• Project to support the agroecological transition/DEFIA: Awareness session on organic farming

    • 02/05/2022
    • Posted by: Sandra Borma
    • Category: News
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    Suite au lancement en février du projet “Appui à la transition agroécologique de la filière ananas au Bénin” [qui fait partie du programme DEFIA (Développement de l’Entreprenariat dans la Filière Ananas) géré et financé par Enabel], plusieurs groupes ont exprimé leur intérêt à bénéficier de l’appui du projet. Le 12 avril, une séance d’information et de sensibilisation a donc été organisée pour ces groupes afin de discuter des fondements, des règles et principes, des exigences et des contraintes de l’agriculture… +
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  • COLEACP receives distinction for support to Togo’s organic sector

    • 27/12/2021
    • Posted by: Sandra Borma
    • Category: News, Togo
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    COLEACP, through its Fit For Market SPS programme, was a partner in the second edition of the Organic and Local Organic Fair organised by the Association Nationale pour l’Agriculture Biologique au TOGO (ANA-Bio TOGO) and partners. The aim was to promote the production and consumption of organic products. From 9 to 11 December 2021 in Notsè, Togo, visitors and exhibitors gathered in a friendly atmosphere to experience conferences, presentations and tastings of certified organic products. The event was also the… +
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  • News digest: Agri-food markets, production and trade

    • 06/12/2021
    • Posted by: Gaetan Dermien
    • Category: Africa, Avocados, Cameroon, Caribbean, Citrus fruits, Coffee, Fiji, Kenya, Mangoes, News, Nigeria, Pacific, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda
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    Agri-food Africa Rwanda: Rwanda plans to double its lending to agriculture Rwanda plans to double its lending to the agricultural sector from 5.2 to 10.4% by 2024. The goal is to modernise agriculture, which now accounts for one-third of Rwanda’s GDP. Small farms can rarely access financial services due to high interest rates (18-24% per year). Access to these loans will enable farmers to invest in new means of production and thus secure the food supply for a country whose… +
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  • Updated guidance on the new EU Organic Regulation

    • 29/11/2021
    • Posted by: Gaetan Dermien
    • Category: Africa, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Caribbean, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, News, Nigeria, Pacific, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe
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    The new EU Organic Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2018/848), originally intended to apply from 1 January 2021, was postponed to 1 January 2022 to allow for completion of the secondary legislation due to Covid-19, among other reasons. In the meantime, several new delegated and implementing acts have been issued during 2021. At the time of writing, 18 items of secondary legislation have been published, and a further eight are in the adoption process. These latest changes are included in COLEACP’s “Update… +
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  • News digest: Agri-food markets and production

    • 20/09/2021
    • Posted by: Gaetan Dermien
    • Category: Africa, Apples, Avocados, Bananas, Berries, Caribbean, Cherries, Citrus fruits, Ginger, Mangoes, News, Onions, Pacific, Papayas, Pineapples, Tomatoes, Watermelons
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    AFRICA Réunion Island vanilla gets EU Protected Geographical Indication Vanilla from Réunion Island has just been registered by the European Commission in the register of Protected Geographical Indications (PGI). Its reputation is based on its unique aromatic bouquet, the result of the plant’s perfect acclimatisation on the volcanic slopes of the east of the island and the know-how developed by the people of Reunion. Source: Commodafrica, 30 August 2021 Opportunities for Ethiopian avocados “Ethiopia has huge potential in avocados” says… +
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  • Zimbabwe: Pineapple smallholders achieve organic certification

    • 10/09/2021
    • Posted by: Sandra Borma
    • Category: Africa, News, Zimbabwe
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    “The Trust is excited, ZimTrade is thrilled, GreenStone Foods is over the moon whilst COLEACP is looking at building on this success to help the Trust grow. What a journey!” William Zirebwa, COLEACP National Relay Zimbabwe   In August 2021, 45 smallholder pineapple farmers in Rusitu Valley, Chipinge, members of the Rusitu Valley Fruit Growers and Marketing Trust (RVFGMT), received a major boost when they achieved organic certification of their pineapples by Ecocert (The Herald, 27 August). The attainment of… +
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  • IFOAM Survey on Pesticide Residues

    • 03/08/2021
    • Posted by: Gaetan Dermien
    • Category: Africa, Caribbean, News, Pacific
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    Dear Partners COLEACP is contacting you with details and links to a survey on pesticide residues in organic products that is being conducted by IFOAM Organic Europe and FiBL. Their work addresses an issue that, as you know, creates serious challenges for the organic sector. The results will benefit the sector as a whole and we strongly urge you to take part. Background IFOAM Organic Europe and FiBL are currently working on the project: ‘Developing Organic: Pesticide use and contamination’… +
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  • Togo: young people honoured at closing of “Incubator for technical managers” project

    • 29/07/2021
    • Posted by: Sandra Borma
    • Category: News, Togo
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    The closing event of the “incubator for technical managers” project, implemented in Togo from June 2020 to February 2021, took place on 10 June 2021. The project was set up by COLEACP in collaboration with Togolese companies in the framework of the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) Togo Project. Other partners who were involved in the occasion included the European Union Delegation, the German development agency (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, GIZ), the Plant Protection Directorate (DPV) of Togo… +
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  • Mali: Mango exporter ETS Yaffa & Frères benefits from a business loan

    • 19/07/2021
    • Posted by: Gaetan Dermien
    • Category: Africa, Mali, Mangoes
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    The ABC Fund (Agri-Business Capital) recently provided loans to three African agri-businesses to support their working capital needs and expansion, enabling higher rural employment and securing market access for farmers in their respective sectors (African Farming, 3 June). Image source : ETS Yaffa et Frères One of the successful companies is COLEACP member Etablissement Yaffa & Frères, one of the largest local fresh mango exporters in Mali. Yaffa has been a member of COLEACP since 2007, and over the past… +
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  • Understanding the new EU Organic Regulation

    • 24/06/2021
    • Posted by: Sandra Borma
    • Category: Apples, Avocados, Bananas, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Capsicum, Cassava, Chillies, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic Of The Congo, Ethnic vegetables, French beans, Ginger, Guinea, Lettuces, Madagascar, Mali, Mangoes, Mangosteens, News, Okra, Onions, Papayas, Passion fruit, Pears, Pepper, Plantains, Rwanda, Senegal, Shallots, Spinach, Sweet potatoes, Togo, Tomatoes
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    COLEACP organised an online workshop on 15 June to present the changes and potential impacts of the new European Union (EU) Organic Regulation 2018/848, which will enter into force in January 2022. The workshop brought together 80 participants, COLEACP partners involved in the production and export of organic fruit and vegetables. They were given a presentation by Michel Reynaud, Board Member of IFOAM Organics Europe and Vice President of Ecocert, who reviewed the main changes of the new regulation that… +
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