Côte d’Ivoire partners with Brazil’s CODEVASF to modernise livestock and fisheries sectors

IVORY COAST – Côte d’Ivoire has signed a cooperation agreement with Companhia de Desenvolvimento dos Vales do São Francisco e do Parnaíba (CODEVASF) as the country seeks to modernise livestock and fisheries production and reduce dependence on imported animal protein.

The agreement was formalised on May 8 by Sidi Tiémoko Touré and José Vivaldo Mendonça.

According to officials, the partnership will support the transfer and adaptation of Brazil’s agricultural development model to Côte d’Ivoire, focusing on livestock production, fisheries development, territorial planning and integrated resource management.

The Ivorian Ministry of Animal and Fisheries Resources said the cooperation is expected to help strengthen domestic protein supply while positioning the country as a regional hub for livestock and fisheries development.

Feed and livestock modernization central to protein self-sufficiency goals

The agreement comes as Côte d’Ivoire continues to rely heavily on imported animal protein products to meet domestic demand.

Official statistics show the country imported about 164,269 metric tonnes of meat and offal in carcass-weight equivalent during 2024, accounting for roughly 51% of national demand.

Authorities are increasingly focusing on strengthening domestic livestock production systems, feed supply chains and value-added processing capacity to reduce import dependence.

Brazil is widely regarded as a global leader in livestock and agribusiness development, following decades of investment in feed production, animal genetics, infrastructure, and integrated supply chains.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, Brazil is the world’s second-largest beef producer after the United States and the world’s leading beef exporter. The country is also the fifth-largest dairy producer globally.

Industry analysts say partnerships focused on feed systems, livestock productivity and integrated value chain development are becoming increasingly important across Africa as countries seek to improve food security and reduce exposure to global commodity price volatility.

The cooperation with CODEVASF is expected to support Côte d’Ivoire’s efforts to accelerate livestock industrialisation while improving production efficiency and resource management across the sector.

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