FFM+ launches in Senegal and the Gambia
- 24/02/2023
- Posted by: Gaetan Dermien
- Category: Gambia, News, Senegal
No Comments
January saw the local launch of the FFM+ programme in Senegal and the Gambia, following the programme’s virtual launch event for the Western African region in May 2022. The launch events brought together horticultural sector stakeholders in each country. The events were also an opportunity to inform partners and potential partner-beneficiaries about the new programme; to meet entities that have recently applied for support under FFM+; and to meet with current partner-beneficiaries under the FFM SPS Programme to evaluate activities… +Training on pineapple processing techniques in Benin
- 24/02/2023
- Posted by: Gaetan Dermien
- Category: Benin, News, Pineapples
In December 2022, COLEAD organised a 3-day collective training on pineapple processing and conservation techniques in Benin, as part of the project “Support to the agroecological transition of the pineapple sector in Benin”. The project is being carried out in collaboration with Enabel, the Belgian development agency, as part of its Development of Entrepreneurship in Agricultural Sectors Programme (DEFIA). The training was designed to benefit DEFIA’s partners through helping them to achieve their goals of improving sustainability, by reducing waste… +Freshfel Europe developing state-of-the-art environmental footprint methodology for fresh produce
- 24/02/2023
- Posted by: Gaetan Dermien
- Category: ACP EN, News
As part of the work of the Freshfel Environmental Footprint Initiative, Freshfel Europe is developing shadow Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) for fruit and vegetables. The objective of the shadow PEFCR is to create a state-of-the-art, standardised environmental footprint methodology for the fresh produce sector. COLEAD, through its Fit For Market SPS and Fit For Market+ programmes, is part of the Steering and Technical Committee representing the ACP in the development of the shadow PEFCR that will be applied… +Kenya: Improving KEPHIS communication and relationship dynamics with various stakeholders
- 20/02/2023
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: Kenya
Consistent and regular communication of official government information and international SPS requirements is a challenge to many agencies. There is therefore a need to ensure proactive, transparent and effective communication with stakeholders on market requirements and risks. Communication is key for a National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO): the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) needs to communicate with agricultural industry players, government agencies/departments and donors. Communication can be informative but can also be used for specific targets to relay information… +Kenya: Energy assessments and audit for WAMU Investments Ltd
- 20/02/2023
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: Kenya
To reduce energy use and environmental emissions, growers need to understand where their energy is being used. Soaring energy costs continue to put growers under pressure and much of the agri-food supply chain is being heavily impacted by unprecedented price increases. Energy has always been important to growers – as they strive to reduce costs and protect their profits, finding ways to improve their energy efficiency remains a priority. Sustainable agriculture, which includes energy efficiency, can help to ensure economic,… +EU and GB approval changes – October-December 2022
- 20/01/2023
- Posted by: Gaetan Dermien
- Category: ACP EN, News
EU and GB approval changes Following the UK departure from the EU, COLEACP’s Regulation Monitoring now covers both EU and GB approval changes, enabling us to keep COLEACP members and partner-beneficiaries up-to-date on both regulatory frameworks.The European Commission (EC) has recently published changes to plant protection product (PPP) approvals within the European Union (EU). These include: Renewal of approval of Fish oil and Heptamaloxyloglucan as low-risk active substances Renewal of approval of active substance Pythium oligandrum strain M1 Notification to… +Kenyan floriculture industry welcomes Ethiopian delegation to discuss false codling moth management
- 13/01/2023
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: Ethiopia, Kenya
This week (8–13 January 2023), a delegation from the Ethiopian public and private sector are in Kenya as part of an expert mission on false codling moth (FCM) management. The visiting delegation is composed of technical and management staff from the Ethiopian Agricultural Authority (EAA) and the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA). The FCM is classified a priority quarantine pest in the EU, one of Ethiopia’s main export destinations. To address the FCM challenge, various consultations were held between… +FFM SPS supports Farm Fare Produce in implementing the SMETA 4-Pillar quality standard
- 10/01/2023
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: Zimbabwe
From September to December 2022, the Zimbabwean company Farm Fare Produce – a family-owned horticultural business supplying fresh vegetables mostly to retailers and supermarkets – was supported by the Fit for Market SPS programme in implementing the SMETA 4-Pillar quality standard, demonstrating the company’s efforts in good practice on social compliance, environment, and business ethics. A local Zimbabwean expert was assigned to conduct a needs assessment in preparation for the upcoming audit and to train the staff on the SMETA… +COLEACP becomes COLEAD
- 20/12/2022
- Posted by: Gaetan Dermien
- Category: Africa, Caribbean, Country, News, Pacific
The process of changing the name of our organisation was initiated two years ago in a context of continuous evolution of the field of action of COLEACP and its partners. The choice of COLEAD – Committee Linking Entrepreneurship-Agriculture-Development is the result of a participatory and iterative process carried out with the marketing committee of the Board of Directors, the team, the members of the association and its main partners. The main motivations/reasons behind the evolution of the name were to… +FFM+ receives 445 applications for support
- 20/12/2022
- Posted by: Gaetan Dermien
- Category: Africa, Caribbean, Country, News, Pacific
By mid-December 2022, the FFM+ programme had received 445 applications for support (AFS): The largest proportion (37%) of AFS were received from Western Africa, followed by Southern Africa (23%), Eastern Africa (22%) and Central Africa (13%). Organisations in Malawi submitted the most AFS (66), followed by Nigeria (44), Cameroon (30), and Ghana and Kenya (both 29). Across all countries, a majority (56%) of AFS have been received from horticultural companies, with service providers (16%) and smallholder support structures (15%) also… +