Biophyto’s story illustrates how the various actors of Belgian development cooperation can work together to support the growth of local businesses that generate economic, social, and environmental impact.
A Local Company Promoting More Sustainable Agriculture
Founded in 2011 by a Beninese agricultural adviser, Biophyto develops and markets biological solutions designed to improve agricultural productivity while limiting negative environmental impacts. The company produces, among other things, organic fertilizers and biopesticides that offer more sustainable alternatives to conventional chemical inputs.
In a region where agriculture is a vital source of income for millions of families across West Africa, these solutions enable producers to increase yields while preserving soil quality and ecosystem health.
Over the years, Biophyto has established itself as a trusted partner for many farmers by offering products tailored to local realities and helping strengthen the resilience of the agricultural sector in the face of environmental challenges.
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Belgian Support Built Step by Step
At an early stage, Enabel, Belgium’s international development agency, identified Biophyto’s potential to contribute to the development of a more sustainable agricultural value chain. The company benefited from targeted support aimed at strengthening its organizational structure and fostering its growth.
Thanks to this assistance, Biophyto was able to professionalize its operations, improve its management capacities, and consolidate its business model. The small-scale financing and technical assistance provided enabled the company to achieve several important milestones in its development.
In 2021, Enabel facilitated a partnership between Biophyto and Kampani, a Belgian impact investor specializing in financing agricultural enterprises in developing countries. Kampani operates in what is often referred to as the “missing middle” of development finance: businesses that have outgrown microfinance but are not yet large enough, nor possess sufficient collateral, to attract traditional investors.
This support helped Biophyto accelerate its growth and prepare for a new phase of expansion.
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A New Stage Thanks to BIO
The loan recently granted by BIO marks a decisive milestone in the company’s evolution. This financing will allow Biophyto to increase its production capacity, expand its product range, and strengthen its regional presence.
This expansion is expected to benefit the entire agricultural value chain. By improving access to high-quality biological inputs, Biophyto will help support farmers, create jobs, and stimulate local economic development.
BIO’s investment also highlights the importance of mobilizing long-term capital to enable the most promising local businesses to reach critical scale and significantly increase their impact. In addition, each investment is accompanied by technical assistance and further support, both from BIO and Kampani.
The Strength of Belgian Complementarity
Biophyto’s journey highlights one of the key strengths of Belgian development cooperation: the complementarity of its actors.
The strength of the Belgian approach lies in the diversity and complementarity of the organizations involved. Civil society organizations, development actors, development finance institutions, and impact investors can intervene at different stages of an entrepreneurial journey. Together, they provide a continuum of support ranging from capacity building and technical assistance to the mobilization of increasingly substantial financing, enabling companies to grow, consolidate their operations, and access new markets.
This coordinated approach makes it possible to support businesses throughout their development, from their earliest stages through to maturity. It contributes to the sustainable strengthening of local value chains and helps create the conditions for inclusive growth.
The example of Biophyto demonstrates how Belgian development cooperation supports not only a single company but an entire economic ecosystem. By combining technical expertise, impact finance, and long-term investment, Belgium helps foster the emergence of strong local actors capable of generating sustainable prosperity for the communities they serve.