The NAMSSA project will commercialise VH Biofertiliser, helping smallholder farmers improve soil health, boost crop yields, and strengthen resilience across sub-Saharan Africa.
At the beginning of March 2025, ICGEB, in partnership with CABI – the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International, launched the Nature-Based Microbial Solutions for Sustainable Agriculture (NAMSSA) project. This two-year initiative aims to promote sustainable food security across sub-Saharan Africa.
The project focuses on commercialising VH Biofertiliser, supporting smallholder farmers facing declining soil fertility, reduced crop yields, drought, and heavy reliance on chemical fertilisers.
In Zambia, NAMSSA is working with Exotic Green Power Enterprises Limited (EGPE) to develop the biofertiliser, made from locally sourced organic materials. VH Biofertiliser improves soil health, stimulates plant growth, and strengthens crops against environmental stresses.
Currently, VH Biofertiliser is not registered in Zambia, which limits its wider use. NAMSSA is helping to certify the product, making it available in agricultural input stores and positioning it as a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilisers, to expand its adoption across sub-Saharan Africa.
The project also supports the documentation of production processes, the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), coordination of lab testing, and engagement with regulatory authorities.
Funded through the B-INOC Initiative by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, NAMSSA is part of ICGEB’s broader effort to strengthen public-private partnerships and sustainable agriculture across sub-Saharan Africa.
To learn more about the project, read the article.
