Chinese Agricultural Technology Demonstration Centers in Africa

 Afrika Focus published in 2020 a study titled "Rethinking the Political Economy of Chinese-African Agricultural Cooperation: The Chinese Agricultural Technology Demonstration Centers" by Mariosole Pepa, University of Padua.  

The paper explores Chinese Agricultural Technology Demonstration Centers (ATDCs) in Africa.  It suggests China's involvement in the agricultural sector has changed over time and that Chinese strategies differ based on which African countries it is dealing with.  

African Food Security and China's Agricultural Technology Demonstration Centers

Development Reimagined published on 8 May 2020 an analysis titled "China's Agricultural Technology Demonstration Centers: Do They Help Africa's Food Security Needs?"

The analysis looks at the 27 Agricultural Technology Demonstration Centers (ATDC) in Africa, which are operated by the Chinese government and Chinese private sector jointly. The results are mixed. A few of the ATDCs have failed but at least 11 of those in commercial operation have been so for five or more years. The study found that the commercial element of the model often constrains ATDCs because decisions and activities become profit-driven rather than need-driven There are also many local factors that prevent the benefits of the ATDC project from becoming scalable and are often not considered by Chinese ATDC staff.

China-Africa Agricultural Cooperation

Quartz Africa published on 16 November 2016 an article titled "China Is on a Mission To Modernize African Farming--and Find New Markets for its Own Companies" by Lily Kuo.

China's Ministry of Commerce has financed 23 Agricultural Technology Demonstration Centers across Africa. This article describes the one in Rwanda. The purpose of the centers is not to grow food for China but to establish business opportunities for Chinese agricultural companies.