European Union-Funded AgriFI and Acumen Equity Investment in Vitara Agritech to strengthen Ghana’s shea value chain 

The joint investment will support traceable sourcing, women producers and the protection of shea landscapes in northern Ghana.

Accra, Ghana and Brussels, Belgium – 26 October 2026 – EDFI Management Company, through the European Union-funded AgriFI Ghana Country Window, together with Acumen and a network of angel investors have made an equity investment in Vitara Agritech, a Ghanaian B-Corp certified agri-tech company building more traceable and sustainable shea value chains.

AgriFI, the European Union funded agriculture impact investment facility, alongside additional investment from Acumen and a network of angel investors is investing EUR 1.8 million in sustainable shea value chains and  continued growth in Ghana.

Ilona Gruenewald, Programme manager agriculture and energy, European Union Delegation to Ghana said: “The European Union is pleased to support this investment through the AgriFI Ghana Country Window. Vitara’s model demonstrates how investment in innovative Ghanaian businesses can strengthen agricultural value chains, create economic opportunities for women and support the protection, transparent and sustainable use of vital natural resources. While connecting smallholder producers to international markets, the company contributes to more inclusive and resilient rural development in northern Ghana.”

The investment is made through Vitara, founded in 2020 and formerly known as Sommalife. The company connects smallholder shea producers to international manufacturers. Its proprietary digital platform, TreeSyt, supports farmer profiling, sourcing, training and tree monitoring, helping to bring greater traceability to a value chain that has traditionally relied on informal intermediaries.

Vitara’s growth is closely connected to European markets. Its main clients include European companies specialized in plant-based oils and fats. Shea sourced in Ghana is used principally in cocoa butter equivalents for chocolate and confectionery products.

Rodrigo Madrazo, CEO of EDFI Management Company said: “Vitara combines a commercially strong model with clear benefits for smallholder producers, particularly women, and for the landscapes on which the shea sector depends. We are pleased that AgriFI’s first direct equity investment in Ghana will support a Ghanaian company that is creating a more transparent, resilient and inclusive shea value chain.”

Around 91% of the farmers in Vitara’s network are women. During the latest shea season, the company actively worked with approximately 47,000 women farmers in Ghana, for whom shea is an important source of household income.

Chris Maranga, Africa Director, Acumen said: “For generations, the women who harvest and process Ghana’s shea have been shut out of reliable markets. Vitara is changing that, opening the door to higher, more stable incomes through a rapidly growing network of farmers and community agents. As the company scales toward one million farmers by 2030, it is showing how technology, transparent markets, and climate stewardship can reshape West Africa’s agricultural supply chains. We’re proud to invest alongside AgriFI to help it get there.”

Mawuse Gyisun, COO and Co-Founder, Vitara Agritech said: “With the support of AgriFI, Acumen, and SIG our angel investors, Vitara can expand its work with women producers, strengthen the reach of our solutions and build a more transparent and sustainable shea supply chain.”

About the European Union in Ghana

The European Union has been a longstanding partner to Ghana, working hand in hand with government institutions, civil society, and the private sector to promote inclusive and sustainable development. Through its partnerships with the government of Ghana, the EU supports key areas such as agriculture, education, governance, and green growth and employment, aiming to improve livelihoods, reduce inequalities, and foster long-term resilience across the country.

About AgriFI and the EDFI Management Company 

AgriFI, the EU Agriculture Financing Initiative, is an impact investment facility funded by the European Union, managed by EDFI Management Company, with a mandate to unlock, accelerate and leverage sustainable investments in medium, small and micro agri-enterprises (MSME) that operate in developing countries, with a specific focus on smallholder’s inclusiveness. For more information, visit www.agrifi.eu and www.edfimc.eu. 

EDFI Management Company (EDFI MC) is a multilaterally owned impact asset manager which delivers innovative development finance solutions that enable European Development Financial Institutions, development banks and private sector investors to increase the scale and impact of their work. The company focuses on business models, technologies and geographies where other investors have not been able to operate at the desired scale given their resources and investment criteria.  

About AgriFI – Ghana Country Window

A EUR 10 million country window dedicated to sustainably increase production and incomes of smallholder farmers in Ghana, by investing in private sector enterprises, financial institutions and/or funds focusing on farmers livelihood improvement. It supports the modernisation of the country agri-food systems in the five Northern regions, and aims to support smallholders, who in turn will create additional employment and increase their companies’ production, while reducing potential negative impacts on the environment and climate. Read more: https://edfimc.eu/what-we-do/agrifi/ghana-country-window/ 

About Acumen

Acumen is a global impact investor focused on tackling poverty by backing entrepreneurs and innovators in underserved markets. Founded in 2001 by Jacqueline Novogratz, Acumen uses Patient Capital and moral imagination to build sustainable businesses that serve the poor. It has improved more than 500 million lives and continues to push the frontier of how capital can serve long-term social change. Learn more at www.acumen.org. 

About Vitara Agritech

Vitara Agritech is a Ghanaian agri-tech company developing traceable, transparent and sustainable shea supply chains. Formerly known as Sommalife, Vitara works with smallholder producers — predominantly women — in northern Ghana, connecting them to international markets through a combination of structured sourcing, farmer services and its digital platform, TreeSyt. Read more: https://vitara.ag/