FoodSafety4Africa Funding 2025 – Apply for Up to €60,000 to Tackle Food Safety Challenges

Food safety remains one of the most pressing challenges in Africa’s informal food markets, where the majority of the population purchases their daily meals. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), unsafe food causes over 91 million cases of illness annually in Africa, impacting productivity, healthcare costs, and overall well-being.

To address this, FoodSafety4Africa has launched a funding call for innovations, offering up to €60,000 per project for startups, SMEs, researchers, and technology actors working on food safety solutions. This initiative aims to accelerate practical, scalable innovations that can strengthen food systems and protect communities across the continent.

About the FoodSafety4Africa Funding Opportunity

FoodSafety4Africa is investing in at least 10 innovations that directly tackle Africa’s most critical food safety challenges. Selected projects will receive both financial support and visibility to help scale their solutions across regions where food safety risks are highest.

The program emphasizes single-entity applications from legally registered startups, SMEs, or research institutions operating within eligible African countries.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

Eligibility is open to:

• Startups pioneering food safety solutions.
• Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) addressing contamination risks.
• Research and technology actors advancing applied solutions.

Note: Only single-entity applications are accepted; no consortium applications will be considered. Applicants must be legally established in one of the countries listed as eligible.

Eligible African Countries

Applicants must be legally established in one of the following countries:
Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Priority Focus Areas for Funding

Projects must address at least one of the following food safety challenges:

• Mycotoxins in staple foods such as maize and groundnuts.
• Pesticide residues in fruits, vegetables, and grains.
• Traceability and authentication of safe food across value chains.
• Adulteration and microbial contamination in informal markets.
• Weak channels for value chain organization, particularly in smallholder-driven systems.

These areas represent some of the most significant threats to food safety, public health, and agricultural trade in Africa.

Why This Matters for Africa’s Informal Food Sector

Over 70% of food sales in sub-Saharan Africa occur in informal markets. While these markets are vital for accessibility and affordability, they are often under-regulated, leaving consumers exposed to contaminated food.

Innovations that improve traceability, testing, and safer handling practices could transform local markets. For instance, mobile-based tools for farmers to test pesticide residues or blockchain-powered traceability systems for fresh produce could reduce health risks while increasing consumer trust.

Application Deadline

Application Deadline: 30 September 2025, 17:00 CET

 

How to Apply for FoodSafety4Africa Funding 2025

Applications are open online via the official portal.

Apply here

When applying, ensure that you:

• Clearly define the problem and solution your innovation addresses.
• Demonstrate scalability and impact potential.
• Provide evidence of your legal registration in an eligible country

The FoodSafety4Africa funding call 2025 is more than financial support; it’s an investment in the health, resilience, and competitiveness of Africa’s food systems. By supporting innovations in traceability, contamination prevention, and safe food handling, this initiative has the potential to reduce illness, strengthen trade, and improve consumer confidence.

If you’re building a food safety innovation in Africa, this is an opportunity to scale your work and make a tangible impact.