COLEAD's new tool replaces the Crop Protection Database and adds a mapping of soil analysis laboratories across Africa.
An exporter preparing a season quickly runs into three questions whose answers sit in different places: which plant protection product is registered in their country for their crop and their pest, which maximum residue limits the European Union applies now and is about to change, and where soils can be analysed without crossing the region. The Crop Production Toolbox, now live on COLEAD's website, brings those answers together in one place. It replaces the Crop Protection Database, whose content it carries over in full.
The crop protection database, extended
The first section lets users check the plant protection products registered by country, by crop and by target pest or disease. It tracks recent and upcoming changes to EU MRLs and the EU approval status of active substances — the most critical information at present, with MRL revisions accelerating. It also gives access to the Good Agricultural Practices needed to comply with current EU and Codex Alimentarius MRLs, and to abstracts from COLEAD's biopesticide trials, for growers looking at lower-risk alternatives.
A mapping of soil analysis laboratories in Africa
This is what is new. Finding an analytical service that is reliable, reachable and affordable remains a practical obstacle to testing soils regularly, and therefore to managing their fertility over the long term. The second section lists the laboratories and analytical services available across the continent, filtered by location and type of service. Only laboratories that have consented to publication appear there.
And supporting resources
The third section gathers links to resources relevant to crop production: COLEAD materials, including production guides and the AGRINFO platform, alongside external sources. It will be expanded over time.
A user guide is being finalised. The toolbox will keep evolving, with new content and functionalities added: feedback on the user experience is welcome.