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News digest: Agri-food Systems and Sustainability
Family farming is highly vulnerable to climate change-related extreme weather events, a vulnerability that is exacerbated by a lack of funding, the deterioration of soil health and high production costs. However, in Latin America and the Caribbean, this sector is making important contributions to resilience, adaptation and mitigation, which often go unnoticed. These are the conclusions of the document entitled “Paris Agreement and agriculture: A look at the implementation of NDCs in Latin America”, prepared by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The report presents the implementation status in agriculture of the Nationally Determined Contributions in a number of countries including the Dominican Republic, which were set to implement the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.Source: Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture , 5 September 2022
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IICA-COLEACP Caribbean Agrifood Business Session n°6
This series of events focuses on innovations and successes of Caribbean farmer-led businesses and SMEs. The events are organised by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and COLEACP. Sustainable agriculture, good practices, bioeconomy, trade, food safety and quality, resilience, and the link between agriculture and tourism are some of the key focus areas for collaborative efforts.The sixth session, held on 25 August 2022, focused on the "High-end market opportunities for Caribbean agrifood products". To compete globally, it is necessary for local SMEs to develop high value-added, quality and speciality niche products that are in demand in high-end markets.Caribbean MSMEs and entrepreneurs shared their experience regarding high-end market opportunities for Caribbean agrifood products. Speakers included Elizabeth Montano, Director of Montano Chocolates, Trinidad, and Tobago; Umeeda Switlo, Co-founder and CEO, Naledo, Belize; and Theresa Marryshow, Founder, Grenada Network of Rural Women Producers (GRENROP), Grenada, as well as Ainsworth Riley (Agri-business Specialist, IICA) and Jeremy Knops (General Delegate, COLEACP).You can view a recording of the session here: https://youtu.be/zx9hHUEjb7w These activities are supported by the Fit For Market SPS programme, implemented by COLEACP within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union.
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Successful collaboration with CABI
In 2020, COLEACP and CABI signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together on key areas of interest concerning SPS measures around the world. The collaboration, which ultimately aims to benefit food security among countries within the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states, includes work on regulations and standards; technical assistance in the implementation of SPS measures; capacity assessment, training and e-learning; research and innovation on ways to manage SPS risks; and information sharing and communication materials for different stakeholders.This successful collaboration is ongoing. In 2022, COLEACP and CABI are proposing the joint development of a comprehensive Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) digital learning package designed primarily for National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) staff in developing countries. This will bring together their combined experience in the delivery of PRA training and digital learning and incorporate elements of the CABI PRA Tool. The objective is to equip NPPOs with the knowledge and skills they need to manage and implement pest risk assessment according to ISPM 11 and to receive any necessary follow-up support to enable them to successfully develop national or regional quarantine pest lists.Some of CABI’s recent work is showcased in the 2021 Annual Report, which features the CABI BioProtection Portal. This unique resource provides growers and plant health advisors with valuable information about biocontrol and biopesticide products. This activity is supported by the Fit For Market SPS programme, implemented by COLEACP within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union.
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STDF Cameroon project on Penja pepper concludes
Penja pepper has been grown in the volcanic soil of the Penja valley in the Njombé-Penja region, Cameroon, for about 50 years. It is considered one of the best peppers in the world, thanks to the unique taste created by the local volcanic soil. Cultivation of the crop is a major source of rural employment; almost all Penja pepper is produced by smallholders with less than 3 hectares of land. However, production of the pepper has faced sanitary and phytosanitary challenges that have limited its commercial development.Penja pepper is the first protected geographical indication from sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2019, COLEACP has been the implementing partner for the project ‘Improving SPS capacity in the Penja pepper value chain (STDF/PG/593)’, which concluded on 14 October 2022. The project was supported by a grant from the Standards and Trade Development Fund (STDF).
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African Diaspora Agrofood Entrepreneurs Compendium
COLEACP and The FoodBridge vzw, a non-profit organisation, have produced a Compendium showcasing the innovative businesses of nine African Diaspora agrofood entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs have seized the opportunities to apply their education and professional skills gained in Europe to support sustainable development in their country of origin, alongside achieving entrepreneurial success in their country of residence. Through their businesses, they contribute to the development of the African continent and address the social, economic and environmental challenges in their place of origin. Entrepreneurs from the African Diaspora also foster new collaborations and relationships between continents.COLEACP - through the FFM and FFM SPS programmes - and The FoodBridge vzw have worked together to enhance the visibility of entrepreneurs from the African Diaspora and their contribution to the economic and social wellbeing of Africans. The African Diaspora Agrofood Forums, jointly co-organised in 2020 and 2021, have reunited stakeholders to discuss the role of the African Diaspora and global agribusiness in supporting development both on the African continent and in diaspora communities.On 21 October 2022, The Food Bridge vzw and its partners are organising the 6th edition of the African Diaspora Agrofood Forum focusing on Investment, Trade and Transformative Development, during which the Compendium will be presented. The conference day will be followed by an agrofood exhibition on 22 October 2022 in Brussels. More information and registration are available here.The African Diaspora Agrofood Entrepreneurs Compendium has been supported by the Fit For Market and Fit For Market SPS programmes, implemented by COLEACP within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union.
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DeSIRA-LIFT programme: COLEACP involved in Africa Climate-Smart Agriculture
The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and DeSIRA-LIFT jointly organised two events at the 2nd Biennial Conference on Africa Climate-Smart Agriculture, which took place on 14–16 September 2022 in Accra, Ghana, and online. The Conference provided opportunities to discuss Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) accountability, resource use and impact in Africa amongst a wide audience.The first event, Thematic Paper Presentation on compatibility assessment of agroecology and CSA practice, focused on agroecological transformation in support of climate change and the contribution of agroecology to climate-smart agriculture. The second event, a side event on The contribution of agroecology to climate change adaptation and mitigation, provided different perspectives, from policy to practice, on the potential role of agroecology in climate change adaptation and mitigation.COLEACP is the lead of the second service area of the European Union’s DeSIRA-LIFT programme working closely with African research organisations towards the Development of Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture contributing to sustainable agriculture and food systems. More specifically, DeSIRA-LIFT’s Service Area 2 works to support FARA, AFAAS, ASARECA, CCARDESA and CORAF (collectively known as CAADP-XP4 organizations) playing a key role in Africa’s agricultural knowledge and innovation systems. COLEACP works closely with GFAR, EFARD, IFAD, FAO and other partners and with Agrinatura in the implementation of DeSIRA LIFT.
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FFM+ in Nigeria
The launch of FFM+ in Nigeria, on 23 September 2002, provided an opportunity for COLEACP’s partners in the country and Nigerian horticultural system stakeholders to learn more about the new programme.FFM+ aims to bring together private and public stakeholders and disseminate robust and up-to-date information, research and training content to the industry. In Nigeria, actions under FFM+ will be targeted towards providing support to implement quality management systems for food safety and high-quality produce; training on crop protection strategies; support to facilitate public-private sector dialogue and partnerships; and dissemination of key information and training to regulators and private operators to facilitate the export of horticultural products. These actions will strengthen the capacity of smallholders, farmer groups and horticultural MSMEs to access domestic, regional and international markets.
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Kenya: Crop protection strategy training
The NExT Kenya programme organised a crop protection strategy training on 4–7 October 2022. The target audience for this 4-day training programme was technical managers, quality managers, extension staff, agronomists (production managers) and crop protection managers from horticultural production companies. Aimed at developing the participant’s knowledge of the principles of crop protection strategies, the training was attended by 12 participants from various Kenyan horticulture #MSMEs. A practical field study on #scouting, #identification and #management of pests at Real IPM in Thika was also included. The training sought to address the twin problems of exceeding #MRLs and the application of non-approved active compounds to vegetable crops. Training on how to carry out crop protection will follow on 25–28 October 2022.This activity is implemented by COLEACP and supported by the NExT Kenya (New Export Trade) programme, established in collaboration with the EU Delegation in Nairobi and Kenyan stakeholders.
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Kenya: Packhouse optimisation training
The NExT Kenya programme is helding a Packhouse optimisation training for managers responsible for packhouse management, and other company personnel involved in the packing of fresh fruit and vegetable. Fourteen participants from ten different horticulture companies are participating in 4 days of classroom training which also features a practical visit to a packhouse. The training will be followed by on-site coaching for each company to improve their packhouse processes. Experts will provide advice on how to implement points for any improvements, jointly identified with the participants, within their packhouses.This activity is implemented by COLEACP and supported by the NExT Kenya (New Export Trade) programme, established in collaboration with the EU Delegation in Nairobi and Kenyan stakeholders.
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#WorldFoodDay: Agrifood SMEs and businesses contribution to leaving no one behind
The World Food Day 2022 highlights the increasing interlinkages of economies, cultures, and populations with its theme “leave no one behind”. Global health, planet and political challenges call for global solutions that include guaranteeing the access and availability of nutritious food, as well as reducing food losses and waste. These solutions should specifically be designed and adapted to rural populations as they are the most vulnerable to food and climate crises, with 80 % of the extreme poor living in rural areas.1The agrifood sector is of outmost importance for rural areas in terms of employment, food and nutrition security, not only for end-consumers but throughout the entire value chain (eg at supply, harvesting, processing, conditioning, transporting and marketing levels). Local Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are essential contributors to making nutritious and safe foods available, accessible and affordable and work hand in hand with smallholders. MSMEs also contribute to improving the quality and availability of local food, and ensuring high safety and quality standards. Thus, agrifood MSMEs play a key role in tackling the ‘triple burden’ of malnutrition: (i) undernutrition (underweight, stunting and wasting), (ii) micronutrient deficiencies, and (iii) overweight and obesity, creating employments for all and contributing to food security for the most vulnerable. At the same time, MSMES are the backbone of most economies enabling access to capacity building, finance, innovation and technologies.COLEACP, through the implementation of programmes such as Fit For Market SPS, Fit For Market Plus and NExT Kenya, is committed towards strengthening the ACP agri-food sector to reduce poverty, improve food security and food safety. To leverage impact, COLEACP and key partners have jointly developed series of activities aiming at showcasing innovations and successes of farmer-led businesses and MSMEs. In November 2020, the Innovations Series was launched by the Pan-African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO) and COLEACP to share best practices from African entrepreneurs, farmers, agripreneurs and SMEs to support others to embrace the unprecedented opportunities offered by local, regional and export markets. In June 2021, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and COLEACP launched the Caribbean Agrifood Business Series aiming at presenting innovative and successful Caribbean farmer-led businesses and SMEs contributing towards a more sustainable and resilient agriculture sector in the Caribbean region. Both series focus on innovations across value chains in production methods, access to markets and product development, with a focus on value addition, technologies including digital solutions, nutrition and circular economy.While food production must keep the pace with increasing demand, equitable food access and adequate food utilization must be ensured as there are significant inequalities in nutrition outcomes within countries and populations.2 Healthy diets are out of reach for around 3 billion people, especially the poor, in every region of the world in 2019.3 The contribution of fruit and vegetables to nutrition is one of the topic of the Fruit and Vegetables Industry Series launched in September 2021 by COLEACP and the OECD Fruit and Vegetables Scheme4 of the Trade and Agriculture Directorate. The series highlights the significance of the fruit and vegetable sector and shares knowledge of markets and operators working in local and export markets, including by presenting successes and innovations of private sector operators across the EU and Southern countries and lessons learned.In addition to joint activities developed with partner organisations, COLEACP supports producers, entrepreneurs, consultants, technicians and all stakeholders in the agricultural and food system by providing continuous capacity building, training and technical assistance to promote more equitable and inclusive value chains and ensure that no one is left behind.1 Castañeda, Andrés & Doan, Dung & Newhouse, David & Nguyen, Minh Cong & Uematsu, Hiroki & Azevedo, João Pedro, 2018. "A New Profile of the Global Poor," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 250-267. 2 IFPRI. 2020 Global Nutrition Report. 3 FAO. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, 2021. 4 OECD Fruit and Vegetables Scheme promotes international trade through the harmonisation of implementation and interpretation of marketing standards. https://www.oecd.org/agriculture/fruit-vegetables/This communication is supported by Fit For Market SPS and Fit For Market Plus programmes, implemented by COLEACP within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union.
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COLEACP celebrates businesses and SMEs empowering rural women
The International Day of Rural Women, celebrated the day before the International World Food Day (on 16 October), acknowledges women’s significant contributions to agriculture food and food safety, as well as the rural economy in all regions of the world. Women represent, on average, 43 percent of the agricultural labour force in developing countries from 20 percent in Latin America to 50 percent in Eastern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.1 They are a significant entrepreneurial force as owners of farms, input supply stores, service delivery businesses, and export firms whose contributions to local, national, and global economies are far reaching.However, women face many obstacles, suffer from inequalities and experience inequitable access to agricultural inputs, including family labour, high-yield crops, pesticides and fertilizer. Worldwide, women do 75 percent of the unpaid work such as care and domestic tasks. They are responsible for 90 percent of preparing and buying food,2 and women in rural areas spend around 14 hours a day on care work.3 Thus, rural women often find themselves in particularly vulnerable employment situations, given limited access to resources, infrastructure and markets, as well as diversified sources of income. 4There is a mismatch between women’s skills and labour-market demands which accounts in part for their low economic participation. Women often lack knowledge on trade standards needed to expand their business which implicates specialised knowledge and technical skills in fields such as food safety, food conservation, packaging and product certification which limit their involvement in more remunerative value chains. Women entrepreneurs also face multiple difficulties in securing funding mainly due to lack of collateral in the form of land and other tangible assets and a high-risk perception and lack of appropriate products, information, understanding of their needs and collateral. 5The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development promotes a transformative agenda for gender equality and the empowerment of women in agriculture and value chains, food and nutrition security, and in the management of natural resources in the context of climate change. Gender equality and food security are indeed interlinked: the more gender inequality there is in a country, the hungrier people are.6In addition to being major contributors towards achieving food security, women support the economies of their family, communities and countries both as wage earners and entrepreneurs. Women entrepreneurs running small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a significant role in contributing to economic development by creating jobs, boosting economic growth, and harnessing the productive capacity of women. It is estimated that globally there are roughly 9.34 formal million women-owned SME in over 140 assessed countries, which is approximately one third of all formal SMEs.7Achieving gender equality and empowering women in agriculture is crucial for agricultural development and food security and can contribute to lessen gender gap, boost per capita income growth, and generally reduce poverty. COLEACP contributes to strengthen women entrepreneurs’ business management, marketing and technical skills through the implementation of support programmes such as FFM SPS and FFM+. It supports SMEs in the agrifood sector adopting increasingly sustainable practices and improving their management and competitiveness with a specific focus on gender. (Re-)discover below inspiring women and men-led African and Caribbean companies that promote economic, social and environmental equality for all men and women in the value chain: Afri Foods, Rwanda AGRO BIBI, DRC Agromyx, Ghana Algas Organics, St Lucia Amaati Group, Ghana Banelino, Dominican Republic BAONANE, Senegal Bdelo, Kenya ChocoTogo, Togo ColdHubs Limited, Nigeria Eden Tree Limited, Ghana Fruitales, Senegal Grenada Network of Rural Women Producers (Grenrop), Grenada Les Céréales de TATAM SARL, Mali Les Fruits Tillou SARL & Les Jus Tillou SA, Benin LYCHEELAND, Madagascar Mango So, Burkina Faso Maungo Craft, Bostwana Melach Coconut Processing Farm, Ghana Reelfruit, Nigeria Sanavita, Tanzania SHEKINA Enterprise, Rwanda Soreetul, Senegal Stawi Foods and Fruits Ltd., Kenya SURIVIT N.V., Suriname Zima Enterprise, Rwanda 1 FAO 2010-11 edition of The State of Food and Agriculture report. 2CARE. (2020). How conflict and COVID-19 are pushing millions of people to the brink. 3CARE. (2020). Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in the context of Food Security and Nutrition. A Scoping Paper. 4Gayatri Koolwal. Improving the Measurement of Rural Women’s Employment. Global Momentum and Survey Research Priorities. Policy Research Working Paper. World Bank Group 2019. 5The credit gap for formal women-owned SMEs across all regions is roughly $2,872 billion, which is 30 percent of the total credit gap for SMEs looked at in isolation from the other barriers which heavily impact women-owned enterprises. IFC. Women-owned SMEs: A business opportunity for financial institutions. 2021. 6 CARE. (2022). Food Security and Gender Equality: A synergistic understudied symphony. 7IFC. Women-owned SMEs: A business opportunity for financial institutions. 2021. Women-Owned SMEs: a business opportunity for financial institutions. 2014.This communication is supported by Fit For Market SPS and Fit For Market Plus programmes, implemented by COLEACP within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union.
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EU and GB MRL changes in 2022 - July – September 2022
Changes to EU and GB pesticide maximum residue levelsFollowing the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union (EU), COLEACP’s monitoring of pesticide regulations now covers MRL changes in both the EU and Great Britan (GB), enabling us to keep COLEACP 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 July-September 2022, we have been highlighting significant changes to EU MRLs that affect 50 active substances, 19 of which are important for ACP export horticulture. During this same period, changes of MRLs in GB affect 6 active substances, of which 3 are considered key substances for ACP horticulture (metalaxyl-M, flonicamid and chlorothalonil).The EU and GB have also recently notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of additional proposed changes involving a further 18 substances including 8 that are key in ACP horticulture (flutriafol, profenofos, thiabendazole, triadimenol, cyromazine, triflumizole, novaluron and tetraconazole). Note that comments and concerns can be submitted to the WTO via the national contact points.This news also presents the latest updates regarding the lowering of EU MRLs of mancozeb.How will ACP producers/exporters be affected?Changes to EU/GB Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) also apply to products that are exported to the EU/GB. Growers producing for export may need to adapt their practices to meet the new MRL or, if this is not possible, stop using these products and look for an alternative method of pest management.What should ACP producers/exporters do now?For each use of the plant protection products (PPPs) involved, the Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) in place will need to be checked to ensure compliance with the new MRLs. This is essential to avoid interception and destruction of exported produce at the EU/GB borders.If you use these PPPs, it is important to liaise with your producer /exporter associations and national authorities to check whether the GAPs you currently apply are still appropriate, and enable you to meet the new MRLs. In most cases, where the MRL is lowered, adaptations to the GAP will be needed (dose rate, number of applications, application method or pre-harvest interval).If you have any major concerns about these changes, and fear that you will be left without an effective and locally available alternative, please contact COLEACP at: network@coleacp.org. In this news, ‘key active substances’ refers to those used/registered in one or more ACP country on horticultural crops that are frequently exported regionally or internationally. While COLEACP makes every effort to provide comprehensive information about relevant regulatory changes, it is possible that some PPPs or crops relevant to you are not included in our list of key substances/crops. We recommend therefore that you check the final section of this news, which details all the changes in 2022, to make sure that you are aware of any other changes that could affect you.