The CEA-FIRST Consortium identifies key opportunities for strengthened EU-AU collaboration.   As part of the CEA-FIRST project aiming to establish a functional International Research Consortium (IRC) on FNSSA, a mapping report of multistakeholder initiatives (MSIs) active in the field of food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture in Africa and Europe has just been finalized. Conducted as part of Work Package 3, the aim of this mapping exercise is to support the implementation of the IRC by identifying existing multi-stakeholder… +

As part of the ENABEL Guinea-funded programme, ‘Strengthening the resilience of Guinean populations to climate, food and economic shocks through sustainable agricultural development’, COLEAD carried out its first field mission dedicated to the agroecological transition in the Mamou and Kindia regions.   A foundational mission to support local value chains The project, which was launched in 2025, aims to improve the incomes of stakeholders in the potato, pineapple and vegetable farming value chains in a sustainable way, with a particular… +

Dakar, May 2025 – As part of the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, COLEAD has provided post-training support to O’FRUTTI, a young Senegalese company specialising in mango processing. This intervention aims to structure the company’s quality and traceability management system, building on the knowledge acquired during a recent collective training on food safety principles.   A young and ambitious company with market reach Founded in 2022, O’FRUTTI has quickly positioned itself on the European and local markets by focusing… +

As part of its commitment to the conservation of biodiversity in tropical agricultural systems, COLEAD supports its partners in integrating environmentally sound practices into their production models. In Côte d’Ivoire, this commitment is being realised through a collaboration with the Cooperative of Mango and Cashew of Korhogo (COMAKO) to develop a Wildlife-Flora-Landscape Integrated Management Plan (IMP) under the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme. Already certified by GLOBAL G.A.P., GRASP, SMETA and Rainforest Alliance, COMAKO is now strengthening its alignment… +

As part of the FFM+ programme, COLEAD recently conducted a field mission to provide technical support to the Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) in assessing avocado orchard management practices. Although this type of support is usually offered to companies, this initiative was exceptional in that it engaged a producer organisation and used its members’ farms as demonstration plots — an innovative and effective approach.   The mission’s primary objective was to evaluate the implementation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and provide… +

As part of the STDF/PG/946 project, COLEAD collaborated with the Senegalese Ministry of Agriculture’s Plant Protection Directorate (DPV) to organise a workshop on 6–7 May, focusing on revising existing phytosanitary legislation.   A structured approach was adopted to align with international standards. The approach led by COLEAD and its partners aims to: conduct an in-depth analysis of the current laws and regulations governing phytosanitary control to ensure alignment with regional and international standards signed by Senegal, such as the International… +

COLEAD’s Regulations and Standards Department recently hosted a briefing on Thursday 24 April on recent regulatory changes in the European Union that may affect the export of fruit, vegetables and flowers from ACP countries. An important tool for anticipating future challenges Covering the period January-March 2025, the Digest summarises new EU regulations and policy updates that are likely to affect the agri-food value chain. It is a valuable resource for all stakeholders involved in supporting the ACP horticultural sector, particularly… +

In April 2025, COLEAD organised a workshop in Nairobi for the Minor Crops Technical Working Group (MCTWG), which is coordinated by the Kenyan National Horticulture Standing Committee (NHSC). The group brings together competent authorities, the crop protection industry, producer organisations, and business membership organisations to facilitate the registration of plant protection products (PPPs) for minor crops, thereby enhancing their availability.   Tangible progress in PPP registration With support from CABI, the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) presented the group’s progress… +

This year’s Forum represents a unique opportunity for businesses committed to sustainable transition. Organised in collaboration with the European Union and the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA), this flagship event aims to stimulate investment in the sectors that will shape the future of the Caribbean economy and beyond. Official website: caribbeaninvestmentforum.com   An initiative supported by the European Union and COLEAD. As a strategic partner for sustainable development in the region, the European Union is coordinating the organisation of this… +