Burkina Faso has just reached a new milestone in its strategy for local processing of agricultural products with the commissioning of a modern industrial complex dedicated to soybeans, costing approximately 2 billion CFA francs, developed by the Industrial Company for the Processing of Oilseeds (SIATOL).
Inaugurated on February 27 in the Kossodo industrial zone in Ouagadougou, this new infrastructure marks a major step in structuring the soybean sector and the country’s ambition to strengthen its food sovereignty.
SIATOL: From a Modest Start to an Industrial Player
Created in 2010 and operational since 2011 with second-hand equipment, SIATOL started with limited resources but a clear vision: to process soybeans locally to create added value in the Burkinabe economy.
Between 2013 and 2017, the company processed over 5,000 tons of soybeans, laying the groundwork for its position in the national market and paving the way for scaling up its industrial operations.
The new, much more efficient complex symbolizes this gradual rise of the SME to become a key player in Burkina Faso’s agribusiness sector.
An investment supported by the State and private partners
With a total estimated cost of nearly 2 billion CFA francs, the SIATOL industrial complex benefited from significant support from public authorities and several financial partners.
The Burkinabe government supported the project by providing a 3,520 m² plot of land in an industrial zone, granting approval under the investment code, and mobilizing public financing mechanisms.
On the private sector side, Ecobank Burkina Faso, Coris International, and the investment fund Néré Capital played a key role in structuring and financing the project, illustrating the importance of public-private partnerships in the development of agricultural sectors.
Industrial capacities tailored for food sovereignty
The new industrial complex allows SIATOL to reach a whole new level in terms of volume, with significant installed capacity across several links in the value chain.
The announced capacities are as follows:
- 40 tons of soybean crushing per day, or approximately 12,000 tons per year.
- 10 tons of oil refining per day, or nearly 3,000 tons of refined oil per year.
- Up to 100 tons of poultry and livestock feed per day, or approximately 30,000 tons per year, with an overall potential of up to 130,000 tons depending on the installed capacity.
The unit is already operating at nearly 70% of its capacity, demonstrating a strong start and real demand, both in the human consumption segment and the livestock feed segment.
Soybeans: A Strategic Lever for Nutrition and Livestock
For Marcel Ouédraogo, CEO and founder of SIATOL, the choice of soybeans reflects a strategic vision: to locally develop a raw material with high nutritional value to strengthen food security and support livestock sectors.
Soybeans contain on average 20% oil, rich in essential fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6, as well as vitamin E, and refined oil is enriched with vitamin A, making it a particularly valuable product for human consumption.
Marketed under the SIATOL brand, this “100% made in Burkina Faso” soybean oil can now be found on the shelves of shops and supermarkets across the country, contributing to the development of a local supply to compete with imported oils.
The oilseed cake from the crushing process serves as the basis for the manufacture of complete feed for laying hens, broiler chickens and cattle, and by integrating materials such as corn, wheat bran and vitamin supplements, SIATOL positions itself on two key segments: human consumption and livestock farming.
Socio-economic benefits for producers and local employment
Beyond industrial indicators, the SIATOL project has a significant socio-economic impact on the entire agricultural ecosystem.
The company employs 145 permanent workers, in addition to numerous seasonal workers, and manages a network of over 60 sales outlets that directly generate more than 100 additional jobs.
SIATOL has contracts with over 3,000 small-scale producers, particularly in the Sissili province, which secures the supply of soybeans while providing stable and profitable market opportunities for farmers.
Thousands of livestock farmers across the country use the company’s livestock and poultry feed daily, contributing to the performance of livestock farms and the availability of animal protein for consumers.
Ambitions: 50 Billion FCFA in Revenue and Industrial Expansion
The commissioning of the Kossodo complex is part of a growth trajectory embraced by SIATOL, which has strong ambitions for the coming years.
The company aims for cumulative revenue of 50 billion FCFA over the next five years, which implies a gradual ramp-up of its capacity and a consolidation of its markets.
In the short term, SIATOL plans to build, by the end of 2026, a second poultry and livestock feed production unit with a capacity of 200 tons per day, as well as the installation of a new 40-ton-per-day crushing line.
If these investments materialize, SIATOL could establish itself as a leading player not only nationally but also sub-regionally in oilseed processing, thus strengthening Burkina Faso’s role in West African agricultural value chains.
Challenges for the Soybean Sector and Burkina Faso’s Agribusiness
SIATOL’s rise illustrates the transformations underway in Burkina Faso’s agribusiness, where local added value and securing markets for producers are becoming priorities.
By structuring a sector around soybeans, Burkina Faso is diversifying its cash crops, reducing its dependence on imports of vegetable oil and animal feed, and creating jobs along the entire chain, from field to factory to distribution.
However, the success of this type of complex will depend on several factors: stability of raw material supply, the ability to maintain competitive prices, product quality, and access to sub-regional markets in a context of competition and logistical constraints.
But the current momentum, driven by public-private partnerships and targeted investments, shows that the local processing of agricultural products can become a true engine of inclusive growth for Burkina Faso.
