Fostering impact investment in Côte d'Ivoire’s agricultural value chains

EMpact, a venture studio focused on creating startups that serve agricultural value chains in Côte d'Ivoire, has recently collaborated with the International University of Grand Bassam and Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny to launch its first venture on the African continent. The co-founder and CEO of EMpact, Sami Lahoud, discussed the significance of this development in an exclusive interview with CNBC Africa. Lahoud highlighted the challenges facing agricultural value chains globally and the importance of entrepreneurship, job creation, and attracting investments in frontier markets. With a focus on West Africa, particularly Francophone Africa and Ghana, as well as Central America and Central Asia, EMpact aims to create startups that address the needs of the agricultural value chains and increase the resilience of the value chain within countries. The venture studio partners with universities to access talent and faculty, enabling them to put together teams that develop solutions for key players in the ag value chain. Lahoud emphasized the importance of addressing the inefficiencies in the agricultural sector, citing the example of cocoa production in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. Despite producing a significant portion of the world's cocoa, the combined value of these two countries remains low compared to global cocoa sales. Through the collaboration with universities and local talent, EMpact seeks to create investable startups and job opportunities for young individuals in Africa. The journey towards food security is a primary concern, further exacerbated by climate change. Lahoud emphasized the need to develop solutions that address the impact of human activity on the planet, particularly in the context of agriculture. By promoting sustainable farming techniques, regenerative agriculture, and agroforestry, startups can contribute to carbon sequestration and increased crop resilience. These efforts not only enhance the livelihood of farmers but also create opportunities for carbon credit exchange and improved crop yield. Overall, the collaboration between EMpact and academic institutions signals a strategic approach to fostering impact investment in Côte d'Ivoire’s agricultural value chains, with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and job creation in the region.