(Togo First) - Recognized at the Blue Invest Forum in Lomé, the company led by Dr. Ahama Kplolali and Kokoevi Agbevenou-Dovi (MSc) is developing a technology that combines fish farming with vegetable production. Through this model, known as aquaponics, the promoters aim to establish a 3,000-square-meter commercial farm in the Togolese capital.

Climate disruption as the starting point for an entrepreneurial project

In 2020, a late-season drought destroyed the tomato crops of the Ahama family in the municipality of Noepe. In response to this loss, Dr. Ahama Kplolali, a plant physiologist and biotechnologist, was tasked by her father with finding an agricultural solution that would not depend on climatic conditions.

According to the co-founder of Aquaponie du Togo, the objective was to identify a viable crop system independent of seasons and rainfall. This search led her toward soilless farming technologies, and more specifically aquaponics, a system that combines aquaculture and hydroponics.

A scientific partnership built around an emerging technology

Ahama Kplolali then reached out to Kokoevi Agbevenou, her former classmate at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lomé, who later specialized in plant biosciences after completing a master’s degree in France with a focus on microbiology and agrobioscience. Agbevenou says she quickly joined the project given the importance of the technology, at a time when aquaponics was still relatively under-documented, even at the international level.

The two researchers devoted three years to studying the concept before moving toward implementation. According to Agbevenou, they started from scratch due to the limited availability of technical references. The system is based on a closed-loop ecosystem in which fish waste serves as a natural fertilizer for plants, while the plants filter the water before it is returned to the fish tanks.

A self-financed operational prototype

In November 2023, Aquaponie du Togo installed its first operational system on a 40-square-meter site in Adidogomé-Yokoe, a neighborhood in Lomé. The project was financed through three sources: the founders’ personal savings, support from the French NGO KYNAROU, and backing from Apromafriq Pharma.

The prototype demonstrated its commercial viability through a short supply chain model.

“People come to buy directly from us,” Agbevenou says. Demand has even exceeded available production, both for fish and for vegetables, according to the founders. This early market validation encouraged the entrepreneurs to consider scaling up to an industrial level.

The company currently offers three services: producing and selling fish and vegetables, designing and installing aquaponics kits, and providing training in the technology.

International recognition at the Blue Invest Forum

In October 2025, Aquaponie du Togo presented its 3,000-square-meter commercial farm project at the Blue Invest Forum organized in Lomé by the European Union. The Togolese initiative stood out in the aquaculture category and won the award for best pitch.

“I was the only one selected in Togo,” Ahama Kplolali said, noting that she represented the company at the event. She added that both the initiative itself and the training program that preceded the forum “opened doors.”

“It gave us credibility. People realized this was not a hobby, but a serious project that really provides solutions,” the researcher and entrepreneur said.

This recognition has drawn the attention of institutional stakeholders, including the supervising ministry…

Persistent structural obstacles

Despite these advances, the transition from a prototype to a commercial-scale farm faces several constraints. Financing remains the main challenge. “We are still struggling to secure funding, partnerships, and technical support to launch this 3,000-square-meter commercial aquaponics farm project,” Ahama Kplolali says.

Access to urban land is another major constraint. In Lomé, real estate pressure and high land prices make it difficult to identify sites suitable for a large-scale aquaponics installation. The founders are looking for a location that can accommodate their infrastructure while maintaining proximity to urban consumers.

The regulatory environment adds another layer of complexity. Aquaponics, a hybrid technology at the crossroads of agriculture and aquaculture, does not fit easily into existing regulatory frameworks. “Authorities need to understand this technology better in order to regulate it more effectively,” Kokoevi notes.

A final logistical challenge lies in sourcing specialized inputs. Some of the equipment and materials required for aquaponics are not available locally, making imports necessary and increasing initial investment costs.

A regional expansion strategy

Beyond the Lomé project, Aquaponie du Togo is pursuing broader expansion ambitions. “We are considering not only expanding within Togo’s regions, but also establishing operations in the sub-region. We could start with Benin or Burkina Faso,” one of the co-founders says, targeting areas facing similar climate-related challenges.

This vision is paired with an educational component. The entrepreneurs plan to organize awareness sessions in Togolese schools. “Our children in Togo need to be familiar with this innovative agricultural technology, which directly addresses the climate challenges we are facing,” Kokoevi argues.

The proposed business model combines commercial production with technology transfer. The objective is to make aquaponics accessible to urban households while developing a supply of fresh, organic products through short distribution channels.

Call for financial and institutional partners

“It should not stop here. We are really calling on all organizations, public institutions, NGOs, and even the government to support us so that the project can come to life,” Ahama Kplolali says, as the two co-founders issue a direct appeal to public institutions, NGOs, and private investors.

The symbolic dimension of the project is not lost on them. “We are two women entrepreneurs in the green sector,” Ahama Kplolali notes, in an entrepreneurial ecosystem where female-led initiatives in agritech remain in the minority.

The financial needs, which have not been publicly quantified, relate to core infrastructure, including greenhouses, fish tanks, filtration systems, climate control equipment, and hydraulic installations. The investment must also cover the initial working capital required to support the production cycle before the first sales are generated.

Development outlook and stakes

The aquaponics model developed by the Togolese company fits into a broader global search for agricultural alternatives in response to climate constraints. In West Africa, where rainfall variability affects food security, such systems offer significant adaptation potential, according to the founders.

The competitive advantage of the model rests on several factors: water savings estimated at 90% compared with conventional agriculture, year-round production independent of seasons, the absence of chemical pesticides, and optimized land use in dense urban environments.

That said, commercial success will depend on Aquaponie du Togo’s ability to structure its supply chain, standardize production processes, and build a recognized brand in the Togolese market. The company will also need to address the challenge of training qualified staff to operate the technical installations, alongside a growing base of private users.

“This is not an impossible model. It is truly achievable, and we know where we are going,” Dr. Ahama Kplolali concludes. The coming months will determine whether this scientific conviction can secure the financial and institutional backing needed for industrial-scale deployment in Lomé.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi