The potential of Guinea Bissau's horticulture sector is constrained by many factors including infrastructure challenges, input supply, low seed quality, and under-resourced extension services. The country's revenue generation from horticulture-related commodities is reliant on a dominant cashew industry, creating a risk of lack of diversification. Relative political stability in recent years has granted an opportunity for USAID to expand efforts to strengthen the horticulture value chain in the country.

This Horticulture Innovation Lab initiative is led by Principal Investigator Dr. Naalamle Amissah and co-investigator Dr. Freda Asem from the University of Ghana, in collaboration with Dr. Augusto João Bock from People-to-People Development Assistance (ADPP) and Duarte Mansoa from Association of Women in Economic Activity (AMAE). This project aims to enable agricultural producers to practice improved horticultural techniques adapted to their environment and soil typology, taking into account each climatic season and its changes. The seed sector for horticulture crops will be strengthened, along with implementing several capacity strengthening initiatives in the form of trainings and the establishment of innovation centers where producers can learn preharvest and postharvest skills and see low-cost technologies that could be implemented at their farms. Finally, these activities will integrate researchers from Universidade Amílcar Cabral (UAC) and the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INPA).

This project aims to increase the profitability, diversity and sustainability of agricultural productions in Guinea Bissau through the transfer of inputs along the agricultural value chain, especially for young women farmers. The project will strengthen community production groups and young researchers through the provision of a space for learning, sharing and experimentation to pilot, innovative and effective techniques and technologies that respect the ecosystem, are low-cost and easily appropriate for implementation in communities.