Guinea Fonio

Now that fonio is recognised as a novel food in the European Union (EU), it offers significant export opportunities. CBI's Guinea Fonio project supports Guinean companies that produce, process and export fonio. The goal is to make the sector more compatible and sustainable. 

Selected companies will play an active role in this transformation. Together, we will work on:

• improving product quality;
• building stronger producer networks; and
• strengthening trade links between Guinea and the EU. 

Guinea Fonio project ambition

The project aims to make a lasting impact on the lives of people in rural areas by building an integrated and competitive sector together.

Project details

The project started in 2023 and will run until December 2027. Its main goals are the following:

• Increase demand for high-quality fonio in the EU;
• Improve the economic situation of fonio producers and women who process fonio, using sustainable and inclusive business models;
• Build a more structured fonio sector that works together on quality, marketing and fair economic growth;
• Provide better access to business support services across the fonio value chain in Guinea.

Guinea Fonio project partners

The project brings together:

• Guinean small and medium-sized fonio exporters;
• Fonio farmers and women processors;
• Buyers in Europe and the region;
• Business support organisations in Guinea (BSOs);
• Service providers in the fonio sector;
• Government bodies and other relevant institutions.

Project activities

The inception phase, starting in late 2023, focused on research and planning. A launch event on 11 April 2025 marks the beginning of the project implementation phase.
In this next phase, we will focus on the following activities:

• Promote fonio market awareness in Europe, driving market demand;
• Help formalise Guinea’s local fonio market and study the regional market;
• Support companies with entering European Union (EU) and regional markets and meeting regulation requirements;
• Work with businesses to design and carry out successful market entry strategies;
• Strengthen collaboration across the fonio value chain and improve producers' and processors' positions.

Support for Participating Companies

Companies selected for the project will receive:

• Personal coaching and business training;
• Training to improve fonio production and quality;
• Expert advice on certifications and market entry;
• Opportunities to participate in international and regional trade fairs;
• Support for strengthening responsible business conduct (RBC) practices

These companies will not only grow their own businesses but will also help create a stronger and more sustainable fonio sector in Guinea.

Want to learn more?

Please contact us at agriculture@cbi.eu for more information.