Gabon turns to science for food sovereignty

In Libreville, the government is placing its bets on scientific research to break free from food import dependency. The strategy is bold yet clear: drastically reduce imports of food, especially foreign chickens, by 2027. The battlefield is not the market or the port but the experimental fields of the National Centre for Scientific and Technological Research (CENAREST) in Kougouleu.

The recent visit by Charles Edgar Mombo, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and government spokesperson, to this strategic site was more than a routine inspection. It signals a new direction where science becomes a direct tool for economic transformation and a lever for national sovereignty. In a country where food imports still consume a large portion of foreign exchange, the ability to locally produce raw materials for livestock farming is now as strategic as mining or energy.

Research at the heart of the national project

The authorities have set a clear goal: build a poultry sector that can meet domestic demand while gradually reducing imports. The key is animal feed. Maize and soya are the main components of feed for industrial poultry farming. As long as these raw materials are largely imported, the sector’s autonomy remains fragile.

At Kougouleu, CENAREST researchers are working on this equation. They are experimenting with eleven varieties of maize to identify seeds best suited to Gabon’s soil and climate conditions. The stakes go beyond simple agricultural performance; they aim to select varieties that can deliver sufficient yields to sustainably feed a growing national poultry industry. The teams have also started trials on eleven varieties of soya introduced through international cooperation with research centres in Malawi. Complementary experiments are underway in the Nyanga province, particularly in Tchibanga, to assess performance across different ecosystems.

This approach marks a significant shift. Long seen as a sector removed from immediate economic concerns, research is now becoming an operational development actor.

The ambition of an integrated sector

The government’s strategy follows a simple logic: produce locally the inputs essential for livestock farming to reduce production costs and strengthen the competitiveness of Gabonese producers. This vision aligns with a trend seen in several African countries facing rising food import bills. According to international institutions, import dependence remains one of the continent’s main economic vulnerabilities.

Yet Gabon has considerable assets: fertile land, abundant water resources, and favourable climatic conditions for many crops. For Charles Edgar Mombo, the results observed on the ground already demonstrate the country’s potential. The minister praised the commitment of researchers and highlighted the capacity of the national higher education system to concretely support the major guidelines set by President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema. Beyond the agricultural aspect, the message is political. Science is no longer called upon to produce only knowledge; it must now directly contribute to national priorities.

A sovereignty still to be built

The progress achieved is encouraging, but it should not mask the challenges that remain. Researchers themselves stress the need to expand experimental areas to improve trial quality and increase production volumes. Moving from scientific experimentation to industrial production is often the trickiest step. The financial challenge is also significant: agricultural modernisation requires massive investment, appropriate infrastructure, accessible financing mechanisms for producers, and better organisation of value chains.

But for the first time in a long while, Gabon seems to be engaging in a coherent reflection linking research, agriculture, industry, and economic sovereignty. The ministerial visit to Kougouleu thus symbolises a paradigm shift. In the new vision promoted by the authorities, food independence will not be merely the result of investments or administrative decisions. It will also pass through laboratories, research centres, and scientific innovation. By 2027, if targets are met, Gabon could demonstrate that in Africa, food sovereignty is built as much with researchers as with farmers—a silent but potentially decisive transformation for the country’s economic future.