From Local Enterprise to Continental Opportunity: My AFSF Experience

Going to Kigali for the African Food Systems Forum (AFSF) 2026 was more than a trip for me; it was a turning point in my journey as a young Ghanaian agripreneur.

Before AFSF, I saw Mushplus mainly as a business I was building in Ghana. In Kigali, I began to see its potential within a much larger African food system. Exhibiting our mushroom-fortified noodles and Protein-Care gave me the opportunity to put our products in front of people from different countries and receive real interest from potential partners, buyers, development organisations and other entrepreneurs. We sold out the products we took to the exhibition, and the demand we experienced reinforced one important lesson for me: the opportunity is bigger than our current production capacity.

AFSF also changed how I see myself. I entered the forum as a young woman representing a growing agribusiness, but I left with greater confidence that I have a story, experience and solutions worth sharing. I connected with organisations and individuals working in areas closely linked to Mushplus, including nutrition, smallholder farmers, resilient agriculture, food trade, women in agribusiness and youth entrepreneurship. Some of these conversations have already opened doors for further discussions and potential partnerships.

Perhaps the greatest impact has been the connections. I was able to connect with people from Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, India and other parts of Africa. I also connected with organisations such as Practical Action, AGRA, WFP, the American Soybean Association and other stakeholders. These relationships have expanded my network beyond Ghana and exposed me to opportunities, knowledge and perspectives that I would not have accessed otherwise.

The trip also gave me a deeper appreciation for Rwanda. Visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial and seeing how the country has rebuilt itself left a strong impression on me. I was inspired by the resilience, discipline and determination I witnessed, and it made me reflect on what is possible when people are intentional about transforming their country.

Most importantly, I returned to Ghana with a stronger sense of responsibility. I want to continue building Mushplus into a business that creates value for consumers and farmers, while also using my journey to encourage more young people especially young women to see agriculture as a sector where they can build successful businesses and create impact.

AFSF has shown me that exposure can change the size of your vision. I am now eager to participate in more regional and international opportunities focused on agribusiness, food systems, entrepreneurship, women and youth leadership, innovation, food trade and investment. I would especially value opportunities that allow me not only to learn and build partnerships, but also to share my experience, represent Ghana, mentor other young entrepreneurs and contribute to conversations shaping Africa’s food systems.

Kigali did not just take me to another country. It took my vision to another level.

Article written by Abigail Sume, Co-Founder and CEO of MushPlus