Post-harvest losses represent a major challenge for African agriculture, seriously compromising the continent's food self-sufficiency. Faced with this problem, AS-Food has developed an innovative solution: self-contained, modular mini-factories that can be transported directly to harvesting sites. This initiative promises to considerably reduce post-harvest losses, thereby meeting the crucial needs of rural populations and African countries. What's more, it offers a promising investment opportunity for agri-food players and multinationals keen to strengthen their social and environmental responsibility (SER). Investing in agri-food mini-factories in Africa is not only a lucrative decision, but also a way of contributing to the common good by supporting an innovative technology that is vital to the future of African agriculture.
1. The challenges of post-harvest losses in Africa
According to the FAO, 100 million tonnes of crops are lost every year in Africa, which would be enough to feed 300 million people, with the highest rate of loss in fruit and vegetables (40%). These post-harvest losses are a major obstacle to food security and economic development. See our article on post-harvest losses for more information: https://as-food.com/reduction-pertes-post-recoltes-afrique-as-food/. Inadequate storage infrastructures, often unsuitable processing techniques and logistical difficulties contribute to these losses, depriving rural communities and states of vital income and resources.
2. AS Food's innovation : the autonomous, modular and transportable mini-factory
Faced with this challenge, AS Food has come up with an innovative solution: the autonomous, modular and transportable mini-factory. Designed specifically to meet African constraints (high seasonality of harvests, isolation of harvesting areas, etc.), this mini-factory can be transported to harvesting sites, enabling local fruit and vegetables to be transformed on site into high value-added products. Equipped with processing, stabilization and packaging capacities, it offers a complete solution for reducing post-harvest losses and fully exploiting the agricultural potential of rural Africa.
3. An innovation supported by key players in African agricultural development
AS-Food's technological innovation has attracted considerable attention at a number of trade fairs, and already enjoys the support of key players in African agricultural development. One example is the audience granted by Mr. KOBENAN Kouassi Adjoumani, Minister of State for Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Production in Côte d'Ivoire, at the recent Salon International de l'Agriculture in Paris. During this audience, the Minister highlighted the pilot unit in Côte d'Ivoire, and confirmed its crucial role in a policy of food sovereignty.
4. Investing in AS-Food technology means investing for the common good, with good prospects of profitability.
AS-Food technology has already acquired a high profile in African agricultural development circles. In fact, it now stands out as a unique solution on the market, with very strong growth potential, given the immensity of the post-harvest loss problem it addresses. Investing in a mini-factory is, of course, first and foremost working for the common good, that of African rural communities and, beyond that, that of the continent as a whole. But it is also, for African cooperatives and rural entrepreneurs, an economically relevant investment, offering the opportunity to position themselves in a differentiated way in the promising niche of building sustainable food security in Africa.
5. Future prospects : essential cooperation with a network of investors
By strengthening the resilience of rural communities, promoting food self-sufficiency and stimulating local economic development, AS-Food's innovative solution has the potential to contribute to a more prosperous and sustainable future for the African agri-food industry. Investing in mini-food factories in Africa is a concrete way of supporting this vision. Of course, AS-Food can't do it alone! To realize this potential, the company intends to mobilize and rely on a community of private and public investors who share its determination to make a difference in the local development of Africa's agricultural resources, and who are committed to making economically robust investments - an essential condition for the long-term success of such processing projects.
In short, if you're an agricultural cooperative, a food safety organization or a company looking to strengthen its social and environmental policy, don't hesitate to contact us at contact@as-food.com to find out more about our solutions and potential partnerships and collaborations.
