The Fit For Market (FFM) programme was launched officially in December 2016 and in just one year has received 300 requests for support from thirty African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (see map below). The largest number of requests (167 out of 300) come from horticultural micro, small, and medium enterprises (142 requests) and producer farmer groups/cooperatives (25). Support services have sent 124 requests, mainly consultants and consultancy companies (51). Other requests come from : Farmer and professional organisations/associations (37), Smallholders… +

Khadija Niang embodies the future of Africa, the hope of better days for young people from modest but virtuous backgrounds. At the same time she represents all the difficulties faced by this generation from which the leaders of tomorrow must emerge, the executives who must make the African bet work; feed Africa and turn it into one of the biggest agro – industrial forces. To move beyond religious socio-cultural fatalism, by breaking the traditional codes. The only one of a… +

COLEACP has started the journey towards Abidjan AU-EU summit next week. Yesterday, amongst a sea of promises, political speeches, COLEACP brought a fresh and new voice of reality from Africa’s youth into the heart of the European Parliament to the “High level conference towards a renewed partnership for Africa”. Ms Khadija Niang, “spokesperson” for the young Africans working in agriculture, told her story, shared her struggle for recognised qualifications and training so that she may secure a successful career in… +

Although it is established that the poor countries of the South are and will be the first victims of global warming, and that the most polluting country has stated its intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, managing agricultural production on all fronts has become the sine qua non to guarantee access to the most profitable markets. Since 2000, COLEACP has drawn up strategies aimed at updating the knowledge of its members and beneficiaries: a multitude of SMEs, small-scale producers… +

On 13 December 2016, the new EU Plant Health Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/2031) was introduced*. This is a major overhaul of the EU Plant Health legislation, which has been in place since 1977. It repeals and replaces the 7 existing Council Directives on harmful organisms, and becomes fully applicable on 13 December 2019. In the interim, a series of delegated and implementing acts will be adopted, and competent authorities and operators must adjust to the new rules. One of the… +

COLEACP follows sanitary and phytosanitary regulations (SPS) very closely to identify the decisions and trends which could have an impact on the fruit and vegetable value chains in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. The information obtained is used to adapt the technical recommendations for producers and inform the ACP suppliers about the measures to be taken. COLEACP tracks the following issues on a monthly basis in particular: MRL exceedances (maximum residue limits) for pesticides on fruit and vegetables arriving… +

With new training topics, new online and paper tools, COLEACP’S training department is expanding its offer to meet the needs of companies benefiting from the Fit For Market* (FFM) programme. One of the central pillars of the FFM programme is the COLEACP training system. Designed and implemented during the PIP programmes and later expanded to other projects coordinated by COLEACP (e.g. EDES, Fruit Fly Programme), the programme now offers new teaching resources. Around 100 new training tools (manuals, guides, brochures… +

The banana is the world’s most exported fruit (around 10 billion US dollars per year). It is an essential source of income and employment for thousands of rural families in developing countries, including African and Caribbean countries*. Since it was established in 1973, COLEACP’s members have included key players from the global banana supply chain. In joining the World Banana Forum (WBF), the association reaffirms its commitment to increasing its activities in this sector which is of high socioeconomic importance… +

Launched officially on December 6th at the ACP house, the Fit For Market (FFM) Programme has already received more than 100 requests for support from 23 countries in Africa and the Caribbean. More than 60% of the requests were made by companies and producer groups. They concern the fruit and vegetable sector and, more specifically, support for the sustainability of production and business management systems, as well as food safety and phytosanitary compliance. This dynamic will accelerate with the successive… +