Trade is growing but is it growing sustainably?

The 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE), held in June 2025 in Changsha, China, brought together over 1,500 companies, policymakers and development partners from across Africa and China. While billions of dollars in deals were signed across sectors like mining, energy and infrastructure, one question remains under-explored:

Can China-Africa trade also support sustainable, organic agriculture and agroecology – especially for smallholder farmers in Africa?

Agriculture forms the backbone of many  African economies. Yet in global trade deals including with China,  smallholder farmers, traditional knowledge and sustainable practices are often left behind.

• Exports focus on raw commodities like maize, cotton and beef, often produced under industrial, input-heavy systems.
• Trade agreements tend to favour large-scale agribusinesses and overlook organic, local food systems.

Farmers using traditional or organic methods often lack certification, marketaccess and investment, making it hard for them to compete

At the same time, Africa’s soil is degrading, youth unemployment is rising and climate change is intensifying. A different kind of trade strategy is urgently needed, one that works with nature and for the people.

We Are Missing an Opportunity to Trade Differently

There is a powerful opportunity sitting in front of us  but it is being missed.

Africa is rich in:

• Diverse, climate-resilient crops including cowpeas, pumpkins, wild leafy greens and medicinal herbs.
• Traditional organic livestock systems that rely on rotational grazing and natural feed.
• Agroecological know-how passed down through generations.

Meanwhile, China’s organic food market is booming, driven by a middle class seeking healthy, traceable, chemical-free products. Chinese consumers are increasingly demanding:

• Organic rooibos tea, dried fruits and herbs.
• Ethically raised, hormone-free meat.
• GMO-free cereals and pulses.

So why aren’t more organic African farmers participating in this high-value trade?

It is because most trade platforms have not been designed with smallholders and sustainability in mind.

Make Organic Part of the China-Africa Trade Agenda

The next phase of China-Africa agricultural cooperation should focus on organic, inclusive and climate-smart trade. Here’s how:

 1. Prioritize Organic Certification and Market Access

Governments and development partners can:

• Support Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) that make certification affordable for smallholder farmers.
• Invest in training programs and mobile apps that help farmers meet export requirements.
• Fund organic cooperatives to improve aggregation, packaging and branding for China-bound markets.

2. Promote Organic Livestock and Ethical Meat Trade

Southern African farmers raise livestock naturally – grazing on open land without hormones or routine antibiotics. These practices align with China’s growing demand for:

• Grass-fed, free-range beef and goat.
• Organic bone broth and specialty meats.
• High-quality animal products with traceability.

CAETE can be used to:

• Connect organic meat producers with Chinese importers.
• Promote “Pasture to Port” value chains that highlight ethical production.

 3. Boost Investment in Soil Health and Agroecology

If Africa exports more food, we must also protect its soil. Trade agreements should include:

• Soil regeneration clauses that reward farmers for composting, mulching, and carbon sequestration.
• Joint research projects between African and Chinese agroecologists to study low-input, high-output systems.
• Incentives for no-GMO and pesticide-free value chains.

4. Build Awareness and Traceability with Digital Tools

Chinese consumers are willing to pay more for safe, organic African products but they want proof.

By investing in:

• QR-code traceability systems, showing exactly where and how food was grown.
• Farmer stories and origin-based branding (“Namibian Organic,” “Zambian Soil-Grown,” “Malawi Roots”), we can build trust and demand.

 Conclusion: Trade Should Nourish People – Not Just Markets

If we want to build a future where African farmers thrive and the planet is protected, trade must go beyond commodities. It must honour the soil the seed, and the smallholder farmer.

At future CAETEs, let us put organic farmers, cooperatives and regenerative agriculture at the centre of trade conversations.

For more information on markets for agricultural produce, down load the knowledge product below.

Let’s build a new kind of agriculture and a new kind of trade – together.

Author: Rabecca Mwila

Rabecca Mwila is a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship. With a background in climate change and communications, she has spent years telling the untold stories of the realities of climate change, environmental and climate injustices and how they affect vulnerable communities in Africa and beyond.