From 22 to 25 April 2025, COLEAD took part—for the second consecutive year—in the Moroccan International Agricultural Exhibition (SIAM) in Meknes, at the invitation of the European Union Delegation (EUD). This mission aimed to promote the AGRINFO programme, funded by the EU, along with digital resources developed by COLEAD through the Fit for Market Plus (FFM+) programme.
Explaining regulatory changes in the European Union
Ingrid Morvan, expert from COLEAD’s Regulations and Standards Department, led two sessions at SIAM titled “Exporting… +
EU and GB approval changes
COLEAD’s Regulation Monitoring covers both European Union (EU)and Great Britain (GB) approval changes. 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 31 plant protection product (PPP) approvals within the EU, 12 of which concern the extension of approval for PPPs important for ACP horticulture.
In addition, the EC has recently notified the WTO of its… +
COLEAD is pleased to announce new funding from the French Development Agency (AFD) to provide sustainable support to the horticultural sector in sub-Saharan Africa. This three-year project builds on the efforts of previous phases of the Fit for Market programme and aims to reduce poverty while improving food and nutrition security in the region.
Supporting agripreneurs
The specific objective of the project is to support smallholder farmers, farmer groups and small and medium enterprises to maintain and improve their access… +
Patricia Zoundi Yao is a social entrepreneur, impact leader, and dedicated advocate for rural Africa. She is committed to fostering sustainable agriculture, a more inclusive economy, and the promotion of local value chains.
At the crossroads of agriculture, technology, and social development
Patricia Zoundi Yao is not just any entrepreneur. She embodies a new generation of changemakers in Africa, bridging the worlds of agribusiness, inclusive technology, and the empowerment of rural women. She is the founder of Canaan Land, an… +
Mrs Anna Seck, based in Senegal, embodies a remarkable journey of determination, resilience and commitment to excellence. Married and the mother of three, her academic career was interrupted by marriage and her first pregnancy in her final year of secondary school. A brilliant student, she was unable to pursue higher university studies – a regret that lingers as she still aspires to one day to resume an academic path, a symbol of personal achievement.
A non-linear journey, guided by willpower… +
AGRINFO continues to keep its network informed of new and upcoming changes to EU Regulations. Use of the service is growing, and the clear and accessible explanations about new rules are receiving very positive feedback.
Keeping up with new Regulations remains challenging for exporting countries, with large numbers of rule changes affecting all agri-food sectors, and covering multiple areas of law.
Improvement of the AGRINFO.EU website
In response to feedback from users, several improvements to the AGRINFO website were made.… +
Between February 2024 and February 2025, COLEAD, in partnership with the Shared Interest Foundation (SIF), designed and implemented a capacity building programme for eight selected agricultural cooperatives / companies (coffee, cocoa, vegetables) in Rwanda, Uganda and Côte d’Ivoire.
A four-part support approach
The support pathway was structured around four key actions, tailored to the needs of each cooperative following an initial diagnostic assessment: Organisational and financial diagnostics : Each cooperative benefited from an analysis of its governance and financial management… +
The closing workshop of the NExT Kenya (New Export Trade Kenya) programme took place in Nairobi on 28 March 2025, marking the end of a five-year journey to strengthen horticultural value chains in Kenya. Led by COLEAD and funded by the European Union to the tune of €5 million, the programme brought together a wide range of public and private partners to address key challenges in the sector, while laying the foundations for long-term transformation.
A resilient programme in a… +
The Food Safety Support Programme for the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire (PASA-Côte d’Ivoire) is funded by the European Union under the Support Programme for Sustainable Forestry and Agri-Food Systems (PASSAD). It is part of the Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2021-2027 for Côte d’Ivoire and also supports the objectives of the second phase of the National Agricultural Investment Programme (PNIA 2). The European Union Delegation (EUD) in Côte d’Ivoire has entrusted COLEAD with the implementation of this programme. PASA Côte d’Ivoire… +
As part of its holistic approach to sustainability, COLEAD has developed a Sustainability Self-Assessment System (SAS) over the past ten years and through the FFM programmes. This system is designed to help agricultural stakeholders – particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), cooperatives and producer groups – analyse their practices, identify strengths and areas for improvement, and make progress towards more responsible and competitive agriculture. The SAS is based on four key objectives: To create a dynamic of continuous improvement… +
A strategic collaboration for Caribbean agriculture
Since June 2021, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and COLEAD have joined forces through the FFM+ programme in the Caribbean Agrifood Business Series. This initiative highlights the innovations and successes of farmer-led agribusinesses and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Caribbean region.
The series is driven by a common vision: to build a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive Caribbean agricultural sector. It promotes business models that are economically viable, environmentally… +
As part of the FFM+ programme, Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands (KPSI) has just completed its sustainability assessment using COLEAD’s Sustainability Self-Assessment System (SAS).
KPSI: a company serving rural communities
KPSI is a social enterprise and a major player in agricultural exports. For more than 20 years, it has been working to improve the livelihoods of 1,200 smallholder farmers in 60 villages in the Solomon Islands. The company purchases virgin coconut oil (VCO) and cocoa beans at fair prices and processes… +
(The recording and supporting materials are available here: COLEAD Access to Finance webinars)
As part of its structured investment-oriented support, COLEAD’s Access to Finance Department held, as part of the FFM+ programme, a webinar on 25 February entitled “ Selecting the right funding options for your agri-project“. This session is the third in a four-part webinar series designed to build the capacity of project leaders to identify, select and approach the most appropriate sources of funding for their activities. Profile… +
COLEAD’s Market Insights department, through the FFM+ programme, recently attended several major trade shows – Fruit Logistica, Biofach, Gulfood, IFE – to capture innovations, marketing signals and identify emerging trends. Between product innovation, the rise of superfoods, the shift towards sustainability and the breakthrough of artificial intelligence, the 2025 editions of these shows confirm that the global agri-food sector has entered a new era.
Superfoods and well-being
Demand for nutritious products is booming, driven by a growing focus on well-being.… +
Source PIP magazine n°2, December 2003
“(…) Whilst the PIP makes every effort to use local ACP service providers whenever it can, it continues to rely to a great extent on European service providers to carry out its daily activities. However, in order to guarantee the long-term viability of its current training programme, the PIP will also contribute to building the capacity of local ACP service providers so that in due course these local consultants may take over most of… +
As part of the FFM+ programme, a successful pilot internal audit mission was conducted with the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) of Zimbabwe. This initiative represents a significant step forward in strengthening plant biosecurity and facilitating trade in the country.
Over the course of three days, the team combined field visits to citrus production and processing facilities (two days) with analysis and reporting at NPPO border offices (one day). The goal: to establish an efficient and sustainable internal audit system… +
COLEAD has recently signed, through the FFM+ programme, a Memorandum of Understanding with the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), a specialised agency of COMESA. This partnership aims to strengthen cooperation to support smallholder producers, improve market access and promote sustainable agricultural practices in 21 COMESA member states and 7 East African Community (EAC) countries.
This collaboration is based on a shared vision of agricultural development as a driver for a more resilient, equitable and prosperous… +
(*MAHEBER in Amharic means association, union, group gathered for a common purpose)
COLEAD has been selected by the European Union Delegation to Ethiopia to lead an ambitious five-year programme to strengthen the competitiveness, resilience, inclusiveness and sustainability of the country’s horticulture value chains. Entitled ‘Enhancing the Competitiveness of Ethiopia’s Horticulture Sector’, this initiative is fully aligned with the Global Gateway priorities and contributes to the objectives of the EU Action Plan for the Development of Sustainable Agri-Food Systems in Ethiopia… +
On 19 February 2025, COLEAD and UN Women launched the first session of the South-South Online Series, an initiative dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs in Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific (ACP) and beyond. Designed to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, skills development and market access, the series provides a dynamic platform for business leaders to connect and progress. This series is created and organised as part of the Fit For Market Plus programme.
A promising start: strong participation and significant impact… +
Handmade by Jeanette transforms Trinidad and Tobago’s culinary traditions into sustainable opportunities.
In Trinidad and Tobago’s agri-food landscape, Jeanette Marcelle, also known as Chef Marcelle, stands out as a visionary and dedicated entrepreneur. As the founder and CEO of Handmade by Jeanette, she embodies resilience, innovation, and social impact through her brand, which promotes healthy, sustainable, and locally rooted food products.
From culinary passion to purpose-driven entrepreneurship
Jeanette Marcelle’s journey is anything but conventional. Initially pursuing a career in early… +
Founder of JOULEU in Senegal, a producer and distributor with a strong social impact on young people.
In the world of African agribusiness, some players are pioneers in combining innovation, sustainability and social commitment. Khalifa Thiam, founder of JOULEU, embodies this ambition. Through his company, he is working towards a more resilient, inclusive and connected agriculture, responding to the challenges of market access, sustainable production and modernisation of the horticulture sector in Senegal and the sub-region.
JOULEU: A link between… +
New rules on packaging and packaging waste, including design and waste management, are set by the European Union (EU) under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) (Regulation 2025/40). The objective is to increase the reuse and recycling of all packaging materials, including food packaging. The new rules also apply to suppliers of packaged food to the EU market who are based outside the EU.
Under the PPWR rules, all packaging and packaging waste made of any material have to… +
The VLIR-UOS-funded VALPIRES project was officially launched in Benin by the partner universities, marking a major step forward in sustainable agriculture and renewable energy solutions. This research project aims to use pineapple residues to improve soil fertility while promoting energy self-sufficiency, thus responding to major agricultural and environmental challenges in the region.
COLEAD played a key role in bringing together the partner universities – KU Leuven, the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC) and UNSTIM – to develop the project proposal. By… +
In the last quarter of 2024, COLEAD supported Everest Enterprises Limited in conducting an energy efficiency audit as part of the NExT Kenya Programme. Everest Enterprises, a leading Kenyan horticultural company established in 1988, specializes in growing and processing horticultural products. This initiative aimed to analyze energy consumption patterns, identify cost drivers, and propose strategies to enhance energy efficiency at Everest’s processing facilities in Murang’a and Timau. The assessment contributes to the company’s broader sustainability goals, including the adoption of… +