Cameroon is turning to Brazilian expertise to help reverse a sharp decline in domestic meat production, betting that better genetics, modern breeding techniques, and technology transfer can revive its cattle industry.
In a letter dated July 9, 2026, Cameroon's ambassador to Brazil, Martin Agbor Mbeng, reaffirmed the government's support for the planned investment by Brazilian agribusiness group Santa Maria. The project centers on technology transfer, genetic improvement of the national cattle herd, and training for livestock farmers.
Addressed to Santa Maria President Daniela Vitorino Prudente, the letter comes as the company prepares to establish operations in Ngaoundéré, in the Adamawa Region. The group plans to build a facility that will produce cattle breeding inputs and animal feed as part of Cameroon's import substitution strategy.
According to the ambassador, the investment responds to the Cameroonian government's invitation for Brazilian companies to invest in sectors that support domestic production and reduce dependence on imports. He also described cattle farming as a strategic pillar of President Paul Biya's economic development agenda.
Meat production drops nearly 27%
The planned investment comes as Cameroon's livestock sector faces a significant downturn. In his annual policy address to Parliament on November 26, 2025, Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute said national meat production fell to 172,910 metric tons in 2025 from 235,960 metric tons a year earlier.
The decline of 63,050 metric tons represents a 26.7% drop in just one year, following an earlier decline in 2024. The contraction has occurred even as demand for meat continues to rise with population growth and urbanization, increasing pressure on domestic supply and reinforcing the country's reliance on imports.
Despite the overall decline, cattle remained Cameroon's largest source of meat, accounting for 68,902 metric tons in 2025. Poultry followed with 38,914 metric tons, ahead of pork at 27,914 metric tons, goats at 21,249 metric tons, and sheep at 15,931 metric tons.
Artificial insemination at the center of the strategy
Beyond its industrial investment, Santa Maria plans to organize a seminar on modern artificial insemination techniques during the fourth quarter of 2026. Ambassador Agbor Mbeng said the initiative aligns with the government's efforts to modernize and diversify the cattle industry by strengthening farmers' technical skills, improving herd productivity, and transferring Brazilian expertise to Cameroonian producers.
The embassy said it has formally notified the Ministry of External Relations, with copies sent to the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries and other relevant agencies, requesting that all necessary support be provided to facilitate the company's activities in Cameroon. Artificial insemination is a key component of the government's livestock modernization strategy.
The technique allows superior genetic traits to spread more rapidly through the national herd, improving reproductive performance while increasing meat and milk production.
Brazil, one of the world's leading cattle producers, has extensive experience in livestock genetics and breeding technologies, making it a strategic partner for Cameroon. The government hopes to adapt that expertise to local conditions, particularly in the country's northern regions, where cattle farming plays a central economic role.
The initiative will complement projects already underway, including construction of the National Animal Semen Production Center in Wakwa, Adamawa Region. The facility is expected to produce more than 500,000 doses of bovine semen and 300 embryos annually to accelerate genetic improvement across the country's cattle herd.
Turning investment into higher productivity
Santa Maria has described the Cameroonian government's diplomatic support as an important step toward implementing the project. In a July 11 post on Instagram, the company said it had received the ambassador's letter "with great honor" and reaffirmed its technical and long-term commitment to Cameroon's economic development.
Beyond the Santa Maria project, the initiative reflects Cameroon's growing use of economic diplomacy to attract investors capable of bringing capital, technology, and technical expertise into priority sectors. The challenge now will be translating those commitments into measurable gains in livestock productivity.
With national meat production down nearly 27% in a single year, modernizing the cattle industry has become more than an agricultural objective. It is increasingly viewed as a key element of the country's food security strategy.
Patricia Ngo Ngouem