GOPA AFC Private Sector Engagement in Agriculture (Jan 2026)
GOPA AFC
Private Sector Engagement in Agriculture & Agribusiness
Private sector engagement in emerging markets
Have you ever considered investing in Tajikistan’s expanding agribusiness industry?
Did you already burn your fingers trying to get a foot into the Nigerian market?
Are you planning to source certified coffee from Uganda?
Do you know the potential market size for your products in Columbia’s agriculture sector?
Do you want to meet your ESG and triple bottom-line targets?
Whether you want to source from West Africa, invest in new markets or benefit from effective matchmaking services in Central Asia, we can be the partner you need to succeed.
Who We Are?
For over 50 years, GOPA AFC develops agriculture and agribusinesses across the world. We produce proven results that last. We are value-driven, flexible and committed, with vast experience and a wide network of contacts across global emerging markets. As part of GOPA, one of Europe’s foremost international cooperation consultancies, we are driving sustainable growth through agriculture, finance, and climate solutions.
us to engage
Unlock Your Growth with Our Expertise
We combine strategic advisory services, technical excellence, and robust project management to deliver solutions that drive results for your business:
↳ Tailored, actionable strategies built on decades of hands-on experience.
↳ Global know-how applied locally, ensuring relevance, sustainability, and impact.
↳ Reliable project execution powered by the extensive capacity and networks of GOPA. Partner with us for a seamless experience—free from unnecessary bureaucracy and delays—so you can focus on what matters: achieving your goals.
Our Service Offerings
MARKET RESEARCH & FEASIBILITY STUDIES
Make informed decisions with our in-depth market analysis and feasibility assessments.
Develop customized strategies and targeted marketing campaigns for successful entry and growth in new markets. Leverage our on-theground knowledge and connections for a smooth market entry.
BUSINESS MATCHMAKING & INVESTMENT FACILITATION
Connect with reliable local partners and global industry leaders through tailored roadshows, delegations, and site visits to engage directly with key market players and explore new opportunities.
FARMER PROFESSIONALISATION
Ensure your supply of agricultural products meets global standards for quantity, quality, and reliability.
QUALITY ASSURANCE & CERTIFICATION SUPPORT
Strengthen your supply chain with certification, traceability, and quality improvement services.
SUSTAINABLE & RESPONSIBLE SUPPLY CHAINS
Integrate ESG best practices, promote human rights, and build resilient, sustainable supply chains that meet complex regulatory requirements and fulfil your corporate social responsibility objectives.
GOPA AFC IN ACTION: SUCCESS STORIES
Market studies in Morocco
We conducted an in depth market study on organic inputs in Morocco, including a situational analysis, diagnostic assessment and benchmarking. This work provided our client with valuable market intelligence and identified local partners for the development of sustainable agricultural supply chains.
Match making Tunisian and European companies
We matched Tunisian olive oil and date producers with top European distributors, resulting in multiple export contracts and new partnerships. One brand has already been added to a leading French Épicerie. More Tunisian brands will soon be available in French and German stores.
Supplying quality – the case of potatoes in Nigeria
Potato production in Plateau State, Nigeria, is common but quality remained poor due to disease pressure, poor storage and lack of market incentives to invest into production. We worked with about 2,000 farmers and their respective association, trained farmers on quality management and marketing skills, facilitated the construction of appropriate storage solutions. Since then, for the first time, a large South African supermarket chain partnered with us to source potatoes from Nigeria for their Nigerian stores, instead of importing them from Egypt or Europe. The quality was right.
Video: Documentary from the farmers’ perspective
Increasing the harvesting window for the mango industry
Mangoes are West Africa’s most valuable fruit for processing, but Ghana’s harvest lasts only a few weeks. To extend this period and boost processing opportunities, we mapped mango harvest seasons across across West Africa, facilitating better planning for intraregional trade of this precious raw material. We also partnered with the private sector to trial early and late-fruiting mango varieties. Today, cross-border trade of mangoes within West Africa is more common than ever. At least three new varieties have been successfully introduced in the region and Ghanaian processors now enjoy a longer processing season.
Facilitating a one million Euro investment in Ghana
We linked up a Spanish company with a Ghana-based Swiss agroprocessing company to source and locally process a new product (miracle berry) for the European market. We mapped the availability of raw material and the organizational maturity of farmer groups. We provided technical expertise to design the new processing line for freeze-drying, define the process flow and recommended suitable equipment fabricators. Today, the processing line is running and exports to Europe have begun.
Make ‘sourcing locally’ a success
A large multinational consumer packaged goods company partnered with us to develop the cassava supply chain in Nigeria. The objective was to substitute imported corn starch with locally produced cassava starch, a move that is highly incentivized by the Nigerian government. We trained over 1,000 cassava producers in good agricultural practices, organisational development and business skills. Today, the company sources cassava from over 10,000 farmers, increasing the proportion of locally sourced raw materials to over 50%.
Accessing higher value markets –plums from Kyrgzstan
We supported a Kyrgyz plum production cooperative to achieve EU organic certification and linked them with a leading exporter. In 2024, cooperative members exported 59 tons of organic dried plums to Europe, securing premium prices and stable market access for local farmers.
Setting Up a Date Processing Facility in Saudi Arabia
A private investor enlisted our team to advise and supervise the construction of a date processing factory in Qasim, aiming to meet international export standards. We assessed factory plans, processing capabilities, and quality control measures to ensure compliance with global markets. Our services included selecting equipment suppliers, budgeting, and planning for profitability. We also provided guidance on organic production requirements and delivered technical training for the factory’s launch. The facility is now positioned to export high-quality date products to international markets.
Linking up the beverage industry with local suppliers of raw material
An international beverage producer intended to substitute the use of imported barley with locally sourced sorghum, a common smallholder crop in Northern Ghana. We trained sorghum farmers in good agricultural practices, linked them up with aggregators that provide ‘embedded services’ such as input prefinancing and mechanization services and we built the capacities of local extension agents on quality issues such as managing aflatoxin levels. Today, Guinness Ghana sources from over 60% of its raw materials locally, a sharp increase compared to a mere 12% in the year of 2012.
