Côte d’Ivoire: key highlights 2025 and outlook for 2026

Key highlights 2025

Trade mission and SARA 2025

The Dutch participation in SARA 2025 strengthened the visibility of Dutch companies and expertise: a 150 m² pavilion was set up, a ministerial delegation led by Director General for Agriculture Mr. Marten van den Berg visited the event, and a trade mission was organized, enabling B2B meetings, matchmaking sessions, and high‑level exchanges. The Dutch Prize for Agricultural Innovation (PNIA) highlighted innovative solutions adapted to the Ivorian context, rewarding six Ivorian agripreneurs.

Launch of the MOYÉ Centre (HortiNord)

The MOYÉ Centre of Excellence, cornerstone of the HortiNord combitrack, opened its doors and welcomed its first cohort. This training, demonstration, and incubation centre laid the foundations for a regional horticulture hub, with a memorandum of understanding signed with IFAD to train an additional 500 students and partnerships established with technical and financial actors.

After four months of training, 80% of which was practical, all 25 trainees received their certificates during a ceremony attended by more than one hundred guests, including technical and financial partners and officials. They expressed strong interest in having some of their key staff trained and in recruiting the first certified graduates, as was the case with Solidaridad.

Catalogue of Dutch solutions for sustainable agriculture

The creation of a “biokit” bringing together Dutch suppliers of biological inputs for West Africa made it possible to centralize practical solutions for producers engaged in agroecology. The catalogue, available in French and English, was launched in partnership with Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP) for the attention of decision‑makers in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal. Promotion initiatives are planned for 2026.

Circular poultry farming

A sectoral vision for circular poultry farming was developed, identifying economic opportunities around waste recovery (compost, Black Soldier Flies) and reducing dependence on imported inputs. Business cases were initiated with NFP to prepare the engagement of Dutch companies starting in 2026.

Biodiversity and the 30x30 Initiative

Thanks to its bilateral strategy established in 2024, the LAN Abidjan office (LAN‑ABI), in collaboration with UNDP, succeeded in integrating the idea for an initiative the promote the 30×30 Objective (30% of the country’s territory dedicated to biodiversity rehabilitation and/or conservation by 2030) into Côte d’Ivoire’s National Determined Contributions (NDC) plan 3.0. Building on this political achievement, the MOYÉ Centre of Excellence hosted the launch of the “30x30 Domains” initiative, a network of voluntary private actors committed to contributing to the objective while developing business opportunities. Mapping and rapid inventories around the Centre also highlighted a lake area with strong potential for the protection and enhancement of local animal species.

Protein diversification

The mycological sector (edible mushrooms) was identified as a priority opportunity for protein diversification. A network of actors was established, and a scoping report was prepared for the fourth quarter of 2025 to identify investable value chains.

Agricocktail and the Netherlands and Cote d’ Ivoire Business Network

The 2025 edition of the AgriCocktail was held in combination with the Netherlands Business Cocktail in Côte d’Ivoire (RAPC/NCBN). This event provided a privileged platform to strengthen ties between the Embassy, technical and financial partners, agricultural companies, farmers’ organizations, and public institutions. It highlighted the agricultural projects supported by the Netherlands, while celebrating the achievements of the past year and presenting the strategic priorities for the year ahead.

Outlook 2026

1. Consolidate and expand the MOYÉ Centre

Finalize financial and technical partnerships, launch incubation tracks, and structure “route‑to‑market” pathways for trained hortipreneurs.

2. Deploy circular solutions in poultry farming

Test and validate business models for poultry waste recovery (compost, BSF), and organize technical workshops and exchange missions with the private sector.

3. Operationalize the 30x30 initiative and mainstream biodiversity

An incentive study for private landowners will be conducted to define convincing mechanisms (carbon credits, ecotourism, payments for ecosystem services) encouraging adherence to the 30×30 network. In parallel, the consolidation of the “30×30 Domains” network will aim to formalize the structure through the establishment of a secretariat and the development of a communication plan to strengthen coordination and visibility. In addition, activities will be set up to ‘mainstream’ biodiversity objectives of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) of Côte d’Ivoire in other national policies related to agriculture, finance and planning – for instance.

4. Strengthen the seed sector and access to sustainable inputs

Contribute to the development of the Ivorian seed sector to create business opportunities for Dutch seed companies, notably through an innovation mission for horticulture, onion, and potato scheduled for April 2026. This mission will lay the groundwork for the implementation of IGG’s seed sector development programme. The catalogue of Dutch sustainable agricultural solutions will be promoted to increase visibility among local actors and facilitate the introduction of sustainable inputs.

5. Maintain visibility and mobilize partners

Use platforms (Agricocktail, bilateral events) to promote Dutch companies and attract technical and financial partners around programmes developed by the LAN‑ABI office, while supporting communication on pilot results.

More information

For more information about the work of the Netherlands Agricultural Network (LAN) team in Côte d’Ivoire, you can reach out via email: abi-lvvn@minbuza.nl.