Symbiotics invests $5 million into a Ghanaian agriculture technology company

In a significant move to bolster agricultural production and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in West Africa, Symbiotics, a Swiss impact investment platform, has invested $5 million in the Ghanaian agritech firm, Complete Farmer.

Founded in 2017, Complete Farmer aims to connect more than 12,000 smallholder farmers in the region directly to global food buyers and agricultural input suppliers. This connection is crucial for farmers in Ghana, the world's second-biggest cocoa producer and the fourth-largest in cassava, who often face challenges such as limited market access, fragmented value chains, and inconsistent product quality.

Vincent Lehner, head of markets at Symbiotics, praised Complete Farmer's use of technology to boost agricultural expertise for all of its farmers. He stated that the investment aims to contribute to SDG 2 - Zero Hunger by boosting rural livelihoods and providing smallholder farmers with a more stable income.

Symbiotics manages an aggregate portfolio of $2.5 billion, spread across 19 funds and mandates. In the past two decades, they have made over 8,200 investments in 99 countries, totalling more than $10.5 billion.

Meanwhile, Desmond Koney, CEO of Complete Farmer, stated that the investment marks a pivotal moment in the company's journey to build the most efficient agricultural supply chains in Africa. Complete Farmer invests in infrastructure to strengthen the agricultural value chain, and this investment will undoubtedly accelerate their progress.

The specific nature of the investments by Symbiotics and Clarmondial, who have partnered with Supernova for nature-based investments in Indonesia, was not detailed in the available information. However, it is clear that these investments are aimed at fostering sustainable growth and improving the lives of farmers across the globe.

Adenia, an organisation not mentioned in this article, has also established an entrepreneurial fund, but its connection to the events described here is not clear.

This investment in Complete Farmer by Symbiotics is a testament to the potential of technology to revolutionise agriculture and empower smallholder farmers in West Africa. As more investments like this are made, we can look forward to a future where rural livelihoods are strengthened, and food security is improved worldwide.