Togo’s soybean industry is targeting 300,000 tonnes of production in the 2026–27 agricultural season, as producers and industry leaders seek to build on a decade of rapid growth while strengthening the country’s position in the international organic soybean market.
The target was announced by the Interprofessional Council for the Soybean Sector of Togo (CIFS-Togo) during the launch of the new production campaign in Agbélouvé, where the industry placed organic soybean at the centre of its strategy.
Togo produced just over 260,000 tonnes in 2025, meaning the new target represents an increase of about 15%. The growth is significant compared with 2015, when national soybean production was below 25,000 tonnes.
But Togo is not simply chasing higher volumes. CIFS-Togo says organic production is the key to maintaining access to international markets, particularly Europe, where the country has reportedly ranked among the leading exporters of organic soybeans to the Schengen area on four occasions.
The strategy reflects the limits of competing on volume alone. CIFS-Togo estimates that market demand is close to 700,000 tonnes, more than twice the country's production target. Rather than attempting to close that gap immediately, the industry is seeking to capture greater value from the segment where Togo already has an established reputation.
To support expansion, industry leaders are focusing on better coordination across the value chain, improved access to quality seed and agricultural inputs, and stronger collaboration between farmers, processors, government institutions and technical and financial partners.
Productivity is another area with considerable room for improvement. Current soybean yields are around one tonne per hectare, while research indicates potential yields of approximately 2–3.5 tonnes per hectare under improved conditions. Researchers and agricultural institutions are therefore working on technologies and production practices that could raise farm-level output.
The expansion could strengthen soybean's role in Togo's agricultural economy, creating more opportunities for farmers while increasing export earnings from a crop that has become one of the country's important agricultural commodities.
NBF Insight
Togo's soybean strategy is more about value, not just volume. Reaching 300,000 tonnes would mark another milestone, but protecting the country's organic reputation may be more important. If producers can combine higher yields with reliable certification, quality seed, and stronger market coordination, Togo can continue competing internationally without needing to match the production scale of much larger soybean exporters.
