Africa – A key driver of global economic growth

Mr. Hervé Balusson, you are Olmix Group CEO. What is the group’s bedrock philosophy ?

Mr. Hervé Balusson: For 20 years, with its 15 branches worldwide, Olmix has been a green tech SME proposing an alternative for health. In order to mitigate the use of chemicals in plant and animal care, our company uses a method  based on algae, which are particularly abundant in Brittany. These living organisms prove to be very useful in fixing mycotoxins (microscopic fungi), especially in warm and humid countries such as Côte d’Ivoire. Therefore, the sea remains a field to exploit.

Why have you chosen Côte d’Ivoire to complement your current activity in Brittany?

Mr. Hervé Balusson: After Asia, Africa’s emerging markets prove to be easier to penetrate than those of the western countries. They are less apprehensive of algae. The Black Continent is now developing, which is true especially of the local agriculture. Therefore, algae allow improving the health of livestock (poultry, fish) and of crops (cocoa, coffee, cotton). Our high technology helps neutralize the mycotoxins that occur in these raw materials for export. Currently, no other laboratory in Africa is capable of analyzing them, and that is a problem. Consequently, Côte d’Ivoire needs to acquire our know-how: treating without medicines or antibiotics, by exploiting local proteins. It is a question of developing a whole industry, first by cultivating algae in Brittany, then by teaching people to cultivate them in Africa. In this way, the nutritional aspect of macro-algae allows finding a solution to the issue of malnutrition (lack of proteins).

What differences are there between the plants of Morbihan and that of Africa?

Mr. Hervé Balusson: They have nothing to do with each other. Those of Morbihan have been part of the nutrition industry for 50 years. On the contrary, in Africa everything needs to be done to neutralize the toxins that occur in local proteins. The Black Continent needs less expensive and more nutritional solutions. Therefore, Olmix must adapt to the market in terms of price and results as regards protein concentrates at the level of smallholder agriculture.

What are the advantages that the two countries derive from this bilateral cooperation?

Mr. Hervé Balusson: France and Côte d’Ivoire maintain tight relationships. Actually, it is the latter that approached us two years ago. Besides, we envisage a private financing opportunity between Bercy and the office of the Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire, Daniel Kablan Duncan.

What makes you think that Côte d’Ivoire represents an asset for your development?

Mr. Hervé Balusson: It is a central country of West Africa that has a large harbour – that of Abidjan – through which raw materials pass in transit. This helps us extend to other important markets such as Nigeria, our next target.

Thanks to the algae valorization and to the rapid expansion of eco-resources, what makes Africa become a driving force of the global economy?

Mr. Hervé Balusson: Africa, as a continent for the future, will be going through the same development as China. We should therefore find food solutions for it. Algae provide an alternative to soja. But this is a long-term project.

Interview by Noémie Grynberg - LeMonde.fr / Economy - May 2014