Central Agricultural Research Institute CARI

What Central Agricultural Research Institute CARI does

The Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) is Liberia's statutory national agricultural research institute, established in 1980 by Act of the Liberian Legislature and headquartered in Suakoko, Bong County. Operating under the Ministry of Agriculture, CARI is the only entity in the country with a legislative mandate to conduct adaptive and applied agricultural research, and it runs programs across all 15 of Liberia's counties through a network of demonstration sites, Best Practice Hubs, and partnerships with the Ministry's extension services. The institute employs 64 staff and serves smallholder farmers, farmer-based organizations, government ministries, and academic institutions including Grand Bassa University and the University of Liberia.

CARI's core offerings span improved crop varieties (rice lines Suakoko-8, NERICA-L-19, Red Suakoko 8 mutant, and ARICA-2; cassava varieties Game Changer, Baba 70, No Hunger; and cocoa at the National Cocoa Seed Garden), advanced biotechnology services (mutation breeding under IAEA Technical Cooperation Projects LIR5003/LIR5004, Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics with IITA, speed breeding/rapid generation advance, and molecular genetics), and applied climate-smart agriculture programs (Soils4Liberia national soil survey at 1,000+ sites, BCR weather stations, RESADE salinity resilience training, and agro-meteorological bulletins). Underlying technologies include tissue culture, hydroponics, gamma/X-ray mutation breeding, DNA/RNA sequencing, PCR, SNP detection, and digital field data collection via ODK and SDMT.

CARI's revenue model is fundamentally public-sector: it is funded primarily through Government of Liberia budget allocations and multi-donor grants from IFAD, the African Development Bank, the World Bank, the European Union (€65M contribution to Liberia's agriculture sector), IAEA, USAID, and BADEA, channeled through project vehicles such as SADFONS, STAR-P, RESADE, Seeds4Liberia, BCR, and TCEP. A secondary revenue stream comes from the sale of foundation seeds and certified planting materials (rice, cassava stems, cocoa seedlings) to farmers and out-grower groups at modest prices, with proceeds supporting institutional operations. Distribution occurs via direct engagement with farmer organizations, the Ministry's county extension network, and the Seed Development Certification Agency, rather than through commercial channels.

Name

Central Agricultural Research Institute CARI

Legal name

Central Agricultural Research Institute

Website

https://cari.gov.lr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) is Liberia's statutory national agricultural research institute, developing improved crop varieties, certified seeds, and climate-smart farming technologies for smallholder farmers, government ministries, and academic institutions across all 15 counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Research Services

NAICS

Oilseed and Grain Farming (1111), Rice Farming (11116), Other Vegetable (except Potato) and Melon Farming (111219), Dry Pea and Bean Farming (111130)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Services (700), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAGAIAE

Open-Pollinated/Varietal Seed Multiplication

Agriculture & Food Production/Crop Farming/Seed Production & Plant Breeding (Seed Multiplication, Hybrid Seed, Certified Seed)

SECONDARYAFAGAEAD

Cassava (Tapioca) Farming

Agriculture & Food Production/Crop Farming/Sugar & Starch Crop Farming (Sugarcane, Sugar Beet, Potatoes for Starch)

SECONDARYAFAGABAA

Soybean Farming

Agriculture & Food Production/Crop Farming/Oilseed & Pulse Farming (Soybeans, Canola, Sunflower, Peas, Lentils, Beans)

SECONDARYAFACABAL

Carbon, Sustainability & Farm Certification Support (Agro-Environmental Advisory)

Agriculture & Food Production/Agricultural Services (Custom Farming, Agronomy, Veterinary)/Crop Consulting & Agronomy Services (Soil Health, Nutrient Planning, Yield Consulting)

SECONDARYAFABAFAE

Vegetable Seeds (Open-Pollinated & Hybrid)

Agriculture & Food Production/Agricultural Inputs & Agrochemicals/Seed & Planting Inputs (Seeds, Seed Treatments, Inoculants)

Keywords

• Agricultural research services
• Certified seed production
• Crop breeding technology
• Climate-smart agriculture
• Smallholder farmer training

Headquarters

HQ city

Suakoko

HQ country

Liberia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Donor Support: CARI operates as a public agricultural research institution funded primarily through Government of Liberia budget allocations and international development partner grants. Revenue comes from project funding from organizations including IFAD, African Development Bank, World Bank, European Union, IAEA, and other agricultural development agencies.
2. Seed Production and Distribution: CARI produces and distributes foundation seeds and certified planting materials to farmers. Seeds are sold at reasonable prices to farmers to ensure ownership, with proceeds supporting institutional operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CARI is Liberia's statutory public agricultural research institute that develops and disseminates improved crop varieties, certified seeds, and climate-smart farming technologies for staple crops (rice, cassava, cocoa, plantain, maize, vegetables). It produces foundation and certified seed, conducts adaptive and applied research through seven thematic programs, and delivers farmer training, extension services, and soil and agro-meteorological data to support national food security and agricultural resilience.

Product overview

The Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) is Liberia's premier public agricultural research institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of agricultural products and services. The institute operates across seven key thematic programs: Crops Research, Livestock and Fisheries, Natural Resource Management, Agricultural Biotechnology and Laboratory Services, Mechanization and Irrigation, Socio-Economics and Applied Statistics, and Post-Harvest Handling and Food Processing. CARI's core products include certified seeds (rice varieties like Suakoko-8 and Nerica L-19, cassava varieties including Game Changer, and cocoa seedlings from the National Cocoa Seed Garden), advanced biotechnology services using mutation breeding and Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics technology, and climate-smart agricultural training programs. The institute provides agricultural mechanization training, soil survey and analysis services through the Soils4Liberia project, and operates weather stations for climate resilience. Upcoming infrastructure includes the Weala starch processing plant for cassava commercialization. CARI serves as the technical backbone for national agricultural development, working with projects including SADFONS, Seeds4Liberia, RESADE, STAR-P, and KAFACI to deliver research-driven innovations to farmers across all 15 counties of Liberia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SADFONS Certified Rice Seeds Certified rice seed varieties (Suakoko-8, Nerica L-19, Orylux-6, LAC-23) produced by the SADFONS Project for distribution to farmer-based organizations and out-growers across Lofa, Nimba, Bong, Grand Bassa, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Maryland, and Bomi counties.
• Seeds4Liberia Cassava Varieties High-yield, disease-free cassava planting materials including the Game Changer variety (10-12 months maturity), produced with IITA's Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) technology and distributed for foundation seed multiplication across Liberia.
• National Cocoa Seed Garden (NCSG) Seedlings Certified, high-yield cocoa seedlings produced from Liberia's first National Cocoa Seed Garden at Beeplay, Nimba County, using clonal and germplasm materials and SNP/DNA analysis for genetic integrity.
• IAEA Mutation Breeding Rice Program (LIR5003 & LIR5004) Technical cooperation projects with the International Atomic Energy Agency using mutation breeding (gamma rays, X-rays, ion beams, chemical mutagens) and Rapid Generation Advance (RGA) to develop improved rice lines such as Red Suakoko 8 with higher grain yield and earlier maturity.
• Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) Cassava Multiplication Service Commissioned SAH technology that combines tissue culture with hydroponics to rapidly multiply disease-free, pest-free isogenic cassava plantlets, producing up to 60 times more cuttings per year than field methods.
• Soils4Liberia Soil Survey and Classification National soil inventory and digital soil classification service producing the Liberia Soil Information System (LibSIS/LSIS), with field surveys at 1,000 sites collecting standardized soil data using ODK and SDMT for nationwide agricultural planning.
• Best Practice Hub (BPH) - Grand Bassa Physical training and demonstration hub at Grand Bassa University campus for agricultural innovation, hands-on farmer training, and student engagement, equipped with power tillers, threshers, seed cleaners, and vacuum packaging machines.
• Agricultural Mechanization Training Service Training and technical support for farm machinery operation, maintenance, and repair for farmers, interns, and County Agriculture Officers across multiple counties.
• Agro-Meteorological Weather Stations Operational agro-meteorological and rainfall weather stations across Bong, Lofa, and Nimba counties providing localized real-time weather data to support planters' decisions on planting schedules.
• Weala Cassava Starch Processing Facility Industrial cassava starch production facility under construction in Weala, Margibi County, intended to create a guaranteed market for cassava farmers and commercialize cassava value chain outputs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved breakthrough with Red Suakoko 8 mutant lines showing higher grain yield and earlier maturity than parental lines through IAEA mutation breeding program
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Grand Bassa UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025CARI signed MOU with Grand Bassa University in June 2025 to establish Best Practice Hub at university campus for agricultural innovation, training, and collaborative research between CARI researchers and university students.
• KAFACI (Korea-Africa Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024KAFACI is collaborative platform advancing agricultural research across Africa through partnerships with Korea. Liberia joined in August 2024, supporting rice variety trials and multiplication at CARI.
• IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARI partners with IAEA on mutation breeding and speed breeding technologies to develop improved rice varieties with stress tolerance, higher yields, and earlier maturity. Includes technical cooperation projects LIR5003 and LIR5004, training programs, and field trials at CARI.
• IITA (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIITA leads implementation of Seeds4Liberia project at CARI, providing improved cassava varieties including Game Changer and other high-yield varieties. Also supports cassava transformation initiatives and SAH technology commissioning.
• AfricaRicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfricaRice supports CARI through provision of improved rice varieties, technical expertise, and joint projects including solarization of laboratories and seed system development.
• ICBA (International Center for Biosaline Agriculture)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICBA leads implementation of RESADE project in partnership with IFAD and BADEA, providing expertise in biosaline agriculture and salt-tolerant crop development.
• Seed Development Certification Agency (SDCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDCA was established as national regulatory authority for seed certification. CARI works closely with SDCA for seed quality control, certification processes, and development of national seed system.
• CORAFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCORAF is international non-profit enhancing agricultural research and development in West and Central Africa, supporting seed harmonization and regional cooperation.
• Liberia Meteorological ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for agro-meteorological data collection, weather station operations, and climate information services to support agricultural planning.
• Ministry of Agriculture, LiberiacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMinistry of Agriculture provides oversight, policy direction, and coordination for CARI activities. Minister of Agriculture serves as Chair of CARI Board of Directors.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Emerging players

• World Agroforestry (ICRAF): Research institution focused on agroforestry and tree crops; comparable to CARI's Tree Crops Extension Project (cocoa seed garden) and natural resource management programs.
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - Joint FAO/IAEA Division: IAEA's mutation breeding and speed breeding technical cooperation program is highly comparable to CARI's own breeding operations; they jointly run LIR5003/LIR5004 projects. Treat as a strategic partner rather than competitor, but functionally similar in mandate area.

Broad incumbents

• International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA): Global CGIAR research center specializing in tropical agriculture; co-develops cassava technologies (SAH, Game Changer varieties) deployed at CARI. Largely comparable as a research and breeding partner with very similar crop improvement mandate.
• International Rice Research Institute (IRRI): Global CGIAR center for rice research; comparable as a peer research institute developing improved rice varieties, similar to CARI's rice breeding with AfricaRice and IAEA.
• International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT): Global CGIAR center focused on semi-arid crops; comparable as a research and breeding partner for crops relevant to Liberia's agroecological zones. Functions as a peer research provider.

Regional players

• Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Ghana: Ghana's national public research organization covering agricultural and industrial research. Comparable as a peer public research institute with similar mandate, though broader scope beyond agriculture.
• Institut de l'Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA) Burkina Faso: Burkina Faso's national agricultural and environmental research institute with a mandate for crop variety development, seed production, and natural resource management. Strong functional peer operating in a neighboring West African country.
• Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO): Kenya's national agricultural research institute with similar crop breeding, livestock, and extension mandate. Highly comparable as a peer public research institute operating in Sub-Saharan Africa, though serving a different country.
• National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) Uganda: Uganda's national agricultural research organization with parallel mandate for crop improvement, seed systems, and national agricultural research. Comparable in scope and structure though operating in a different country.

Direct peers

• AfricaRice: Africa-wide rice research center; directly comparable as a peer research institute for rice variety development, seed systems, and capacity building. Already a strategic partner to CARI for rice breeding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/central-agricultural-research-institute-cari

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Central Agricultural Research Institute CARI