Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute

What Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute does

The Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI) is the national government-mandated agricultural research body of Sierra Leone, established by an Act of Parliament in 2007 and headquartered on OAU Drive, Tower Hill, Freetown. The institute coordinates and implements research across six constituent centres: the Rokupr Agricultural Research Centre (RARC) for cereals/rice across all five Sierra Leonean ecologies, Njala Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) for general agriculture, Teko Livestock Research Centre (TLRC) in Makeni for poultry, ruminants, swine and non-conventional animals, Kenema Forestry and Tree Crops Research Centre (KFTCRC), Kabala Horticultural Crops Research Centre (KHCRC), and Magbosi Land, Water, and Environment Research Centre (MLWERC). The institute employs approximately 155 staff spanning plant breeding, molecular genetics, agronomy, soil science, animal science, entomology, food technology, and socio-economics, and is governed by a council chaired by the IITA Country Representative.

SLARI's core technology portfolio consists of conventional and molecular plant breeding programmes that have produced a suite of registered crop varieties — including the ROK rice series (upland, inland valley swamp, mangrove swamp, and boliland ecologies), NERICA lines from AfricaRice collaboration, SLICASS 4 and SLICASS 7 cassava (30–35 t/Ha, resistant to African Cassava Mosaic Disease and Cassava Bacteria Blight), PVA SYN 3 pro-vitamin A maize (~5 t/Ha in 90 days), SILNUT 2 drought-tolerant groundnut, and Coffea canephora, cacao, oil palm, and sweet orange cultivars. The institute also operates a Technology and Innovation Park that exhibits these technologies, runs livestock value-chain research across poultry, goats, sheep, pigs, beef, milk, and non-conventional animals, and has launched a demand-driven yam breeding programme with defined Target Product Profiles.

SLARI does not operate a commercial revenue model. Its funding base comprises core operational grants from the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, project funding from the World Bank via the Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP), and technical/financial support from international partners including IITA, AfricaRice, CORAF, IRRI, ICRISAT, IAEA, JICA, OCP Africa, the African Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the European Union, and AGRA. Research outputs, improved seed varieties, and training are disseminated at no direct cost to end users through government extension services, the institute's own centres, community-based seed producer networks, and farmer organizations such as the National Farmers Federation of Sierra Leone (NaFFSL).

Name

Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute

Legal name

Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute

Website

https://slari.gov.sl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI) is the national, government-mandated agricultural research body established by an Act of Parliament in 2007, operating six specialized research centres to develop and disseminate improved crop varieties, livestock technologies, and sustainable farming practices to Sierra Leonean smallholder farmers, government ministries, and development partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Research Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (1151)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Farm Technology Enablement & Data Integration Advisory (FMIS/ERP, IoT, Decision Support) (AFACAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Plant Tissue, Soil & Water Sampling Coordination (Agronomy-Focused) (AFACABAH), Nutrient Management Planning & Fertility Programs (AFACABAB)

Keywords

• Agricultural research services
• Crop variety development
• Livestock research programmes
• Soil and water management
• Plant breeding technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Freetown

HQ country

Sierra Leone

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government of Sierra Leone Funding: Core operational funding from the Government of Sierra Leone as the primary source of institutional financing for agricultural research activities
2. World Bank FSRP Funding: Food Systems Resilience Programme funding through World Bank for agricultural transformation projects
3. International Development Partners: Funding and technological support from AfricaRice, IITA, IRRI, ICRISAT, IAEA, JICA, and various NGOs for collaborative research projects

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SLARI generates and disseminates improved agricultural technologies and inputs through applied research across seven specialized research centres. Its core offerings include breeding and release of improved crop varieties (rice, cassava, maize, groundnut, coffee, cacao, oil palm, sweet orange, yam), livestock research and value chain development, soil and water management technologies, and on-farm demonstrations, all delivered to farmers through extension services and community-based seed producer networks at no direct cost.

Product overview

Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI) operates as a network of six specialized research centres under an integrated institutional structure, each dedicated to distinct agricultural domains: Rokupr Agricultural Research Centre (RARC) for cereals and rice across all ecologies; Njala Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) for general agricultural research; Teko Livestock Research Centre (TLRC) for livestock production and genetics; Kenema Forestry and Tree Crops Research Centre (KFTCRC); Kabala Horticultural Crops Research Centre (KHCRC); and Magbosi Land, Water, and Environment Research Centre (MLWERC). The institute's product portfolio includes multiple improved crop varieties developed through breeding programmes (rice varieties ROK 34 and NERICA series; cassava variety SLICASS 7; coffee, cacao, oil palm, sweet orange, maize PVA SYN 3, groundnut SILNUT 2) showcased through the SLARI Technology and Innovation Park. Research programmes span livestock value chains (poultry, goats, sheep, pigs, beef, milk, non-conventional animals) and yam breeding, all coordinated under the Feed Salone Strategy framework with support from international partners including IITA and World Bank.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ROK 34 Rice Variety High-yielding rice variety developed by SLARI's Rokupr Agricultural Research Centre, yielding 4-5 tons per hectare. Suitable for African soil, resistant to insects and weeds, with quick growth cycle shortened by 30-50 days. Targeted at smallholder farmers across Sierra Leone's rice ecologies.
• SLICASS 7 Cassava Variety High-yielding cassava variety developed by SLARI, yielding 30-35 tons per hectare with 33.4% dry matter. Resistant to African Cassava Mosaic Disease (ACMD) and Cassava Bacteria Blight (CBB), moderately tolerant to Cassava Green Mite (CGM). Targeted at smallholder cassava farmers.
• Coffea canephora (Coffee) Variety Coffee variety developed by SLARI yielding 6 tons per hectare with plant population of 2,666 per hectare. First flower production occurs 3 years after cultivation. Resistant to pest/disease and adaptable to changing climate with 95% germination percentage. For domestic coffee cultivation.
• Theobroma cacao L. (Cacao) Variety Cacao variety developed by SLARI yielding 300-400 tons per hectare with planting distance of 3m x 3m. First flower production occurs 3 years after cultivation. Susceptible to black pod disease but adapts to changing climate with 90% germination percentage. For tree crop farmers.
• Oil Palm Variety Oil palm variety developed by SLARI yielding 158 tons of clean oil per hectare with 99% germination percentage and good architecture when properly managed. For tree crop farmers and agro-industrial investors.
• Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) Variety Sweet orange variety developed by SLARI yielding 30 tons per hectare with 204 plants per hectare at 7m x 7m spacing. First flower production occurs 5 years after cultivation with 90% germination percentage. For horticultural crop farmers.
• PVA SYN 3 Pro-Vitamin A Maize Pro-vitamin A fortified synthetic maize variety (Zea mays) yielding about 5 tons per hectare in 90 days with average height of 138 cm. Resistant to maize streak virus and drought-tolerant. Targeted at smallholder farmers for nutrition and food security.
• SILNUT 2 Groundnut Variety Drought-tolerant groundnut variety growing at 42.8 cm height with 25-50 days to 50% flowering, medium seed size, and 75-80% shelling percentage. Yields 2-3 tons per hectare and replenishes soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. For smallholder groundnut farmers.
• NERICA Rice Varieties NERICA (New Rice for Africa) varieties including NERICA 3, 4, 6, 15, 16, 18 for upland and NERICA-L-19, NERICA-L-20 for lowland ecologies, developed through interspecific hybridization with AfricaRice collaboration. Targeted at smallholder rice farmers across Sierra Leone.
• SLARI Technology and Innovation Park Physical demonstration park showcasing advanced agricultural technologies and innovations in the agricultural value chain. Exhibits new plant varieties, post-harvest treatments, and processing technologies selected based on climate adaptation, nutrition contribution, and gender sensitivity. For farmers, extension workers, researchers, and policy stakeholders.
• Yam Breeding Programme Demand-driven yam breeding programme aligned with market needs targeting early and intermediate maturity, high fresh tuber yield, superior boiled and pounded yam quality, extended shelf life, and disease/pest resistance. For Sierra Leonean yam producers, consumers, processors, and traders.
• Livestock Product Value Chains Programme Seven product value chains focused on poultry, goat, sheep, pig, beef, milk, and non-conventional animal development and promotion. Conducted at Teko Livestock Research Centre (TLRC) in Makeni, the only constituent livestock centre of SLARI. Targeted at livestock farmers across Sierra Leone.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000 farmers reached through media engagement and training programmes
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025AGRA staff visited SLARI headquarters to discuss potential areas of collaboration focused on capacity building for SLARI staff, particularly in research management, communication, finance, and digital innovation.
• Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021World Bank-funded Food Systems Resilience Programme providing major funding and implementation support for agricultural transformation in Sierra Leone. FSRP supports Pillar 2 of the Government of Sierra Leone's Feed Salone Strategy through technical backstopping by IITA and direct project implementation at SLARI research centres.
• International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021IITA provides technical backstopping to SLARI under FSRP, supporting research grants, scientist training, technology development, and capacity building across multiple agricultural value chains including soybean, cassava, and maize.
• AfricaRicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfricaRice provides funding, technological support, and technical collaboration for rice research, having historically supported rice variety development at Rokupr Agricultural Research Centre.
• CORAFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWest African agricultural research coordination body coordinating the Agricultural Technology and Innovation Park (ATIP) project in partnership with SLARI, FSRP, and iREACH Programme.
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides technical support and funding for rice research using nuclear techniques in plant breeding and soil management.
• OCP AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCP Africa provides support for soil management technologies and fertilizer access programmes in collaboration with SLARI.
• International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRRI provides technical collaboration and germplasm support for rice research and variety development.
• International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICRISAT provides technical collaboration for research on dryland crops including sorghum, millet, and groundnuts.
• Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAFS is the parent ministry overseeing SLARI and the primary government partner for implementing national agricultural policies and the Feed Salone Initiative.
• Njala UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNjala University provides academic collaboration, student training opportunities, and joint research programmes with SLARI.
• University of Sierra LeoneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Sierra Leone collaborates with SLARI on agricultural research and academic programmes.
• Livestock and Livelihoods Development Project (LLDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLLDP engages with SLARI on strategic partnership for livestock development, proposing MoU for collaboration on adaptive research, improved livestock breeds, feed and fodder production, animal health, and strengthening the Central Veterinary Laboratory at Teko Livestock Research Centre.
• National Farmers Federation of Sierra Leone (NaFFSL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNaFFSL represents farmer interests in FSRP project implementation and serves as a key stakeholder in technology dissemination to farming communities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NARO (National Agricultural Research Organization, Uganda): Uganda's national agricultural research parastatal mandated by Act of Parliament, operating multiple research centres covering crop, livestock, and forestry — directly comparable institutional architecture to SLARI's seven-centre structure.
• AfricaRice: Continental rice research centre historically supporting RARC's rice variety development including NERICA releases; directly comparable mandate around rice ecologies across West Africa and shared technical collaboration with SLARI.
• INRAB (Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du Bénin): Benin's national agricultural research institute running a multi-centre network with shared CGIAR partnerships and West-African rice/cassava breeding focus that overlap directly with SLARI's RARC and NARC activities.
• IITA (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture): Pan-African CGIAR research centre providing technical backstopping to SLARI under FSRP; directly comparable crop mandate covering cassava, maize, soybean, and yam breeding pipelines that drive SLARI's recent variety releases.
• INERA (Institut de l'Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles, Burkina Faso): Burkina Faso's national agricultural and environmental research institute covering cereals, livestock, and natural resource management — comparable multi-centre structure and West-African research mandate to SLARI.
• INRAN (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique du Niger): Niger's national agricultural research institute operating a multi-disciplinary research-centre model with shared CGIAR partnerships and Sahel/West-African operational context — comparable funding structure and cereal breeding focus to SLARI.
• ISRA (Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles): Senegal's national agricultural research institute structured as a multi-centre parastatal covering crops, livestock, and forestry — closely comparable institutional architecture and West-African operating context to SLARI.
• CSIR-SARI (Savannah Agricultural Research Institute of Ghana): Ghana's CSIR institute mandated by government for Savannah zone crops including cereals and legumes — directly comparable to SLARI's mandate for Sierra Leone as a national agricultural research parastatal with multi-centre research delivery.

Broad incumbents

• IRRI (International Rice Research Institute): Global CGIAR rice research institute historically partnering with RARC on rice research; operates at significantly larger scale but directly comparable in rice breeding and variety release mandate that underpins SLARI's ROK/NERICA pipeline.

Others

• AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa): Continental agricultural transformation funder that visited SLARI in July 2025 to scope collaboration on capacity building; comparable as a recent SLARI partner and a key alternative funding channel for national research institute capacity building beyond World Bank FSRP.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/slari_2007
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SLARI-2025
• Facebookfacebook.com/slariinfo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sierra-leone-agricultural-research-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute