Registration is now open for the 2021 European organic congress. The theme for this year is “Organic’s contribution to the European Green Deal”. it focuses on how the agri-food sector’s initiatives enhance the transition towards a more sustainable food system, through the aid of leading examples from representatives and experts amidst the organic sector. The New EU Organic Regulation 848/2018 will also be explored, while focusing on its implications for the objective of 25% EU organic land by 2030. For more details and registration use this link - https://europeanorganiccongress.bio/

The Food Bridge vzw in partnership with African Diaspora Projects Initiative, Sankaa vzw and Fair Trade bv is organizing an information session on global transportation and logistics for African Diaspora Entrepreneurs. For many African Diaspora entrepreneurs and non profit organizations with development projects in Africa, finding suitable logistics solutions is always a challenge.
Entrepreneurs want to move goods from Africa to Europe and development actors want to move donations and goods from Europe to Africa too. This will be an information session by Mr Wim Leeflang, Director of Fair Trade will provide information about the innovative logistics solutions of Fair Trade bv. Netherlands and how entrepreneurs can benefit from their services. Here is the registration link - https://forms.gle/BS2be22XKdwXVNKy9

You can send questions in advance to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The United Nations Food Systems Summit is running a “Best Small Business: Good Food for All” competition. The aim of the competition is to showcase inspiring small and medium agri-food companies that are making a positive impact in their community, country and the world. Every applicant will be invited to virtual Summit events. Small businesses around the world that help provide healthy food that is good for the environment, good for their communities and create jobs for people locally are invited to apply and share ideas and suggestions for how their countries and economies can maximize their positive impact.

Any business can apply if it has between five and 250 employees and plays a role in any aspect of food value and supply chain. Each submission will help inform global leaders with the priorities and resources these businesses need to thrive. The Summit will spotlight winners as the “Best 50 Small Businesses: Good Food for All”, as well as a share of US$100,000 in prize money..

Each submission will also help inform global leaders what businesses like yours need to help them thrive. Even if you don’t want to apply to the competition, you can raise your voice by completing just Step 1 of the application. The competition will run from April 29 to June 4, 2021. For more details - https://www.un.org/en/food-systems-summit/best-small-business-comp

In line with the renewed MOU between both organizations, the ICT team of COLEACP, is supporting the Food Bridge vzw  to expand and improve its African Diaspora Agrofood Platform. This platform was established in 2020 for African Diaspora Agrofood Entrepreneurs with projects in the agrofood sector. The platform also provides an opportunity for people to share information, good practices, the challenges they face in the sector and explore possible opportunities for partnerships.

Membership is open to all African Diaspora agrofood entrepreneurs, staff of relevant international organizations and Europeans with agrofood projects in Africa.

You can request membership via this link : https://www.facebook.com/groups/2889555947819013

The 7th edition of the African Summit on Entrepreneurship and Innovation will be held November 5-6th 2021. The theme of this virtual edition is "Exploring Innovative opportunities across Africa's entrepreneurial ecosystem".

The summit brings together top leaders of  industries and expert to share knowledge on business and Innovation with a major focus on; Fintech, Agribusiness, Health Innovation, Sustainable Energy, Big Data, Smart cities, Financing, SDGs , Trade and Policies. For more details and registration use this link - https://www.asenti.org/

For generations ‘Home Gardens’ close to the homesteads in rural areas have contributed to the food security of families. With covid 19 pandemic, the food security of many in developing countries are impacted by the fluctuation of food prices, man-made food scarcities and economic downturns. Those living in rural areas are most affected by these challenges due to their limited economic resources. Thus we are working with women in rural areas this planting season, to expand their home gardens with more  diverse  vegetables that will  boast the diet of their families especially children. This project starts in Abia and Imo States of Nigeria and will expand to other regions.

We will work with women in rural women associations to establish extended  home gardens in their localities. Bearing in mind the challenges lack of access to land pose to women, we will liaise with local traditional and governmental authorities, to lease communal lands for specified number of years as extended home gardens . Women from each participating association will be allocated land to  plant nutritious vegetables.

You can support this project by donating to –

The Food Bridge vzw

BNP Paribas Fortis

IBAN:  BE33 0017 5988 5346

 BIC: GEBABEBB

The 4th Innovations Session organised by the Pan-African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO) and the COLEACP will be on the 20th of May 2021 from 12 to 2pm. This virtual session will focus on the on Sustainable food systems: the key role of SMEs and businesses . 

The key points for discussion on sustainable food systems will be - 

How African MSMEs and farmers organisations can transition towards sustainable practices and what support do they need based on the obstacles they face?

What incentives can be provided to smallholders and MSMEs to adopt sustainable practices?

What main investments and incentives from the public and private sector can accelerate the transition towards sustainable practices?

How to reconcile investments by the MSMEs and farmers in sustainable food systems with the imperative of economic returns and access to new markets?

Read more ...  

The Food and Retail fair will be held from the 10th to 11th of February 2021. This virtual exhibition and B2B networking event, brings together different entities and individual with an interest in the sector. Participants have the opportunity to meet key players in the  food industry, network and make new connections that can grow their business in West Africa. For more information and registrationn: https://businessclubafrica.com/food-retail-west-africa/

The webinar by HarvestPlus on Integrating biofortification in food systems will be on the 11th of May 2021 at 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM CEST. According to the organizers this webinar will focus on the dynamics of business activity in biofortified seed, crop, and food value chains, in a discussion with those on the front lines. Their aim is to explore challenges and opportunities for businesses to enter and grow biofortified product markets, from the experiences and lessons learned by those on the front lines.

For  more information and registration -https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7692321201147554573 

As part of its series of regional dialogues to discuss how the triple goal of gender equality, sustainable and healthy food systems can be achieved, the theme of this event is 'Making Food systems Equitable: An African Dialogue on Gender & Food Systems'. Organized by IFPRI Africa, the event will be held on Tuesday 9th of February from 12-2pm. For more details : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/making-food-systems-equitable-an-african-dialogue-on-gender-food-systems-tickets-136940206845?aff=ebdsoporgprofile