Louis Dreyfus Foundation fosters innovation and entrepreneurship in agriculture

Louis Dreyfus Foundation launched the program to support the business incubator “Transform” in Ivory Coast established by the Institut européen de coopération et de développement (IECD). The program will focus on supporting the contest among agri-food entrepreneurs out of which up to four laureates will receive further financing.

The 2019 edition of the “Transform” program includes the contest among agri-food entrepreneurs. The main criteria for the selection of participants are innovative approach, motivation, and impact on local communities. The shortlisted candidates will receive a one year personalized coaching program in agriculture, management, and marketing and have exchange with professionals representing the agricultural sector in Ivory Coast. A competent jury will select up to four projects that will receive the initial capital for further project launch and scale up. 

Recently, Andrea Maserati, the Board member of the Foundation, and Robert Serpollet, the General Manager of the Foundation, have visited the Transform incubator. “We are glad to partner with IECD and work together to support promising projects in agriculture. The incubator will allow to equip participants with the multidisciplinary knowledge. They will receive trainings combining knowledge on both agriculture and value chain. Innovations, and innovations in agriculture in particular are very important to ensure sustainable agriculture and uplift farmers lives, and I am happy the Foundation is actively engaged in this project,” Robert Serpollet shared his thoughts following the visit.

The project is financed through the Foundation’s Fund for Young Entrepreneurs in Agriculture that was established in 2015 to support emerging initiatives brought by young smallholder farmers. The Fund was successfully triggered to support young farmers in Nigeria, India and Senegal in the past.