Researching the Future of
Africa's Meat Industry
We are the thinking engine behind Meatsoko. Asking the harder questions to build sustainability, productivity, and quality for tomorrow.
Who We Are
MSL Research & Innovations is the thinking engine behind Meatsoko. While the rest of the ecosystem moves product, builds brands, and connects communities, we are the team asking the harder questions — How do we do this better? How do we do this smarter? How do we do this sustainably?
The answers we find today become the standards Meatsoko operates on tomorrow. We are not just researchers. We are the force that keeps Meatsoko ahead.
Our Mission
"To drive continuous innovation across every stage of Africa's meat value chain — improving productivity for farmers, raising quality for consumers, reducing waste for the planet, and creating competitive advantages that no one else in the industry can match."
What We Do
Operating at the intersection of science, agriculture, and technology to improve every stage of the meat value chain.
Livestock Genetics & Breeding
Developing breeding programs for stronger, healthier, and more productive livestock tailored to the African climate.
Feed Science & Nutrition
Creating optimised, locally sourced feed formulations to produce the best possible meat quality efficiently.
Meat Quality & Processing
Innovating preservation methods and processing techniques to extend shelf life and maintain freshness.
Sustainability & Waste Reduction
Minimising waste through by-product utilisation and biogas conversion for a circular economy.
Food Safety & Traceability
Refining contamination detection and quality assurance to ensure every product meets the highest standards.
Climate & Agricultural Adaptation
Studying climate patterns to develop adaptation strategies that help farmers stay resilient.
The Research We Run
| Focus Area | Goal | Impact Across Ecosystem |
|---|---|---|
| Livestock Genetics & Breeding | Stronger, healthier, more productive animals | Farmers, MSL Logistics, MSL Brands |
| Feed Science & Nutrition | Lower costs, higher quality meat | Farmers, MSL Finance, MSL Brands |
| Meat Processing & Preservation | Longer shelf life, less spoilage | MSL Brands, MSL Logistics |
| Waste & By-Product Utilisation | Circular economy, zero waste processing | Energy (Green), MSL Logistics |
| Food Safety & Testing | Highest safety and quality standards | MSL Brands, MSL Technologies, Consumers |
| Climate Adaptation | Resilient farming in a changing world | Farmers, MSL Logistics |
| Packaging Innovation | Sustainable, consumer-friendly packaging | MSL Brands, Energy (Green) |
| Market & Consumer Research | Understanding what Africa wants and needs | MSL Brands, MSL Media, MSL Technologies |
How We Work
We don't operate in a lab far removed from the action. We are embedded in the ecosystem. From farms to markets, our researchers act on ground-level understanding.
Innovation doesn't happen in isolation. Partnerships with agricultural institutions and global bodies bring fresh perspectives to our work.
Identify
Identify a challenge in the value chain.
Study & Test
Study the problem, test solutions, and refine.
Implement
Hand over to the relevant subsidiary to scale.
Collaborate
Partner with global experts for shared knowledge.
Why It Matters
Every industry has players who react. MSL Research & Innovations is built to anticipate.
The meat industry in Africa is still largely operating on outdated methods — traditional breeding, basic processing, and reactive quality checks. This creates inefficiencies, waste, and inconsistency that hurt everyone in the chain. Farmers earn less. Consumers get less. The environment pays the price.
We are building the foundation for how meat production and distribution will work across Africa for the next decade — and beyond.
Our Edge
Farm-Level Access
Our researchers spend real time on the ground — with farmers, in processing plants, on delivery routes.
Ecosystem Integration
Solutions designed to plug directly into MSL Logistics, Technologies, Brands, and Energy.
African Context, Global Standards
Tailored to local conditions but held to world-class quality benchmarks.
Talent & Expertise
A rare mix of agricultural scientists, food technologists, geneticists, and data analysts.
Long-Term Thinking
Solving structural problems that will transform the industry for decades to come.
Looking Ahead
The problems we are working on today will shape how Africa eats tomorrow.
Precision Livestock Farming
Using sensors, data, and AI to monitor individual animals in real time.
Alternative & Complementary Proteins
Exploring plant-based and hybrid options to diversify responsibly.
Bioeconomy & Circular Systems
Turning processing waste into revenue streams like biogas and organic fertiliser.
Blockchain-Backed Traceability
Creating tamper-proof records of an animal's full life journey.