Nigeria, Spain Deepen Agricultural Partnership

…. Eye Food Security, Technology Transfer

Nigeria and Spain are set to deepen cooperation in agriculture, technology transfer and food-value development as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, held talks with Spain’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas Puchades, in Madrid.

The meeting, held on Thursday at the Palacio de Fomento, focused on expanding bilateral collaboration in agro-food production, animal health, irrigation, improved seedlings and food preservation, amid Nigeria’s drive to strengthen domestic food production and create more employment opportunities for its growing population.

Planas, who received Ikpeazu during the Ambassador’s courtesy visit, congratulated him on his appointment as Nigeria’s principal envoy to Spain and on the presentation of his Letters of Credence to King Felipe VI.

The Spanish minister said Ikpeazu’s assumption of duty offered an opportunity to further strengthen the longstanding relations between both countries, particularly in agricultural development and related value chains.

Planas drew attention to Spain’s experience in using agricultural technology to improve crop yields, prevent diseases and develop high-yielding seedlings capable of supporting large-scale crop and livestock production.

He also pointed to the importance of reducing food losses through improved preservation systems and more efficient approaches to production and consumption.

According to the minister, Spain’s agricultural transformation has enabled the country to produce more food than it imports, while technological innovation contributed to a 20 per cent reduction in food loss in 2025.

He said further preventive measures were being pursued to reduce losses across the food chain.

For Nigeria, the discussions come against the backdrop of the country’s vast agricultural potential and persistent challenges involving food production, post-harvest losses, inadequate storage and transportation infrastructure, as well as limited access to modern agricultural technologies.

Ikpeazu said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had identified increased agricultural production as a priority, particularly in view of Nigeria’s large youth population and the employment opportunities available across the agricultural value chain.

The Ambassador argued that unlocking the sector’s potential could simultaneously strengthen food security, create jobs and contribute to addressing irregular migration pressures affecting parts of Africa.

He commended Spain’s advances in improved seed production, livestock development and food preservation, stressing that Nigeria was interested in adapting relevant Spanish technologies and expertise to its own agricultural environment.

Ikpeazu specifically cited the operations of Spanish food company GB Foods in Nigeria as an example of the potential benefits of technology, investment and improved agricultural inputs.

He said the company’s activities in Kebbi and Ogun states had demonstrated the impact of improved seedlings, with tomato yields reportedly increasing from about 10 tonnes to more than 60 tonnes per hectare.

The Ambassador said Nigeria was also keen to expand cooperation in animal production, both to meet domestic demand and to develop the capacity for exports.

He called for stronger collaboration to tackle food losses resulting from inadequate preservation facilities and weaknesses in transportation networks, noting that reducing losses could significantly improve the value of agricultural production without necessarily requiring a corresponding expansion of cultivated land.

The talks also highlighted the potential for greater private-sector participation in Nigeria-Spain agricultural relations, with both sides agreeing that investment, technical cooperation and technology transfer could open new areas of economic engagement.

The two officials agreed to facilitate consideration of proposals from relevant government agencies and private-sector stakeholders aimed at translating the discussions into practical areas of cooperation.

The engagement is expected to form part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria-Spain economic relations, particularly by moving beyond traditional diplomatic engagement towards partnerships capable of supporting investment, technology transfer, job creation and sustainable development.

For Nigeria, closer agricultural cooperation with Spain could provide opportunities to access expertise in areas ranging from improved seeds and irrigation to livestock production, disease prevention, storage and food processing, while Spanish investors could gain access to Nigeria’s large agricultural market and substantial arable land.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the existing cordial relations between Nigeria and Spain and exploring additional opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation in the agricultural sector.