As food insecurity continues to affect over 280 million people across the African continent, new initiatives are emerging that aim to transform agricultural production at scale. Among them is African Food Security (AFS), a New York-based agribusiness company now operating expansive farms in Africa with a stated commitment to sustainability and local development.

Founded in 2024, AFS has begun large-scale cultivation of staple crops across land in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The company focuses on key food and cash crops, including maize, cassava, cocoa, and coffee, positioning itself as a long-term player in Africa’s drive toward food sufficiency.

In a region where agriculture accounts for 60% of employment but contributes less than 25% to GDP (according to the World Bank), the arrival of private investment into land and logistics can present both promise and risk. For Alan Kessler, CEO of AFS, the responsibility goes beyond yields and exports.

“African Food Security strives to become a company that is one with our communities,” Kessler said, speaking in Hargeisa, Somaliland. “Access to water, health, and protein resources are imperative, and we are highly aware reputations are continually earned—locally, regionally, and nationally.”

The company’s business model emphasizes alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those targeting zero hunger, climate action, clean water, and decent working conditions. But observers say true success will depend on how such ideals are implemented in practice.

Dr. Grace Mbeng, a food systems researcher at the University of Yaoundé, expressed cautious optimism about AFS’s approach. “We have seen many agricultural interventions come and go in this region. What we look for now is not only sustainability, but accountability,” she said. “Are communities involved in decision-making? Are smallholder farmers protected, or are they displaced? These are the benchmarks.”

Local views give a mixed but hopeful picture.. “They started clearing land near our village last year,” said Patrice Kalonji, a community leader in eastern DRC. “At first, we were worried. But we’ve since met their representatives, and some of our youths now work on the farm. It’s still early, but we’re watching closely to see how it grows.”

According to AFS, regional supply chains, water conservation, and regenerative techniques form the foundation of its operational strategy. The company states that collaborations with regional cooperatives and logistics suppliers are essential to its business strategy, although it has not yet published independent environmental or social impact studies.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Africa holds more than 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, yet imports over $43 billion worth of food annually. The disconnect between agricultural potential and actual productivity is often attributed to poor infrastructure, weak value chains, and limited access to financing and technology. Companies like AFS seek to close that gap—but not without scrutiny.

“The conversation is shifting from ‘we need foreign investors’ to ‘what kind of investors do we need?’” said Dr. Tunde Adewunmi, an agribusiness policy advisor based in Abuja, Nigeria. “Large-scale farming can complement, but must not crowd out, smallholders. If this model incorporates inclusive training, land rights protections, and fair profit-sharing, then it becomes transformative.”

For now, African Food Security’s efforts remain at a formative stage. Without public financial disclosures or audited reports on its impact, the company’s long-term role in Africa’s food ecosystem remains to be seen.

Still, in a region grappling with climate threats, youth unemployment, and rising food prices, any credible initiative bringing investment and skills transfer aimed at revitalizing agriculture is likely to draw attention.

“We’re not here for headlines,” Kessler added in his statement. “We’re here to build systems that can endure, and execute on our strategy.”

Whether AFS becomes a model for responsible agricultural enterprise, or simply another case study in the continent’s long history of externally funded development, may well depend on what happens next in the farms of Cameroon, the forests of the DRC and beyond.