AYV News, April 23, 2026
Sierra Leone has taken a significant step toward advancing its agro-industrialisation drive under the Feed Salone initiative, with plans to formalize a strategic partnership with Swiss-based Company BühlerAG.
The development follows a high-level food systems engagement held at Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, convened by the Presidential Initiative for Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. The forum brought together key stakeholders from government, the private sector, and development partners to explore practical solutions for strengthening the country’s agro-processing capacity.
Addressing participants, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Henry Musa Kpaka, emphasized the urgency of scaling up value addition within the agricultural sector. He noted that creating an enabling environment for agro-industry growth remains a central pillar of the Feed Salone agenda, which aims to transform agriculture into a more productive and commercially viable sector.
Bühler AG, a global leader in food processing technologies, is expected to play a pivotal role in Sierra Leone’s proposed food park initiative. The company is set to contribute technical expertise in areas such as milling, feed systems, and food processing, which are critical to strengthening domestic production and reducing reliance on imports.
Deliberations at the forum focused on actionable strategies to enhance local processing capabilities, including improving the rice value chain, expanding feed production, and promoting the availability of nutritious food. Stakeholders stressed the importance of moving beyond policy discussions to concrete implementation.
The engagement is expected to conclude with business-to-business matchmaking sessions and the formal signing of partnership agreements, signaling a transition from dialogue to action.
Officials say the initiative marks a clear step toward building a more resilient and value-driven agricultural sector, positioning Sierra Leone to achieve greater food security and economic growth.
