West African startup cultivates sustainable farming with natural agricultural products
From the tropical cocoa plantations of Côte d’Ivoire to the arid pastoral plains of Mauritania, agriculture is at the heart of West Africa. Farming employs over half of West Africans and remains the largest sector in many of the region’s countries. West African agriculture is also essential in many global supply chains, including chocolate and cashew nuts.
Justin Kouassi Kra understands the power and potential of West African agriculture better than most. With a background in economics, agribusiness and agronomy, he has worked in a range of agricultural sectors, including coffee, cocoa and rubber. This experience has made him acutely aware of the challenges facing the sector, including climate change, pests and a heavy reliance on imported chemical inputs, such as fertilizers and pesticides.
Biological fertilizers from Africa’s natural farming resources
This last issue is of particular interest to Justin, as it ignores West Africa’s vast and largely untapped reserves of biological farming resources. Seeing a clear gap in the market, he decided to tap that potential. “I wanted to create a company that combines agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability and economic sovereignty,” he explains.
The result is Biomassivoire, founded by Justin in Côte d’Ivoire in 2020. Biomassivoire specializes in the creation and production of organic fertilizers, natural agricultural inputs and biological crop protection solutions. Whether restoring soil health, deterring pests or improving agricultural productivity, the company’s products reduce farmers’ reliance on chemical inputs, thereby promoting environmental health and sustainable agriculture as well as improving agricultural productivity.
Enhancing credibility with IP for natural fertilizers and biopesticides
Many of Biomassivoire’s products are tailored to specific crops or agroecological zones, and the company also specializes in creating bespoke solutions to meet clients’ specific needs. The resulting range of product formulations and ongoing research and development (R&D) projects requires robust intellectual property (IP) protection.
Biomassivoire uses patents to protect its fertilizer and biopesticide formulations, trademarks for brand and product names, logos and proprietary designs, industrial designs for packaging, and trade secrets for the company’s extraction, processing and formulation methods. “This range of IP protection secures R&D investments, preserves technical and commercial assets, supports partnerships and enhances our credibility with investors and stakeholders,” says Justin. “We recognize that IP is a strategic lever to safeguard fertilizers and biopesticides, attract partners, and prepare for regional expansion.”
Safeguarding Biomassivoire’s IP with expert guidance from IPMC
Despite his clear grasp of the importance of IP for Biomassivoire’s success, Justin and his company face several challenges. These include the continued risk of copycat products, particularly biopesticides; the expense and procedural complexity of international IP protection; and the need for stronger internal IP expertise and an IP strategy that evolves as Biomassivoire expands.
including the logos, proprietary designs,
and industrial designs of their products.
Image: Biomassivoire
Looking for expert guidance, in 2025 Justin successfully applied to participate in WIPO’s Intellectual Property Management Clinic (IPMC). The long-running program provides small and medium-sized enterprises with free professional IP advice to help them safeguard their property and maximize their potential, both at home and overseas. WIPO collaborated with the West African Economic and Monetary Union to deliver this edition of the IPMC, the first time the program has been held in West Africa.
As one of the 28 participants on the five-month program, Justin was pared with an IP expert, who offered tailored, one-on-one advice on how to improve the IP protection and potential of Biomassivoire. When the IPMC ended, Justin was provided with a bespoke IP roadmap with recommendations to support the company’s growth. “The IPMC experience was practical, highly relevant and immediately applicable,” recalls Justin. “The mentoring helped us move from a defensive view of IP to a proactive, strategic mindset, integrating IP considerations into governance, R&D and business development.”
Positioning Biomassivoire as a leading organic farming company
Justin has since put his newfound knowledge to good use. After completing the IPMC, he and his team have strengthened internal practices regarding confidentiality, documentation and governance. The company has also mapped Biomassivoire’s intangible assets, and now considers IP from the earliest stages of its R&D projects.
These and other improvements being made in the company are all part of Justin’s long-term goal. “Our vision is to position Biomassivoire as a leading sustainable agro-industry company in West Africa and eventually across the continent,” he explains. “Through IP, Biomassivoire not only safeguards innovation but also creates a foundation for sustainable development, economic empowerment and environmental stewardship.”
