Empowering Agri-Food value chains through investment and technical support: Cajou Espoir’s Honey Project in Togo
- 25/03/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
No Comments
Cajou Espoir SA, a leader in cashew processing in Togo, launched a pioneering honey production project. The initiative aimed at improving cashew yields through modern apiculture techniques, diversifying the company’s revenue streams and creating lasting economic opportunities for local communities. The project aimed to serve as a foundation for rolling out best beekeeping practices to the small producers with whom Cajou Espoir works. Recognizing the need for specialized expertise to attain the objectives, the company partnered with COLEAD (within the… +Growing Ghana: a new AgriFI–COLEAD technical assistance to support agricultural innovation
- 25/03/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
Under the AgriFI Country Window Ghana facility, COLEAD is implementing a new technical assistance initiative in support of Complete Farmer, a Ghanaian Agritech innovator. Delivered on behalf of EDFI Management Company, this support aims to strengthen and structure the company’s outgrower model to foster sustainable and inclusive growth. COLEAD’s assistance will focus on enhancing farmer support systems and training mechanisms, benefiting more than 12,500 smallholder farmers and 163 commercial farmers. This intervention builds on AgriFI’s USD 2.5 million (EUR 2.2… +Structuring investment to accelerate local transformation: the ANEP Company example in Africa
- 25/03/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
As part of the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, COLEAD supported ANEP Company in structuring its financing request and developing an investor pitch deck, in support of an integrated project combining a packing facility and a pineapple processing unit. Beyond a simple formalisation exercise, the objective was clear: to strengthen the project’s economic credibility, maximise access to appropriate external financing, and support a value-creating local industrialisation pathway. The support enabled the consolidation of the business plan, aligning financial assumptions,… +Securing access to the eu organic market: COLEAD support to SPA-IMPEX/CI in Côte d’Ivoire
- 25/03/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
In Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire, the COLEAD supported SPA-IMPEX/CI in achieving compliance with the European Union organic regulation, under the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme. The objective was to secure and expand export opportunities for mango and processed banana products, while strengthening the company’s internal organisation and long-term credibility. The support focused on the full structuring of an operator group (OG) in line with EU Organic requirements. A comprehensive documentation system was established, including twelve operational procedures, governance documents (producer… +COLEAD is called to embark on a major transformation: becoming an international movement by 2030 to accelerate the transition towards sustainable, competitive and inclusive agri-food systems
- 10/01/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
The COLEAD 2025 Consultative Committee met on 10 December. Held annually, it brings together the organisation’s Board of Directors, strategic partners and senior management team. This year’s meeting was dedicated to presenting the results of the participatory process to develop COLEAD’s 2030 Strategy, launched more than a year ago. The process has actively engaged all stakeholders across COLEAD’s field of action, including members, staff, programme partner beneficiaries, as well as technical and financial partners. The strategic recommendations presented were widely… +Order issued by the French Government to suspend the importation, introduction and placing on the market in France of some foodstuffs originating from outside the EU that contain residues of certain pesticides
- 01/01/2026
- Posted by: Gaetan Dermien
- Category: Corp EN, Headline, News
On 7 January 2025 the French Government issued an Order suspending the import and sale of some foodstuffs that originate from outside the European Union (EU) if they contain certain pesticides that are not approved for use in the EU. The full decree in French can be seen here. This measure by the French Authorities addresses 5 pesticides and their permitted residue levels on selected foods (raw or processed). The Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) will be set at the Limit… +Sandra McLeish (Jamaica): champion of climate-smart agrifood transformation
- 22/12/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
Sandra McLeish is a Jamaican entrepreneur, renewable-energy advocate, and founder of Agro Cold Storage Logistics Limited (ACSL) and Sankhard Company Limited—two women-led enterprises strengthening Jamaica’s food security and climate resilience. A farmer’s daughter from rural Jamaica, Sandra grew up witnessing the vulnerabilities of small-scale farmers, from climate shocks to weak supply chains. These experiences shaped her mission to build a more resilient, inclusive agricultural ecosystem. As CEO of ACSL, Sandra leads the national rollout of solar-powered cold-chain hubs to reduce… +Samuel Rigu (Kenya): transforming agricultural waste into high-quality organic fertilisers
- 22/12/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
Samuel Rigu grew up in rural Kenya, where he witnessed farmers struggle with poor soils, low yields, and limited access to affordable fertilizers. Seeing his grandmother and neighbors face these challenges inspired his vision for an agricultural system that restores soil health while improving farmer livelihoods. In 2015, Samuel founded Safi Organics, a technology-driven company that converts crop waste into high-quality organic fertilizers. As CEO, he leads efforts to scale solutions that address soil degradation, an urgent challenge in Africa,… +Strengthening science–business partnerships to transform agri-food systems – lessons from the AU–EU dialogues on research and innovation
- 22/12/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
Two recent events held alongside the African Union–European Union Senior Officials Meeting within the framework of the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Science, Technology and Innovation (HLPD-STI) in Brussels highlighted a key challenge: the need to better connect research, innovation and economic actors in order to accelerate the sustainable transformation of agri-food systems. On 21 October 2025, an event dedicated to the role of AU–EU research and innovation strategies in shaping Africa’s food future brought together policymakers, researchers and private-sector representatives.… +Climate-resilient business models: UN Women and COLEAD’s commitment alongside women entrepreneurs
- 22/12/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
The collaboration between UN Women and COLEAD aims to support women entrepreneurs and business leaders from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP), as well as from other regions worldwide. In this context, the South–South online series was designed and implemented through the FFM+ programme, to foster cooperation and knowledge sharing, strengthen entrepreneurial skills, improve market access and encourage networking among women leaders. The sixth session of the series, dedicated to climate-resilient business models for women entrepreneurs, took place on… +