Côte d’Ivoire’s agricultural tech firm Investiv Group was founded by Aboubakar Karim, an Ivorian agroeconomist, with the mission to revolutionize Africa’s agricultural sector. The company works to integrate advanced technologies with traditional farming practices, and is rapidly gaining recognition for its work.
Prior to founding his company, Karim’s professional path began at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food of Quebec, where he contributed as an agroeconomist focusing on agri-food marketing and regional development. Later, between 2021 and 2022, he served as a business analyst at the Society for Cooperation for International Development (SOCODEVI) in Canada.
Investiv Group: Spearheading Precision Agriculture
Founded in 2017, Investiv Group has become a beacon of innovation in West African farming. The company excels in precision agriculture, particularly through the use of drone technology in various agricultural operations. “Our objective at Investiv is to forge the future of African agriculture by integrating digital transformation and precision tools,” Karim explains.
Investiv’s range of services includes land mapping, phytosanitary diagnostics, and aerial spraying—each facilitated through advanced drone technology. Specializing in precision agriculture since 2017, the company collaborates with agricultural cooperatives, agro-industrialists, public organizations and research centers.
The firm also develops customized software solutions tailored to the unique needs of its clients. This strategic approach not only helps local farmers mitigate losses due to crop disease but also enables them to monitor their lands precisely and conduct vital technical assessments for their farming projects.
Community Impact and Recognition
In tandem to the company’s use of drones, Karim also established the Côte d’Ivoire Flying Labs. This initiative, in collaboration with We Robotics, promotes the application of drones, robotics, and STEM education to foster development and empower the youth. Thanks to his work with farmers and youth, Karim was awarded the third prize in the African Startup Competition by Ecole Polytechnique de Paris in 2018 and was also listed among the top 10 of Africa’s Business Heroes in 2020.
The work done by Investiv Group exemplify how targeted technological advancements can profoundly influence traditional industries, paving the way for sustainable development and economic growth in Africa’s agricultural sector.
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