Togo eyes 500,000T soybean harvest as export standards tighten

TOGO – Togo’s soybean industry has set a new target of 500,000 tons for the 2025-2026 agricultural season, nearly doubling its current output of over 260,000 tons.

The ambitious goal was announced by the Interprofessional Council for the Soybean Sector of Togo (CIFS-Togo) during the official launch of the new season on June 27, 2025, in Atakpamé,.

“In 2015, our production was below 25,000 tons. Today, we have reached over 260,000 tons, but market demand is close to 700,000 tons. With everyone’s commitment, we believe we can cross the 500,000-ton mark by 2026,” said Mounirou Koriko, Chairman of CIFS-Togo.

To achieve this,  he added, stakeholders must address key challenges, including improving access to farm inputs, certified seeds, and production equipment, while fostering trust across the value chain. Koriko emphasized the need for collaboration.

 “If we work together to improve production, everyone will benefit sustainably. Soybeans must become a strategic crop for our agricultural economy,” he said.

The push for increased production comes as Togo seeks to strengthen the resilience of its soybean industry, particularly after recent campaigns fell short of expectations.

Togo’s organic export leadership faces new challenges

Meanwhile, Togo’s role as a major organic exporter is under pressure from tightening global regulations. According to the European Commission, Togo is Africa’s second-largest exporter of organic produce to the EU, trailing only Egypt, with soybeans and pineapples among its leading products.

Maintaining this position is vital, but stakeholders must adapt quickly to new certification requirements set by both the European Union and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program (NOP).

On August 11, 2025, the National Association of Soybean Exporters (ANCES-Togo) convened producers, processors, and exporters in Lomé to address these new regulations.

The updated EU and U.S. National Organic Program (NOP) standards impose heightened compliance demands, including stricter traceability and quality benchmarks.

Kokou Tewou, ANCES-Togo Vice-President, described the changes as both a challenge and an opportunity, noting that they require enhanced control mechanisms and technical standards but open doors to higher-value markets.

“Operators who want to keep their edge must immediately follow these standards,” Tewou urged, emphasizing the long-term viability of Togolese exports.

Badr El Fartass, head of Morocco’s CCPB, highlighted additional hurdles, including a 2,000-member cap on producer groups and a 5-hectare limit on cultivated plots for small producers, new restrictions that could complicate compliance for Togo’s soybean sector.

With global competition intensifying, Togo’s ability to meet these standards will be critical to sustaining its organic export market share, particularly for key crops like soybeans and pineapples.

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