TYEGRO-CI: agricultural innovation for sustainable development in Africa

Are we the most destructive generation in the history of our beautiful planet, with our technological super innovations as weapons? The answer is, without a doubt, yes. In Côte d’Ivoire, the TYEGRO-CI company has given itself the mission of innovating in the agricultural field to reconcile Man and his environment.

Making leather from pineapple leaves

The great innovation of the TYEGRO-CI company is the manufacture of vegetable leather from pineapple leaves. This “vegan” leather can be used to make shoes, bags, clothes… It has the advantage of being as soft and resistant as animal leather.
This innovation has earned it multiple awards such as the Anshiza prize and the Green Africa Innovation Booster.
Committed to the circular economy, the company also offers ecological charcoal made from agricultural waste: it produces no smoke and is more resistant to carbonization than charcoal.

In addition to the valorization of agricultural residues, TYEGRO-CI produces and commercializes organic agricultural products (cereals, tubers, fruits and vegetables) and has a small activity of manufacturing organic chocolate.

Ending the vicious circle of poverty

TYEGRO-CI stands for The Yalêtitè Entreprise Group of Côte d’Ivoire, Yalêtité meaning “poverty is not good” in Baoulé (ethnic group from the center of Côte d’Ivoire).

TYEGRO-CI is the story of a young Ivorian, N’guessan Koffi Jacques Olivier. Coming from a very poor family, he was expelled from an assignment in second grade for not having been able to make a photocopy of 10 FCFA. This day marks, for him, the beginning of his will to undertake.
He created his company in 2014, while he was still a student in first grade. TYEGRO-CI will be officially registered in 2017. Jacques Olivier takes on the heavy responsibility of CEO.
This young Ivorian, now 21 years old, has no particular professional training, nor any higher diploma apart from the Baccalaureate. He learned everything from his parents and from his own research.

A company with great prospects

TYEGRO-CI has a team of 48 employees: farmers and agricultural technicians, sales representatives, administrative staff… And more than 118 indirect jobs created. The company’s objective is to provide 200 direct jobs by 2021.
In addition, the company already has a solid customer base made up of restaurants, merchants and individuals.

TYEGRO-CI is currently in the development stage. Currently, the production is done with artisanal machines, which considerably limits the production capacity while the customer orders do not stop growing. The priority is therefore to acquire modern and adapted machines, but also equipment and logistical means (collection trucks, tricycles, tankers, agricultural machinery…). And to reach these ambitious objectives, TYEGRO is looking for financing.

TYEGRO is a company to support because it provides concrete solutions to the fight against climate change and deforestation, and actively contributes to preserving biodiversity and ensuring food security.

Photo credit: TYEGRO-CI