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Agventure raises $9.5 million from AgDevCo to help expand its canola oil and seed processing in Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya and LONDON, Nov. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Specialist agricultural investor AgDevCo is pleased to announce its latest investment in Kenya, into Agventure, a farmer–owned business that is leading the way in regenerative agricultural practices for non–irrigated cereal–based systems.

Agventure was established in 2010 with the mission of enabling Kenyan farmers to develop more sustainable farming practices. Agventure consists of a collective of farmers, researchers, educators, and entrepreneurs working to model, promote, and share regenerative production methods throughout the food system.

Today the group supplies over 45,000 tonnes of food crops into the local market, across a range of crops including wheat, barley, maize, canola, sunflower, green peas, chickpeas, lupins, fava beans and others. Through its Centre of Excellence, the company reaches and trains over 700 small and medium sized farmers across the country, encouraging them to introduce rotational crops including canola, into their farming system to help promote soil health. Agventure then provides a guaranteed offtake for the canola seed, which it processes and sells to the Kenyan market.

AgDevCo’s mezzanine loan of $9.5 million will enable the company to continue to develop its canola oil production capabilities – it sells oil under the Pure Mountain brand in Kenya – allowing the company to increase its volumes purchased from outgrower farmers. It will also help to build Agventure Seed’s platform to supply high quality certified seed to farmers.

AgDevCo’s Managing Director for East Africa, Rebecca Sankar, said, “We are excited to be supporting Agventure in its journey to add more value commodity crops, which increases the availability of high quality, locally produced food for the domestic market and reduces reliance on imports.”

Agventure’s CEO, Don White, said, “Agventure is looking forward to working with AgDevCo to expand and strengthen our business and in doing so expand availability of regenerative agriculture solutions to many more farmers.”

AgDevCo is a specialist investor in African agriculture, growing sustainable and impactful agribusiness, with USD 280m under management. Its vision is a thriving commercial agriculture sector, which benefits both people and planet by investing in and supporting agribusinesses to grow, create jobs, produce, and process food and link farmers to markets. AgDevCo supports its partners to work towards climate sustainability, and where possible, regenerative solutions. AgDevCo has made more than 65 investments to date. More information can be found at www.agdevco.com

Sam Hayley, Senior Investment Manager info@agdevco.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d5aea4cf–23b6–4586–9fb1–cb3afcd63202


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Tropo Farms secures $10m from AgDevCo to expand tilapia fish production in Ghana

ACCRA, Ghana and LONDON, Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Specialist agriculture investor AgDevCo has signed a long–term investment with Tropo Farms, the leading tilapia fish producer in West Africa and among the largest in Sub–Saharan Africa. Tropo Farms employs 917 people and supplies fish to the local market through about 3,000 market traders, the majority of whom are women.

Ghana has one of the highest fish consumption rates in Africa, consuming over 800,000 tonnes per year. This investment will boost the country’s aquaculture industry to satisfy the growing local demand for high quality, affordable fish as a sustainable alternative to wild catch and imports.

Tropo Farms is a pioneer in African aquaculture. Established by founder Mark Amechi in 1997, Tropo has developed sophisticated aquaculture practices tailored for local conditions.

AgDevCo’s investment of $10m will finance the construction of a modern processing facility and other production equipment. This will increase the company’s capacity to 30,000 tonnes within five years, contributing to improved nutrition and food security in Ghana.

Tropo sees opportunities for further aquaculture projects in West Africa, which it plans to pursue with AgDevCo and other strategic co–investors.

“Investing in Tropo Farms supports production of an important protein source in Ghana, contributes to import substitution and promotes economic growth. Our investment will enhance operational efficiency and sustainable aquaculture practices,” said Kweku Koranteng, AgDevCo’s Investment Director for West Africa.

“This loan is a major milestone for Tropo Farms. It will expand our logistics and distribution network while bringing more benefits to the communities where we operate. We are pleased to partner with AgDevCo, who brings flexible long–term capital to support our growth, as well as agribusiness expertise,” said Francisco Murillo, Tropo Farms CEO.

Mark Amechi, founder of Tropo Farms, added: “This agreement will not only enable us to scale our production volume and market share within Ghana but also represents a critical step toward realising our long–held ambitions of expanding further into the underdeveloped West African aquaculture sector.”

AgDevCo is a specialist investor in African agriculture, growing sustainable and impactful agribusiness, with $280m under management. Their vision is a thriving commercial agriculture sector, which benefits both people and planet by investing in and supporting agribusinesses to grow, create jobs, produce, and process food and link farmers to markets. They support their partners to work towards climate sustainability, and where possible, regenerative solutions. AgDevCo has made more than 65 investments to date.

Contact details for media:

Kweku Koranteng, info@agdevco.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9d3424eb–7995–475e–9db9–9c4d9e33964c


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