Malawi is betting on soybeans to replace feed and edible oil imports

Malawi is laying the foundation for a new agricultural future by positioning soybean as the country’s standard source of protein and edible oil through the Shire Valley Transformation Program (SVTP).

SVTP is a 14-year initiative that integrates irrigation infrastructure with innovative agricultural practices to scale soybean cultivation and processing on an unprecedented level in the region.

This focus on soybean scaling is facilitated by the Soybean Innovation Lab (SIL), based at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

Over the past 12 years, SIL has systematically developed the soybean value chain in Africa, delivering evidence-based guidance on breeding, agronomic methods, mechanization, processing, and marketing. The lab emphasizes the empowerment of local organizations, or “strong nodes,” to ensure long-term sustainability without ongoing external dependencies.

In the Lower Shire Valley, the SVTP is irrigating 42,500 hectares (over 105,000 acres) of land, enabling nearly 50,000 smallholder farmers to produce two to three crops per year and substantially increase profitability.

Soybean emerges as a priority crop due to its status as one of the world’s most valuable agricultural commodities, offering immediate economic benefits for farmers, regional development, and global trade partners.

Peter Goldsmith, SIL director and professor in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, underscored the readiness for expansion following the inaugural Soy Tour in late August. This event convened decision-makers to examine soybean fields and processing facilities, covering topics from plant spacing and disease management to milling and oil refining.

“Stakeholders are fully engaged. Supported by SIL’s comprehensive resources, including locally adapted seeds, input recommendations, disease surveillance networks, research-validated agronomic practices, mechanization advancements, processor training, and market strategies,” Goldsmith noted,

Currently, Malawi does not rely on soy-based feeds or oils, resulting in limited imports. However, this is evolving as processors build capacity and express demand for increased soybean supplies.

Local trials in the Lower Shire Valley involve adapted varieties and optimized management techniques, with potential for U.S. imports should regulations on genetically modified foods be adjusted.

SIL’s partnerships with Palladium, Agricane, Ilovo, and Malawi Mangoes support grower cooperatives through training, equipment provision, and other resources. Initial funding comprised US$40 million from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) until its closure in February, after which an anonymous US$1 million donation to SIL and equivalent Irish government support for Palladium ensured continuity.

Michelle da Fonseca Santos, SIL associate director, emphasized the critical need for sustained investment: “Formal investments have established the soybean market foundations in Sub-Saharan Africa. We anticipate contributions from private investors, the commercial sector, or major donors to propel this rapidly expanding market forward.”

The SVTP, backed by the World Bank, African Development Fund, OPEC Fund for International Development, and Global Environment Facility, complements soybean scaling with other high-value crops but recognizes soybean’s distinctive potential for fostering prosperity and generational wealth in rural communities.

Tags: soybean, compound feed, Malawi, soybean oil