Debrief session on the bottlenecks study for Malawi’s horticultural sector: three interdependent action areas identified
- 04/05/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
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On 23 April, a debrief session was held as part of the PRCC programme (Programme de renforcement des capacités commerciales), implemented by COLEAD and funded by the French Development Agency (AFD). The session brought together 29 stakeholders from both public and private sector organisations. The objective of the meeting was to present and discuss the findings of the bottlenecks study conducted for Malawi’s horticultural sector. Developed through a participatory approach, the study aimed to identify and prioritise the main constraints… +Senegal – mango sector: a training cycle to strengthen phytosanitary surveillance ahead of the 2026 campaign
- 04/05/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
As part of the STDF/PG/946 project, COLEAD, in collaboration with the Plant Protection Directorate (DPV) and the Senegal Mango Interprofessional Association (IPMS), is rolling out in April 2026 a cycle of three training sessions focused on the surveillance of mango pests, with particular emphasis on fruit flies. These trainings are co-funded by the PRCC programme – phase 2, illustrating the complementarity of COLEAD’s interventions. Fruit flies represent a major phytosanitary risk for exports to the European Union. Insufficient surveillance can… +Structuring and strengthening a supply chain with outgrowers: example of support to Smart foods in Grenada
- 04/05/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
As part of the COLEAD Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, technical assistance was recently provided to SMART FOODS Caribbean to design and initiate the implementation of a structured support programme for its supplying farmers in Grenada. The intervention aimed to develop a comprehensive and practical operational framework enabling the company to secure a reliable supply of high-quality raw materials, while building sustainable and mutually beneficial relationships with local producers. It resulted in the development of a full set of… +Strengthening Thanthwe farms’ marketing positioning (Malawi): targeted support to drive strategic growth
- 04/05/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
As part of its continued support to agribusinesses, COLEAD, through the FFM+ programme, provided follow-up technical assistance to Thanthwe Farms Ltd (Malawi), building on a previous intervention focused on market intelligence and strategic guidance. In 2025, the initial phase identified key areas for improvement to enhance the company’s competitiveness in national, regional and international markets. Priorities included strengthening brand positioning, improving marketing visibility, and developing more structured commercial tools, particularly for regional markets such as South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique.… +Collecting and structuring data to meet sustainability reporting requirements: the example of LECOFRUIT in Madagascar
- 04/05/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
As part of the Fit for Market Plus programme, post-training support was provided to the Malagasy company LECOFRUIT, following the collective training “optimising data collection and management to strengthen organisational performance”. This support aimed to help translate training outcomes into practice by strengthening the company’s data collection, management and analysis systems. The objective was to better structure internal information, particularly to meet growing sustainability and reporting requirements (GRI, EcoVadis). A structured and collaborative approach The mission followed a progressive approach… +Professionalising commercial strategy: the example of TADESSE in Ethiopia’s avocado market
- 04/05/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
In Sodo, Ethiopia, Tadesse Agricultural Products Wholesale is taking a new step in structuring its business model by supporting more than 1,300 farmers towards a more commercial and profitable approach. Under the EU-funded MAHEBER programme, seven of the company’s agronomists and supervisors recently completed in-depth training on COQUA tools. This approach aims to bridge the gap between agricultural production and commercial performance by providing practical tools to manage costs, pricing and volumes. Based on real data from avocado orchards in… +Enhanced dialogue with Latin American embassies on EU regulations : highlighting upcoming challenges for agri-food exports
- 25/03/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
On March 18th AGRINFO had a meeting with the Embassies of the Latin American Countries in Brussels. The meeting took place at the Argentinean official residence, with welcome words delivered by the Ambassador Fernando Iglesias. Representatives from 13 embassies, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay attended the event. This was a valuable opportunity to exchange in person on EU regulatory developments that will be implemented in the near future… +Launch of a new MOOC dedicated to helping agri-entrepreneurs adapt to climate change
- 25/03/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
In March, the COLEAD Training Department launched a new Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) entitled “agri-entrepreneurs facing climate change: innovating, adapting, financing solutions.” This initiative reflects COLEAD’s commitment to strengthening the capacities of agri-food stakeholders in response to the growing challenges posed by climate change. Developed under the FFM+ programme, this course offers a practical perspective on how climate change affects agricultural businesses, with a focus on solutions that enable innovation, adaptation, and enhanced resilience of agri-food systems. It is… +Looking back at fruit logistica 2026: key trends in sustainability, innovation and market opportunities
- 25/03/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
The COLEAD took part last February in the international trade fair Fruit Logistica as part of its FFM+ and AGRINFO programmes. At Fruit Logistica 2026, several structuring trends emerged, confirming the ongoing transformation of the fruit and vegetable sector. Sustainability, logistics, technological innovation and market dynamics are shaping current priorities. Sustainability remains central but is shifting towards concrete implementation. Stakeholders highlighted the complexity of existing frameworks and the need for clearer standards capable of demonstrating tangible results, particularly in terms… +Waste management – Malawi Mangoes adopts a circular, efficient and value-creating management model
- 25/03/2026
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
As part of the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, the COLEAD supported Malawi Mangoes (MM) through a strategic mission aimed at transforming its waste management system from a linear and costly approach into a circular, efficient and value-creating model. Implemented between September and November 2025, the mission followed a structured approach, from the initial diagnostic to the co-development of a comprehensive operational strategy. The assessment carried out on the Matumba and Dzuwa farms, as well as at the Salima… +