Burkina Faso strengthens feed capacity with US$4M soybean crushing plant

BURKINA FASO – Burkina Faso has reinforced its livestock feed value chain with the inauguration of a new US$3.56 million soybean oil mill in Ouagadougou, a move that goes beyond edible oil production and directly supports the country’s feed manufacturing capacity.

The facility, built by the Société Industrielle d’Agroalimentaire pour la Transformation des Oléagineux (SIATOL) and inaugurated by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts on February 27, has a daily crushing capacity of 12 tonnes of soybeans. 

While it is designed to produce up to 10 tonnes of refined soybean oil per day for the domestic food market, its most strategic impact lies in the by-product: soybean meal.

Soybean meal is one of the most important protein sources in compound feed for poultry and livestock. 

By processing soybeans locally, the plant ensures a steady supply of this high-protein ingredient to domestic feed manufacturers, reducing reliance on imported protein meals and helping stabilise feed formulation costs.

The site already includes poultry and livestock feed production lines with an estimated capacity of 100 tonnes per day, using the soybean meal generated during oil extraction. 

This integrated model positions the facility not only as an oil processor but as a vertically linked feed raw material and feed producer, strengthening local supply chains.

Expansion to boost soybean-based feed

SIATOL’s choice to focus exclusively on soybeans is significant for the feed industry. Soy contains around 20% oil and yields a protein-rich meal after crushing, making it a dual-value crop for both food and feed markets. 

While refined oil will help reduce the country’s growing edible oil import bill, the soybean meal stream directly supports the expansion of Burkina Faso’s poultry and livestock sectors.

In its second development phase, planned from 2026, the company intends to install an additional crushing line with a processing capacity of 40 tonnes per day. 

A second feed production unit with a capacity of 200 tonnes per day is also planned. Once operational, this expansion could significantly increase the volume of locally produced soybean meal available to the feed industry.

The ministry said the project is expected to further stimulate domestic soybean production. SIATOL already works with more than 3,000 smallholder farmers in Sissili province. 

National data show that soybean output has more than doubled over the past five years, rising from 51,708 tonnes in the 2019/2020 season to 129,225 tonnes by the end of the 2023/2024 season. 

Sustained growth in crushing capacity and feed production will likely reinforce this upward trend, creating a stronger link between crop farmers and feed millers.

The development signals improved ingredient security, greater price stability, and reduced exposure to global protein market volatility. 

As Burkina Faso continues to expand its livestock sector, investments that integrate oilseed crushing with feed production could play a decisive role in building a more resilient and locally anchored feed industry.

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