In this episode, we focus on the single most practical lever for sustainable, high-impact growth: technology transfer.
Done well, it multiplies productivity, builds durable local capacity, and creates recurring service revenues. Done poorly, it becomes an expensive one-off that locals can't maintain or afford to repair.
This guide provides a clear, actionable playbook to turn technology transfer from good intentions into measurable, scalable impact—starting with your conversations on the Expo floor.
Across Africa, farmers and cooperatives face predictable constraints: inconsistent inputs, unpredictable weather, post-harvest losses exceeding 30%, and fragmented value chains.
Modern agro-tech directly addresses these bottlenecks through precision-farming sensors, soil mapping, modular processing units, and last-mile cold chains. When paired with appropriate training, finance, and service models, technology transfer can:
• Raise yields by 20-50%
• Reduce post-harvest waste by 30%+
• Unlock new export opportunities for small and medium producers
• Create sustainable revenue streams for local partners
The opportunity is substantial. The execution is everything.
Technology transfer delivers measurable gains across Africa's diverse agricultural landscape. Precision irrigation systems reduce water usage by 30-40% while increasing yields, particularly critical in semi-arid regions like the Sahel. Soil testing and nutrient management technologies help farmers optimize fertilizer application, reducing costs by 15-25% while improving crop quality. Mechanization technologies—from small-scale tractors to combine harvesters—can increase productivity by 300-500% compared to manual methods, while mobile soil labs enable real-time decision-making that was previously impossible in remote areas.
Post-harvest technology transfer transforms raw agricultural output into higher-value products, keeping more revenue within local communities. Solar-powered grain dryers reduce post-harvest losses from 30% to under 5%, while modular food processing units enable cooperatives to produce packaged goods that command premium prices. Cold chain technologies extend produce shelf life from days to weeks, opening access to urban and export markets. Mobile processing units can serve multiple communities on rotating schedules, maximizing equipment utilization while minimizing individual farmer investment requirements.
Technology integration creates more resilient, efficient value chains from farm to market. Digital platforms connect smallholder farmers directly to buyers, eliminating multiple intermediaries and increasing farmer incomes by 20-40%. GPS-enabled logistics and inventory management systems reduce transport costs and improve product traceability, essential for export market access. Blockchain-based certification systems provide transparent quality assurance, enabling African producers to compete in premium global markets while building consumer trust.
Successful technology transfer creates multiplier effects through skills development and local business creation. Training programs produce certified technicians capable of maintaining and repairing equipment, reducing downtime from weeks to days. Local entrepreneurs establish spare parts distribution networks, creating sustainable businesses while ensuring equipment longevity. Technical colleges develop specialized curricula around new technologies, creating pathways for youth employment in modern agriculture. Women and youth often become early adopters of digital agricultural tools, creating new economic opportunities in traditionally male-dominated sectors.
African agriculture faces increasing climate volatility, making adaptive technologies essential for long-term sustainability. Weather monitoring systems provide early warning for droughts, floods, and pest outbreaks, enabling proactive responses. Drought-resistant seeds and water-efficient irrigation reduce vulnerability to irregular rainfall patterns. Solar-powered systems reduce dependence on unreliable grid electricity while lowering operational costs. Integrated pest management technologies reduce chemical inputs while maintaining crop protection, supporting both environmental and human health goals.
Technology adoption often catalyzes access to formal financial services previously unavailable to smallholder farmers. Digital payment systems reduce transaction costs and create credit histories that enable loans for expansion. Crop monitoring technologies provide lenders with real-time visibility into loan performance, reducing interest rates for farmers. Insurance products based on satellite data and weather stations provide affordable coverage against climate risks. Equipment leasing models reduce upfront capital requirements while ensuring proper maintenance through service contracts.
Before signing any MoU, use these non-negotiable guardrails:
Technologies must be adapted with end users from day one—hardware specifications, user interface language, power requirements, and local workflows. No assumptions allowed.
Selling hardware and walking away guarantees failure. Bundle services: installation, spare parts, remote monitoring, and pay-as-you-use financing. Revenue should come from ongoing value, not one-time sales.
Train individual operators and establish local service providers (technicians, input suppliers, software resellers). The goal is self-sufficiency, not dependency.
Start small and measurable. Learn fast. Standardize what works. Scale only after proving sustainability at pilot level.
Track yield per hectare, cost per ton, equipment downtime, adoption rates, and farmer income changes—not just units deployed or workshops conducted.
Use this framework to evaluate and structure technology partnerships:
Before any pilot begins, conduct a systematic readiness scan:
• Cooperative governance and decision-making processes
• Land tenure clarity and security
• Electricity and communications infrastructure
• Literacy levels and preferred languages
• Existing spare parts and maintenance logistics
Don't proceed without scoring at least 7/10 on readiness fundamentals.
Define specific, measurable goals with all stakeholders:
• Target outcomes (e.g., 25% yield increase, 30% post-harvest loss reduction)
• Clear KPIs and measurement protocols
• Roles and responsibilities for each party
• Cost-sharing arrangements and risk allocation
Keep pilots focused: 3 months maximum, single technology, measurable outcomes.
Combine multiple financing instruments:
• Grant/concessional capital for early-stage risk and capacity building
• Performance-linked finance (repayment tied to verified outcomes)
• Local micro-leasing for equipment and working capital needs
No single financing source works alone.
Before equipment arrives, identify and contract 2-3 local SMEs as:
• Authorized installers and maintenance providers
• Spare parts distributors with inventory commitments
• First-line technical support with response time SLAs
Local partners must be profitable, not just present.
Move beyond one-time workshops to systematic capability building:
• Initial training: classroom theory + hands-on practice
• Field coaching: on-site support during first growing season
• Refresher sessions: quarterly skill reinforcement
• Job aids: simple visual guides and troubleshooting cards
• Help systems: local-language phone support
Adult learning requires repetition and reinforcement.
Establish data collection from week one:
• Weekly performance data during pilot phase
• 30/60/90-day formal reviews with all stakeholders
• Go/no-go scaling decision based on demonstrated KPIs
• Standardized deployment plan with clear pricing and logistics
Scaling unproven models wastes everyone's resources.
The Technology Transfer: Dutch greenhouse and horticulture companies have been actively transferring advanced agricultural technologies to Nigeria through structured trade missions and partnerships.
Key Players:
Dutch seed breeders, including Enza Zaden, Syngenta, Pop Vriend, Top Harvest, and Majstro, offering high-quality vegetable seeds tailored to local conditions
Koppert providing biological pest management solutions
Afri Agri Products Ltd is a trusted partner for horticulture, specializing in climate-resilient solutions for greenhouses and open fields in Nigeria
The Approach:
Multiple Dutch trade missions to Nigeria organized by Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)
Technology bundling: seeds + pest management + greenhouse technology + nutrients
Local partnership model through Afri Agri Products Ltd as the Nigerian partner
expert advice and personalized support
The Technology Transfer: The Netherlands focused on innovative and sustainable ways to help farmers improve production methods and increase their access to markets
Results: These efforts showed good results by meeting targets and in some cases exceeding them
Sustainability Approach: The Netherlands is committed to supporting Ghana's determination to take care of its own development without relying on foreign aid. While scaling down official development aid (ODA), the focus shifted to sustainable technology transfer.
These verified examples show that successful European-to-Africa agricultural technology transfer typically involves:
Established European companies with proven technologies
Local partnerships for distribution and support
Government backing through trade missions and diplomatic support
Technology adaptation to local conditions and crops
Comprehensive packages rather than standalone technologies
The Netherlands appears to be the most active European country in systematic agricultural technology transfer to Africa, leveraging their world-leading expertise in greenhouse technology, precision agriculture, and sustainable farming practices.
Track these KPIs throughout your technology transfer initiatives:
Adoption and usage:
• Active usage rate after 90 days (target: >80%)
• Farmer retention rate across seasons (target: >75%)
Economic impact:
• Yield per hectare and season-to-season variability
• Total cost per ton (production + post-harvest)
• Net income change for participating farmers
Technical performance:
• Equipment uptime and mean time to repair (MTTR)
• Service response times and resolution rates
Sustainability indicators:
• Local service partner revenue generation
• Spare parts inventory turnover
• Training effectiveness scores
Without measurement, technology transfer is just expensive charity.
Technology pitfalls:
• Importing equipment designed for continuous grid power or expensive consumables
• Assuming universal smartphone access or high-speed internet
• Ignoring seasonal labor patterns and cultural practices
Business model pitfalls:
• No clear path to profitability for local partners
• Spare parts lead times exceeding 2 weeks
• Training as one-time events without follow-up support
Social pitfalls:
• Designing for male heads of household while ignoring women and youth who often do the actual farming
• Requiring literacy or numeracy levels beyond local capacity
• Ignoring existing social dynamics and decision-making processes
Success requires addressing all three dimensions simultaneously.
At each technology booth, ensure you can check these boxes before committing:
☐ 12-week pilot plan with specific KPIs, roles, and cost-sharing arrangements ☐ Local service partner identified with spare parts logistics mapped
☐ Training modules designed in local languages with refresher schedules
☐ Data sharing and M&E protocols agreed upon and documented
☐ Blended finance options explored (grants + commercial + leasing)
☐ Sustainability pathway clearly defined beyond pilot phase
If you can't check all boxes, you're not ready to proceed.
Technology transfer is not a transaction—it's a relationship contract aligning technical performance with local capacity, appropriate finance, and sustainable market access.
During your conversations at Ibero-African Expo & Matchmaking, aim to leave each booth with either a concrete pilot commitment or a clearly documented next step. When innovative technologies are properly paired with local partners, proven service models, and measurable KPIs, the result extends far beyond higher yields.
You create durable revenue streams, shared value across borders, and the foundation for long-term food security.
Come to the one-on-one business matching at the Ibero-African Expo & Matchmaking prepared: Bring a specific pilot idea, a shortlist of potential local partners, and genuine willingness to co-design solutions rather than simply sell products.
The future of sustainable agriculture depends on getting technology transfer right. Let's make it happen.
For further information, please contact:
Sahel Agri-Sol Reveron (*)
Mr. Luciano Reveron Gómez
Co-General Manager
Email: reveron@adalidda.com | WhatsApp: +34 613 130 576
Website: https://adalidda.com
Mr. Kosona Chriv
Sales and Marketing Director
📧 kosona@adalidda.com | 📱 WhatsApp : +855 10 333 220
Our WhatsApp channel https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9I6d0Dp2Q2rJZ8Kk0x
(*) Sahel Agri-Sol Reveron is a joint-venture between Sahel Agri-Sol of Solina Group (Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mali, Nigeria, Uganda), Reveron (Spain) and Adalidda (Cambodia).
Sahel Agri-Sol Reveron represents a pioneering multi-continental joint venture that exemplifies the new paradigm of cross-border agricultural investment. This strategic alliance unites four complementary partners: Sahel Agri-Sol's African agricultural expertise, Solina Group's established West and East market presence, Reveron's Spanish agribusiness technology and European market access, and Adalidda's Southeast Asian agricultural innovation capabilities.
As a specialized investment and export management platform, Sahel Agri-Sol Reveron focuses on identifying, developing, and scaling high-value opportunities across African agricultural value chains. The joint venture leverages its partners' combined strengths to transform raw agricultural potential into market-ready export products, creating sustainable pathways from African producers to global markets.
The consortium's unique multi-regional expertise enables comprehensive value chain optimization—from precision farming techniques and post-harvest processing to international quality standards compliance and global distribution networks. This integrated approach positions Sahel Agri-Sol Reveron as a bridge between African agricultural abundance and worldwide market demand, delivering measurable returns while fostering sustainable agricultural development across the continent.
I hope you enjoyed reading this post and learned something new and useful from it. If you did, please share it with your friends and colleagues who might be interested in Agriculture and Agribusiness.
Mr. Kosona Chriv
Founder of LinkedIn Group « Agriculture, Livestock, Aquaculture, Agrifood, AgriTech and FoodTech » https://www.linkedin.com/groups/6789045/
Co-Founder, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer
Deko Integrated & Agro Processing Ltd
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Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria | RC 1360057
Group Chief Sales and Marketing Officer
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