Cognizant of both the emerging need for biofuel and the longstanding need for sustainable development, the founding members of Agritech started to work on a biofuel project as early as 2005. By 2006, the seeds from a plant by the name of Jatropha Curcas had been identified as a promising feedstock and, West Africa as a promising region for the cultivation of Jatropha.

Taking advantage of 20 years of Jatropha plantation development, over 20 years of experience in building large oil processing plants, and other varied skills of Agritech’s founding members – including trading of commodities, fuel distribution, rural community development, law, and finance – the company has developed a unique business model for the production of biofuel.

Incorporated in 2007, Agritech Faso started to build the foundation for a large plantation project. With the support of the country’s senior leaders, as well as many community groups, Agritech initially aimed at developing 200,000 hectares in Burkina Faso.

Towards the end of 2007, prospective local partners in Benin suggested to their Government a similar project. After receiving enthusiastic support, in December 2007, Agritech started the groundwork for the development of 200,000 hectares of Jatropha in Benin.