Norfund’s Post

ADNA team has advised Invictus Investment Company PLC, a leading agro-food company in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, on the acquisition of a 60% stake in Graderco and its subsidiaries from Zalar Holding. This strategic move will not only expand Invictus Investment Company PLC's geographic presence and trading capabilities in key African markets but also represents its inaugural major investment in local warehousing and distribution capabilities in Morocco. Graderco, one of the premier grain and cereal trading firms in Morocco, imports, stores, and trades grain and grain derivatives for both human and animal nutrition, contributing to over 25% of the country’s imports. The ADNA team was composed of Safia Fassi Fihri  Dina Benjelloun and Laila Boujida. #Expansion #AgroCommodities #Morocco #Investment #NorthAfrica #Africa

Interesting days ahead for Cocoa as Ivory Coast increases farmgate prices by 50%. That's to 1500Fcfa($2.47USD). Farmgate prices in Cameroon 🇨🇲 stands between 4500 & 5100Fcfa($7.39USD-$8.37USD) Difficult to predict what the future holds but certainly Interesting days ahead! We keep watching #Cocoa #Cacao #sustainableagrculture #Sustainability #Climatechange #linkedinacceleratorwithlyn picture: Confectionery News

#DidYouKnow? Mr. Uon Silot, President of the Cashew nuts Association of Cambodia (CAC), reported that from January to March, Cambodia produced 47.4 thousand tons of raw cashew nuts. Of these, 42.4 thousand tons were exported to Vietnam, generating $543 million in revenue, marking a 13% increase from the same period in 2023. 🌎 🍀 Read more in KH: https://qrcd.org/562t Read more in ENG: https://qrcd.org/562w #CPSA I #GrowAsia I #Trade I #Export I #DailyKnowAgri I #Campaigns #Cashewnuts I

During the weekly broadcast "Tout savoir sur" by the Government Information and Communication Center (CICG), I highlighted the successes achieved in the sector thanks to the state’s reform. Here’s a summary of the key points discussed: Production Growth: Before the reform, raw cashew nut production was 500,000 tonnes. Following the introduced changes, it increased to 649,587 tonnes in 2016 and continues to rise, reaching 1,255,935 tonnes in 2023. Processors have already acquired over 300,000 tonnes, with a forecast of 320,000 tonnes. Ivory Coast's Position: Ivory Coast is now the world’s second-largest exporter of cashew kernels, after Vietnam. The country accounts for 40% of the global cashew supply, with a total production of 1,225,935 tonnes in 2023. Job Creation and Prospects: The factories have created over 15,000 direct jobs, 70% of which are held by women. The cashew processing industry offers promising prospects and undeniable dynamism. Commercialization: A total of 1,570 approved buyers, including 1,288 cooperatives, 129 commercial companies, and 35 processing units, participate in on-the-ground purchases. The marketing rules are strictly adhered to. Ivory Coast consolidates its position in the cotton-cashew sector thanks to these reforms and sustained production growth. #CashewIndustry #IvoryCoast #AgriculturalReform #EconomicGrowth #JobCreation #SustainableDevelopment #ImiriSoma

New blog: Cocoa Origin Focus: Ivory Coast

📈 Côte d'Ivoire’s Strategic Move Towards Rice Self-Sufficiency Côte d'Ivoire is taking significant steps to overcome its dependence on rice imports through the implementation of the Emergency Food Production Program (2PAU-CI). Launched in 2023, this initiative aims to increase local rice production and reduce the country’s import needs. As of mid-2024, the program has already distributed 1,812 tons of rice seeds and 16,844 tons of fertilizer to 67,464 farmers. The goal is to support 800,000 rice producers to cultivate 88,000 hectares, with a vision to mechanize 30% of rice production by 2025. This effort aligns with President Alassane Ouattara’s broader economic goals, including achieving rice self-sufficiency by 2027 and establishing Côte d'Ivoire as a rice exporter by 2030. The program not only aims to enhance food security but also to boost socio-economic development and job creation. #RiceProduction #FoodSecurity #EconomicDevelopment #CoteDIvoire #Agriculture #Sustainability #PublicPolicy

Did you know that if post harvest losses were brought under control, the world could feed +1 billion additional people (Bain & Co, 2020)? The world will not boost food production by the needed 70% by 2050 without successfully addressing food waste. This is why cold chain is indispensable to feeding The Next Billion. Join FreezeLink in this mission to innovate the distribution of food and medicine, using cold chain. Let's feed the future and cool Africa together. #FreezeLink #PostHarvestLoss #foodproduction #coldchainsolutions #foodsecurity #globalagriculture #agtech #sustainablefarming Vepeag Ghana  Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters IPD - Import Promotion Desk Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) GLOBALG.A.P. c/o FoodPLUS GmbH West Africa Trade & Investment Hub Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at MIT GIRSAL (Ghana Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agric Lending) Water and Energy for Food Grand Challenge Village Capital

While countries like Thailand, Ethiopia, and Cambodia have successfully harnessed cassava to boost their economies, Nigeria has yet to tap into this lucrative goldmine of trading cassava internationally. The global cassava market is projected to grow at 4.5% CAGR from 2022 to 2027, driven by demand for biofuels, starch, and animal feed (Grand View Research, Inc, 2022) It is time to explore cassava exportation because it can 👇 🌽Create thousands of jobs and boost rural livelihoods 🌽Generate significant foreign exchange earnings 🌽Diversify our economy and reduce oil dependence 🌽Mitigate climate change effects on agriculture 🌽Enhance food security At Gazillion Explorations, we recognize the immense potential of cassava. This is why we have deliberately chosen to cultivate cassava as one of our primary staple crops on our farm because by harnessing the power of cassava, we aim to make a meaningful impact on Nigeria’s food security and economic prosperity. To get to know more about us, by visiting gazillionexplorations.com Video source: Business Insider #ekitistate #gazillionexplorations #cassava #nigerianfarms #staplefood #locallygrowncrops #cassavaexportation #foodsecurity #sustainableagriculture

When life gives you limes... South African beverage giant The South African Breweries is set to reap the benefits of its investment in local lime production, heralding a promising first harvest. This venture, launched to counter a lime shortage, involves a collaboration with the Moletele Community Property Association, Komati Fruit Group, and the Department of Agriculture & Rural Development. By planting around 34,000 lime trees across 60 hectares, the project aims to bolster SAB's goal of sourcing 95% of its raw materials domestically, enhancing the local flavor of its products, including Corona beer, now produced locally. With a R19 million investment fueling this initiative, SAB not only anticipates a steady lime supply but also champions local agriculture's sustainability through public-private partnerships, setting a precedent for future endeavors in South Africa. ============================================== I'm guiding large Multinational Companies through the South African EE Investment Program (EEIP), Optimizing BEE for small to medium-enterprise and advising businesses in Africa #southafrica #africa #investing

By mid-March, exporters started dumping Ivory Coast (IVC) cashews because they considered the quality too low. This led to a surplus of unsellable cashews in IVC. In response, the Ivorian government banned all cashew exports and closed borders to neighboring countries. Ghana, meanwhile, benefited from higher prices due to the shortage caused by this ban. This raises an important question: If China can buy raw cashews from West Africa without stringent quality checks, why can't Vietnam or India do the same? The real reason lies in the processing capabilities and economic strategies of these countries. China has invested in advanced machinery that allows them to process large quantities of cashews, even if the quality is lower. This enables them to absorb the costs and maintain profitability. In contrast, Vietnam and India rely on higher quality cashews for efficient production and profitability, so they enforce stricter quality checks and are less willing to accept lower-quality nuts. Understanding these dynamics highlights the differing standards among major cashew importing countries and their impact on the global supply chain. For Ivory Coast, addressing these concerns is crucial to regain competitiveness and market access, especially with countries like Vietnam and India. #CashewIndustry #IvoryCoast #ImiriSoma #AgriculturalReform #GlobalTrade #EconomicStrategy #SustainableDevelopment