The suggestion to develop the land caused discord among subsistence farmers, with herders opposing it due to their long-standing use of the land, while some individuals, like Doudou Ndiaye Mboup, believed it could help alleviate unemployment in Senegal.
The proposed land, located near Senegal's largest freshwater lake, had its water rights secured by the company. African Agriculture aimed to cultivate alfalfa for export to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported a 38% decrease in alfalfa production due to climate change-induced drought, prompting the need for alternative sources like in Senegal.
Seck, a Senegalese mining investor, ran an Italian company that failed in its biofuel plans for the land and then sold a 50-year lease of 20,000 hectares to Timis for $7.9 million. Timis, originally from Romania, with experience in mining across West Africa, was the predominant shareholder.
In 2021, Niéti Yone village in Senegal welcomed investors Frank Timis and Gora Seck from U.S.-based African Agriculture. Despite optimistic promises of employing locals, such projects often fail after ambitious announcements.
Foreign investment projects in Africa, especially in agriculture, have increased significantly between 2000 and 2020, attracting attention and raising concerns about land acquisition.
Agricultural plans endorsed by the Senegalese government for exporting animal feed to wealthy Gulf nations through African Agriculture deteriorated, resulting in financial issues, company delisting, and workers not being paid for months.
The failure of the agriculture project in Senegal has damaged community relations and trust, leading to disputes over land usage. African Agriculture's former CEO has embarked on a new, larger-scale agricultural project in Congo and Cameroon, raising questions about sustainability.
Former executives and experts have criticized African Agriculture's inflated claims and questionable practices, casting doubt on its operations and the viability of future projects.