Tanzania
In March/April 2023, as part of the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) program, members of COLEAD’s Technical Assistance department visited Tanzania to strengthen dialogue with partner beneficiaries and present the FFM+ programme. The local launch of the FFM+ programme and the informative event sparked in-depth discussions on the partners’ needs, resulting in a growing interest that translates into increased applications for support received.
Gabon
In April 2023, in collaboration with the Embassy of Gabon in Belgium, the COLEAD team… +
The action to strengthen the phytosanitary and certification system in Guinea aims to strengthen the capacity of the various national actors in the field of phytosanitary protection in Guinea. It aims to promote better application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) and better access to international and regional markets for agricultural products from Guinea.
This activity started in October 2019, funded by the Standardization and Trade Development Facility (STDF), the Fit For Market SPS programme and the Government of Guinea.… +
HPW Fresh & Dry Ltd. is a Ghanaian horticultural company created in January 2010, producing and marketing processed fruits (dried fruits, fruit bars, etc.), mainly for the European market. The company employs over 1,000 workers to run the organically certified farm and factory and sources tropical fruits from over 1,400 outgrowers, often organised in cooperatives, of which 5 are organically certified.
The new EU Organic Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2018/848) includes new requirements for group certification. The company requested support from… +
COLEAD’s “Market Insights” department launched a series of specific webinars on June 27th 2023, aimed at informing partner beneficiaries about market trends. The first workshop (in English) focused on the organic fruit and vegetables market in the EU.
Below you can find links to the recording and slides: Recording
Slides
Full study Save the date for the next (English speaking) webinars ! Wed, October 18th, 2023, 15:00 CEST: “Key factors for launching a successful mango processing business” (English)– Register here… +
Fit For Market+ (FFM+) provides support to the horticultural sector in member countries of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). Its aim is to maintain and enhance the capacity of smallholders, farmer groups, and horticultural MSMEs to access national, regional, and international markets through the progressive and sustainable intensification of the horticultural sector, while adapting to changes in their operational environment due to COVID-19 and climate change.
As of early July, one year since its operational launch,… +
The use of COLEAD’s e-learning platform continues to accelerate. On June 17th 2023, the number of registered users surpassed 21,000. This remarkable and illustrative growth demonstrates the potential for capacity building within the agricultural and food systems. Through the analysis of the geographical distribution of learners, we have observed that all member countries of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States are represented! Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, and Madagascar are the top three user countries with over 1,200 learners, followed… +
TRUVIS AGRO SERVICES LIMITED is a Nigerian agro-business engaged in the cultivation and processing of vegetables, herbs, and spices. The company has production activities in Epe (Lagos state), Ayetoro (Ogun state), Ilemeso (Ekiti State), and Ilemona (Kwara state), along with a processing facility in Lagos. Their focus is on implementing good agricultural practices to meet the requirements of the domestic and export markets. In 2021, TRUVIS AGRO SERVICES LIMITED joined COLEAD’s Fit for Market SPS programme, aiming to enhance their… +
The World MSME Day on 27 June is a celebration of Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) and their crucial role in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to the United Nations, MSMEs are the backbone of most economies, accounting for over 70% of all businesses worldwide and more than 50% of jobs. These enterprises play a vital role in working with millions of family farms, contributing to food safety and security, and providing nutrition to local… +
Nature’s Bounty Health Products Ltd, trading as Reelfruit, is a Nigerian company led by women that specializes in the processing, marketing, and distribution of dried fruits. Their product range includes dried mango, dried pineapple, fruit and nut mix, cashews, mango rolls, coconut flakes, and coconut chips.
Coinciding with the company milestone, Reelfruit achieved a significant accomplishment by inaugurating a new state-of-the-art processing and packing facility in Abeokuta, Ogun state in Nigeria. This modern facility was established to meet the increasing… +
COLEAD organised an informative session for Mauritian stakeholders to present its Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) and AGRINFO programmes on 17 May, with the active support of the Mauritius Chamber of Agriculture.
The session began with a presentation by the European Union delegations to Mauritius and Seychelles on the importance of transitioning the Mauritian agricultural sector to a more sustainable and resilient model, which is currently underway in Mauritius. There is an urgent need to accelerate this transition through investment… +
COLEAD actively engaged in two international trade fairs this semester, with the valuable support of the FFM+ and AGRINFO programmes. These events provide an opportunity for professionals in the seafood, fruit and vegetable, and food and beverage sectors to establish connections, foster collaborations and explore new business prospects.
Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, the largest global seafood event, took place from 25 to 27 April in Barcelona, Spain. More than 34,000 seafood professionals attended this year’s edition – the largest… +
The COLEAD Market Insights department translates qualitative and quantitative data into a deeper understanding of markets and concrete initiatives for our partner beneficiaries that facilitate their B2B matchmaking and decision-making process, driving their sustainable development. They recently published a study on organic trade of fruit and vegetables, with a focus on Africa-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP) origins, available in COLEAD’s library.
The organic study focuses on the fruit and vegetable sector and products from ACP producers. Along with a detailed analysis of production… +
In a series of recent activities and events, COLEAD’s NExT Kenya programme has focused on enhancing Kenya’s bean and pea sector, resolving commercial disputes, providing training on industry standards, conducting energy assessments, and improving communication between stakeholders. These initiatives are expected to foster sustainable growth and enable Kenya to regain its position as a leading exporter in the sector.
Recent activities include:
Steering committee meeting on the good practice guide for beans and peas. Meeting participants discussed the development of… +
Each year, World Environment Day focuses global attention on pressing environmental challenges and celebrates actions that create a more sustainable world. The impacts of climate change have emerged as one of the most devastating factors contributing to environmental degradation, while the leading causes of climate change, such as fossil fuel extraction and deforestation, directly harm the environment. Increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, temperature anomalies, and natural resource depletion are causing vulnerable communities and ecosystems to face challenges… +
On Tuesday 6 June (11:00-13:00 UTC+2) FARA, DeSIRA LIFT and IFAD are convening a parallel session on agroecology at the 8th African Agribusiness and Science Week (AASW).
Remote participants are invited to register here
On site participants must register to the 8th AASW
The session will bring together various actors to explore how agroecological practices may contribute to climate resilience and sustainability of farming and food systems. Based on their experiences and evidence, practitioners, researchers and development partners will discuss… +
As part of the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, a mission to Tanzania was conducted in March/April 2023, with the presence of COLEAD team members from the Technical Assistance department. The mission aimed to engage with FFM+ applicants, showcasing the benefits of COLEAD and its programmes support including FFM+. Since the official launch of FFM+ in July 2022, Tanzania has received a total of 33 applications for support as of late March 2023.
The mission to Tanzania marked a… +
A collective training focused on “Sustainable Production Systems” took place from May 15 to 17 2023 in Allada, Benin, benefiting DEFIA’s partner clusters. Eleven participants from 11 organisations participated in this training. The main objective of the training was to present participants with a variety of “systems” that allow for an optimal balance between sufficient production, economic profitability, social acceptability, and equity, while preserving the environment. The topics covered included soil fertility restoration, biodiversity preservation, and increasing the resilience of… +
On Tuesday 6 June, 14h00-16h00 UTC+2, David Foli Ayivor will present his business during a side event on Unlocking business opportunities for young entrepreneurs organised by FARA, the COLEAD, YPARD and GFAR at the 8th African Agribusiness and Science Week (AASW8).
The session will be held online and on-site in Durban, South Africa. Online participants have to register using this link.
Live interpretation in English and French will be available.
About David Foli Ayivor and Agromyx:
David is the founder… +
On Tuesday 6 June, 4:30-6:30 PM UTC+2, Jane Maina will present her business during a side event on Boosting intra-Africa trade: the agricultural midstream in the value chain organised by FARA, IFAD and the COLEAD at the 8th African Agribusiness and Science Week (AASW8).
The session will be held online and on-site in Durban, South Africa. Online participants have to register using this link.
Live interpretation in English and French will be available.
Find the concept note here and biodata… +
On Tuesday 6 June, 4:30-6:30 PM UTC+2, Affiong Williams will present her business during a side event on Boosting intra-Africa trade: the agricultural midstream in the value chain organised by FARA, IFAD and the COLEAD at the 8th African Agribusiness and Science Week (AASW8).
The session will be held online and on-site in Durban, South Africa. Online participants have to register using this link.
Find the concept note here and biodata here.
Live interpretation in English and French will be… +
EU and GB approval changes
Following the United Kingdom (UK) departure from the European Union (EU), COLEAD’s Regulation Monitoring now covers both EU and Great Britain (GB) approval changes, enabling us to keep COLEAD members and partner-beneficiaries up-to-date on both regulatory frameworks.
Note that EU approvals still apply in Northern Ireland. Great Britain is the mainland comprising England, Scotland and Wales.
The European Commission (EC) has recently published changes to 20 plant protection product (PPP) approvals within the EU. These… +
Changes to EU and GB pesticide maximum residue levels
Following the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union (EU), COLEAD’s monitoring of pesticide regulations now covers maximum residue limit (MRL) changes in both the EU and Great Britain (GB), enabling us to keep COLEAD members and partner-beneficiaries up-to-date.
Note that EU MRLs still apply in Northern Ireland (GB covers only England, Scotland and Wales).
During the period January-March 2023, we have been highlighting significant changes to EU MRLs… +
As the link between the primary production of crops and the final stage of consumption, the agricultural midstream sector has a great potential to drive intra-African trade. It includes the processing, storage, and transportation of agricultural products, and it plays a crucial role in improving their quality, and making them marketable. This also contributes to reducing post-harvest losses. At the same time, intra-Africa trade has long been recognized as a crucial driver of economic growth and development for the continent.… +
Ethiopia has one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa and is home to the second largest population (about 100 million people) after Nigeria in Africa. The total area of the country is 1.12 million km2. Agriculture contributes 45% of the Gross Domestic Product and employs more than 80% of the population. In the 2014/15 financial year, 75% of export earnings were generated from Agriculture.
The role of the government is therefore crucial in creating a conducive environment for business and… +