The ambition may appear bold, yet it now sits at the heart of Gabon’s economic strategy. As the country pushes to drastically reduce its reliance on food imports and halt the massive inflow of foreign broiler chickens by 2027, the decisive front line lies far from markets and ports. It unfolds in the experimental fields of the National Centre for Scientific and Technological Research in Kougouleu.

The visit by the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and government spokesman, Charles Edgar Mombo, to this strategic site goes beyond a routine administrative check. It signals a fresh direction in which scientific research becomes a direct instrument of economic transformation and a lever for national sovereignty.

In a nation where food imports still consume a substantial share of external spending, the ability to produce locally the raw materials needed for livestock farming now ranks as a priority as strategic as mining or energy extraction.

Research at the core of the national project

The authorities have set a clear goal: build a poultry sector that can meet domestic demand while progressively cutting imports. To achieve this, animal feed is a central piece. Maize and soya make up the main components of feed used in industrial poultry farming. As long as these inputs remain largely imported, the sector’s autonomy stays fragile.

At Kougouleu, CENAREST researchers are tackling this equation head on. Eleven varieties of maize are currently undergoing trials to identify seeds best suited to Gabon’s soil and climate conditions. The challenge goes far beyond simple agricultural performance. It is about selecting varieties that can deliver sufficient yields to sustainably supply a growing national poultry industry.

Scientific teams have also launched trials on eleven soya varieties introduced through international cooperation with research centres in Malawi. Additional experiments are under way in Nyanga province, notably in Tchibanga, to assess performance across the country’s different ecosystems. This approach marks an important shift. Once seen as a field remote from immediate economic concerns, research is now becoming an operational player in development.

The ambition of an integrated value chain

Government strategy rests on a simple logic: produce locally the essential inputs for livestock to reduce production costs and boost the competitiveness of Gabonese producers. This vision aligns with a trend seen across several African nations grappling with soaring food bills. According to international institutions, import dependence remains one of the continent’s main economic vulnerabilities.

Gabon nevertheless holds considerable assets: fertile land, abundant water resources, and climatic conditions favourable to many crops. For Charles Edgar Mombo, the results already observed on the ground demonstrate the country’s potential. The minister praised the dedication of researchers and stressed the capacity of the national higher education system to concretely support the major directions set by President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.

Beyond the agricultural dimension, the message is political. Science is no longer expected to produce only knowledge. It must now contribute directly to national priorities.

Sovereignty still to be built

The advances made are encouraging. Yet they should not overshadow the challenges that remain. Researchers themselves highlight the need to expand experimental areas to improve the quality of trials and increase production volumes. The step from scientific experimentation to industrial production is often the most delicate. Financial challenges also persist. Agricultural modernisation requires massive investments, suitable infrastructure, accessible financing mechanisms for producers, and better organisation of value chains.

But for the first time in a long while, Gabon appears to be weaving a coherent thread 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 solely the result of investments or administrative decisions. It will also pass through laboratories, research centres, and scientific innovation.

By 2027, if objectives are met, Gabon could demonstrate that in Africa, food sovereignty is built as much with researchers as with farmers. A quiet but potentially decisive transformation for the country’s economic future.