Hastings Nhlane is the Co-founder and Director of ACADES, which is the largest network of youth in agribusiness in Malawi with a membership of over 3,000 youth farmers. The network promotes youth employment, job creation and economic empowerment through agribusiness. ACADES support its members through skills development trainings, provision of input loans and market facilitation.
In 2018 ACADES established the Agribusiness Innovation Centre which focuses on supporting youth with innovative ideas within the agriculture value chains. The Centre supports Youth Agribusiness Innovators through the provision of a working space, business development trainings and networking to investors.
In 2017, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations carried out a study on Youth employment creation through agriculture. The study which was conducted in 12 African countries highlighted the ACADES Model as one of the best approaches of strengthening youth employment creation through agriculture in Africa.
Hastings Nhlane is also a recipient of Planning for Impact Award by Social Impact Incubator and the Agriculture Innovation 2nd Place Award by Agriculture Transformation Initiative.