Yearly review of EU and GB MRL changes in 2025
- 12/06/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
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Key points This news update is a review of changes that were made in 2025. European Union (EU) maximum residue levels (MRLs) were changed for 38 plant protection products (PPPs) in 2025, compared with 78 in 2024. These changes include cases where MRLs for certain foods have been raised or lowered. In Great Britain (GB) maximum residue level (MRL) changes concerned 42 plant protection products (PPPs) in 2025, compared with 33 in 2024. Note that EU MRLs still apply in… +Nelfi Altagracia García (Dominican Republic): from five women selling door to door to a business powering its community
- 08/06/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
In the rural community of Las Lajas, in the Dominican Republic, Nelfi Altagracia García has created more than just an artisanal chocolate business. Through Chocolala, she has helped create opportunities for women, strengthen local livelihoods, and promote community development. As social worker with a degree in Business Administration and technical training from the National Institute of Technical and Professional Training, Nelfi has long been committed to community causes and women’s inclusion. She founded Chocolala as part of a collective effort… +Faly Rasamimanana (Madagascar): when Fihavanana opens global markets to small-scale producers
- 08/06/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
Faly Rasamimanana is the Managing Director of Faly Export, a company that develops innovative solutions to help small-scale producers access international markets whilst meeting growing demands for quality, traceability and sustainability. Through the SPG-Fihavanana 4.0 system, Faly Export offers a unique approach that combines community governance, digital tools and local traditions to make international standards more accessible to producers who are often excluded from traditional certification schemes. For many of them, international audits remain too costly and technical standards difficult… +Agroecology as a lever of resilience for agri-food SMEs (Caribbean region)
- 08/06/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
In brief The 21st session of the Caribbean Agrifood Business Series, run by IICA and COLEAD, will focus on advancing agroecology for Caribbean agri-food SMEs. Online, on Tuesday 16 June 2026, 14:00-16:00 UTC. A sector largely driven by SMEs and facing significant economic, food security and climate challenges. Agroecology is presented as a flexible, locally adapted approach combining ecological practices and local knowledge. The webinar will bring together entrepreneurs, technical experts and ecosystem actors; registration is open. Why this session?… +Strengthening regional food safety systems: a look back at the collaboration with CAHFSA.
- 08/06/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
In brief In the first half of 2026, COLEAD and the regional agency CAHFSA delivered a series of regional webinars on food safety in the Caribbean. 729 registrations in total, from more than 40 countries: clear demand for practical compliance and export-readiness support. Three sessions: a GHP/HACCP refresher, a traceability awareness session (US FDA requirements), and an antimicrobial resistance (AMR) awareness session. Leading audience: Ministries of Health and Agriculture, environmental health departments, regulatory authorities and the University of the West… +Dominican Week in Belgium and the Netherlands: focus on exports to the European Union
- 08/06/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
In brief During the week of 1 June 2026, the Dominican Republic held the Dominican Week in Belgium and the Netherlands, a strategic platform to strengthen its economic, trade and cultural relations with Europe. On the opening day’s agenda: the 5th Dominican Republic – European Union Political Dialogue, a business forum and a cultural evening. Panels examined the present and future of Dominican exports to the EU, drawing on experiences in cocoa, banana and tobacco. COLEAD —co-prepared the exports panel… +AGRINFO launches first mission to Guatemala
- 08/06/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
An important step in strengthening engagement with key agrifood stakeholders across Latin America As part of its 2026 regional outreach strategy, AGRINFO selected one country in each region for closer collaboration. In Latin America, Guatemala was chosen due to the concentration of its agricultural exports to the European Union, particularly in the palm oil sector. The mission provided a valuable space for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and stakeholder engagement. The event held on 26 May, “Tools to Export to the EU… +Ethiopia: training the trainers to strengthen the horticultural sector
- 08/06/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
In brief A Training of Trainers (ToT) on business management was delivered under the MAHEBER programme, bringing together service providers in Ethiopia’s horticulture and agri-food industries. The aim: strengthening capacities in business management, advisory services and training delivery, to support more competitive, resilient and sustainable horticultural value chains. A two-phase journey: self-paced online learning, then a 5-day face-to-face course in Addis Ababa (11-15 May 2026). Content covered: business diagnostics, designing context-specific training, adult learning methods, and coaching agri-food companies. Deep… +Guinea: a growing potato value chain, still to be structured
- 08/06/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
In brief Potato is emerging as a growing value chain in Guinea, led by the Mamou and Labé regions. Domestic demand is rising, driven by urbanisation and changing food habits. Growth is still held back by four bottlenecks: seed, storage, transport and local processing. Côte d’Ivoire opens up a promising regional outlet. A new COLEAD market profile maps the way from a growing value chain to a better-organised one. Why this study? Developed under the Agriéco project — funded by… +Benin: a shared diagnosis to unlock horticultural access to EU markets
- 08/06/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
In brief On 4 May 2026, a feedback session on the study of bottlenecks in Benin’s horticultural sector brought together 37 participants from the public and private sectors. Framework: Trade Capacity Building Programme (PRCC), implemented by COLEAD with the support of AFD. Bottlenecks identified: access to finance, infrastructure, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) compliance, value chain organisation. Central issue raised: the lack of coordination between public and private actors, illustrated by the contribution from ABSSA. Next step: co-creating an action plan… +