Bayer has made a significant investment in agricultural inputs in Zambia, where its new maize seed production facility signals promising growth for agricultural productivity across sub-Saharan Africa. The €32 million facility in Kabwe aims to substantially increase the region’s capacity for producing high-quality hybrid maize seeds, potentially bolstering food security for tens of millions of people. This development addresses a critical challenge—sub-Saharan Africa’s agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) growth averaged a concerning .37 percent annually during 2013-2022.

The seed facility will supply high-yielding, climate-resilient maize seeds to 6.4 million smallholder farmers across Zambia and neighboring countries in 2025, with plans to reach 10 million farmers by 2030. This is particularly significant given that smallholder farmers produce up to 70 percent of the food consumed across the African continent, as noted in the 2023 GAP Report.

The investment helps bridge the “Valley of Death”–the challenging gap between developing innovative solutions and their widespread adoption by farmers–identified in the 2024 GAP Report. Bayer is addressing barriers such as challenges in the enabling environment and knowledge-sharing platforms by increasing both the quantity and quality of available certified seeds in the region, while also providing stewardship and agronomic training.

The facility is also expected to create substantial economic returns through employment and skills development. It will employ 80 permanent staff and over 100 seasonal workers while generating approximately 15,000 seasonal on-farm jobs through Bayer’s field operations and contract growers. The investment also includes community initiatives to improve water accessibility and healthcare services for local residents.

This comprehensive approach emulates the concept of innovation “bundling” emphasized in the 2024 GAP Report, which highlights how productivity tools must be paired with distribution mechanisms, socio-economic tools, and supporting policies to effectively reach farmers at all scales of production. Investments in bundles of proven and emerging tools–such as Bayer’s bundle of improved genetics, training, and distribution infrastructure–offer holistic solutions as sub-Saharan Africa works to meet the 2.03 percent annual TFP growth rate target identified in the 2024 GAP Report.