Agenda
Contact us on the details below to register your interest in speaking opportunities at the conference:
Bhuvam Patel
+44 20 719 3496
bhuvam.patel@argusmedia.com
- 17:00
Complimentary excursion to Table Mountain (limited availability)
Join your colleagues and clients travelling in to Cape Town for a sunset excursion to the iconic Table Mountain. Coach to leave from Westin CTICC at 5:00pm and return at 7:30pm.
- Skip the queue and private cable car access for guests.
- 12:00
Registration opens and badge pick up
Registration desks open, pick up your badges using our kiosks.
- 16:30
Welcome reception by the beach sponsored by Quest Group
Complimentary shuttles for badge-holders and attendees to the venue. Join clients, new business contacts and industry colleagues for a sundowner by the beach. Enjoy views of Atlantic and Robben Island while sampling South Africa's best produce. Coaches to the venue leave at 4:30pm from the Westin CTICC
- 8:00 - 09:15
Registration and exhibition area open
Doors open and networking breakfast served in exhibition area. Set up meetings at our dedicated meeting lounges.
- 9:15 - 10:00
Conference producer and chairperson's opening remarks
Speakers Include:
Tim Cheyne
SVP - Global Head of Agriculture, Fertilizers, Ammonia, DEFArgusFormal opening ceremony and ministerial keynote
Opening ceremony and by keynote South African Ministry of Agriculture
- 10:00 - 11:00
Keynote panel: food security for Africa, how is Africa the new epicentre for food security research and development
- Understanding the changing role of fertilizer producers from manufacturers to supply chain managers
- Effects of trade disruptions on Africa’s key producers
- Roadmap for 2025 and beyond: mechanisms for market resilience and farmer welfareSpeakers Include:
Seelan Gobalsamy
CEOOmnia HoldingsJulian Palliam
CEOWandile Sihlobo
Chief EconomistAgricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz)Habiba Mouttaki
Chief Commercial OfficerOCP AfricaNiren Murugan
COOETG AfricaDr. Maen Nsour
CEOArab Potash Company- 11:00 - 11:45
Morning networking break
Catch up on meetings, work and meet new clients at our dedicated networking lounges.
- 11:45 - 12:30
Argus Africa price outlook and mythbuster on sustainable fertilizers
- Current global fertilizer prices and its effects on African import
- What is a sustainable fertilizer? Will the market grow?Speakers Include:
Oliver Hatfield
VP FertilizersArgusMike Nash
Senior Editor, FertilizersArgus Media- 12:30 - 13:30
Understanding the existing barriers to Africa’s demand for sustainable and specialty fertilizers
- Why have specialty products not embedded into African trade?
- Comparing LATAM and Africa’s demand for specialty products
- How can LATAM market’s successes be replicated in Africa?
Presented by Koch Agronomic Services and Rio TintoSpeakers Include:
Matias Ruffo
Director- Agronomy (LATAM & Sub-Saharan Africa)Marcus Meadows-Smith
CEOBioconsortia- 13:30 - 15:00
Lunch
Lunch served and time for lunch meetings in dedicated networking lounges
- 14:30 - 15:00
How is domestic mineral exploration helping Africa become more self-reliant as a fertilizer producing continent?
- Exploring regional capacities for mineral exploration across Africa. where can it happen?
- How will sustainable nutrients accelerate plant nutrition and improve soil health?
- What opportunity does this present to traders and blenders?- 15:30 - 16:00
Common purpose: sustainable development for a self-reliant African fertilizer market
- Goal-setting: what are the key goals for producers to make sure food security in Africa is achieved?
- Mutual ambitions: how can producers and distributors collaborate further to improve economic efficiency?
- Key to the future: investing in soil health to understand African demandSpeakers Include:
Sebastian Nduva
AFO programme leadInternational Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)Patrick Heffer
Deputy Director GeneralIFA- 16:00 - 16:30
Afternoon networking break
Grab a coffee and conduct meetings at dedicated networking lounges
- 16:30 - 16:45
Digitising shipping and trade to curtail mismanagement of resources
- 16:45 - 17:30
Argus Fertilizer Africa Awards Ceremony 2025
Judges announce winners and drinks served
Speakers Include:
Gerald Maithya
SME and Startups Lead; Africa Transformation OfficeMicrosoftNerina Bodasing
Group Executive, Communications, Investor Relations, MarketingOmniaHabiba Mouttaki
Chief Commercial OfficerOCP AfricaSebastian Nduva
AFO programme leadInternational Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)- 17:30 - 18:30
Evening networking reception
Sundown reception spectacular views, drinks and food provided to enjoy your time with key clients and colleagues.
- 08:30 - 09:00
Registration and exhibition area open
Meeting with your clients over coffee and breakfast at our dedicated networking lounges
- 9:00 - 9:45
Argus C-Level roundtable (invite-only)
C-Suites from across the African fertilizer supply chain discuss key initiatives and market challenges while growing their networks within the region.
- 10:00 - 10:05
Chairperson's opening remarks
Speakers Include:
Tim Cheyne
SVP - Global Head of Agriculture, Fertilizers, Ammonia, DEFArgus- 10:00 - 11:00
A year of disruption and choppy seas: how has Africa adapted to the Red Sea crisis? changes in trade dynamics and logistics
- How will African ports tackle new trade traffic as a result of the Red Sea crisis?
- Will African ports become the new choice for trade between Europe, Asia and North America?
- Tackling the disruption in supply of raw materials for fertilizer productionSpeakers Include:
Jesper Sorensen
CEODSM Corridor (Dar-Es Salaam)Jacques de Villiers
Head of Supply ChainOmnia HoldingsNicholas Obby Mainza
Chief Agriculture Economist - Trade and AgribusinessMinistry of Agriculture- Zambia- 11:00 - 11:30
Morning networking break
Catch up on meetings, work and set up meetings in our dedicated networking lounges
- 11:30 - 12:00
In-roads in trade and growing Africa’s landlocked markets to grow production within the continent
- Why have landlocked African countries not been able to benefit from port infrastructure?
- New investments in rail: how will a strong rail network benefit the African fertilizer blenders?
- Will privatisation of the rail network truly work?- 12:00 - 12:30
Financing new agri-ventures in Africa: how to attract more investment
- Have Africa’s financial institutions provided platforms for local innovation
- Varied approaches to agribusiness investment: micro-finance schemes vs infra loans- 12:30 - 13:00
Closing keynote
VIP Speaker to be announced
- 13:00 - 14:00
Lunch and conference close
Lunch meetings and conference close