh produce.

Impact and Benefits

For African Farmers

Increased income through premium pricing, access to international markets, improved farming efficiency, enhanced technical knowledge, and strengthened cooperative structures.

UK Supply Chains

Diversified food supply chains reducing climate vulnerability, enhanced food security, new commercial partnerships supporting Global Britain objectives, and contribution to international development goals.

Nature

Reduced chemical inputs, improved soil health and carbon sequestration, enhanced biodiversity, water conservation, and climate change mitigation through sustainable regenerative practices.

SDG Alignment

GFA directly contributes to 12 UN Sustainable Development Goals including No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Gender Equality, Decent Work, Innovation, Reduced Inequalities, Responsible Consumption, Climate Action, and Partnerships for Goals.

The GFA programme directly contributes to multiple UN Sustainable Development Goal targets: SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 6 (Clean Water), SDG 8 (Decent Work), SDG 9 (Innovation), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for Goals).

By addressing agricultural transformation, environmental sustainability, and economic empowerment simultaneously, GFA demonstrates how integrated approaches can deliver multiple development outcomes whilst supporting both African farmers and UK food security.

Current Programme Status and Expansion

The GFA programme has evolved significantly from its initial focus and now operates across multiple countries with diverse funding arrangements and partnership structures.

Active Programmes

Nigeria: Supporting 400+ farmers in North West Nigeria and Ekiti State through locally-funded pilots, with promise of further Nigerian State funding
Zimbabwe: Signed contracts to support 300 cooperative farmers with sustainable farming practices and market access (currently awaiting funding activation)

Future Vision

GFA represents a transformative approach to African agriculture that combines cutting-edge technology with traditional knowledge, sustainable practices with economic viability, and local empowerment with global market access. Through comprehensive partnership and innovative solutions, the programme is building a future where African farmers thrive whilst contributing to global food security and environmental sustainability.

The programme's end-to-end approach, from smart farming technologies and Green Stamp certification through to direct connections with UK retailers, creates transparent and equitable supply chains that benefit all stakeholders. As GFA expands across Sub-Saharan Africa, it offers a scalable model for regenerative agricultural development that can be adapted to diverse country contexts and farming systems.

Forward-Facing Opportunities

GFA is actively pursuing funding and partnership opportunities with:

HSBC – exploring financing mechanisms for sustainable agriculture
Togo – developing new country programmes and partnerships
Additional Nigerian States – expanding state-level partnerships and funding
Multiple African countries – developing the programme across 14 target countries in Sub-Saharan Africa

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