Partnerships & projects
Developing African horticulture is a huge and complex task which requires the combined effort of different players in the industry. Therefore, we are keen to collaborate with companies, organisations and individuals who share our ambitions. We see cooperation with local partners as a precondition for success.
Transfer of technical knowledge
African growers require more than good varieties alone. In fact, good varieties are just the start because there is plenty of room for improvement in terms of growing techniques and marketing activities too. Because we need scale and local expertise to increase the impact, we actively seek collaboration with government bodies, local growers’ associations and knowledge institutes all over Africa. We are happy to share our knowledge and expertise in long-term projects such as AIM, SEVIA, Horti-Impact and Smart.
Developing the market together
In terms of logistics, finance, quality, marketing and entrepreneurship, there is still a lot to improve in African horticulture. By being close to the grower, we want to share our findings and exchange ideas with governments, horticultural suppliers, micro-finance institutions and other stakeholders. Amongst other things, we try to connect growers to banks, suppliers and market organisations so that they can professionalise their business. Their communities will subsequently benefit too via a boost to the local economy.
Promoting vegetable consumption
Consumption of vegetables is the most sustainable strategy to overcome micronutrient deficiencies. To promote vegetables in Africa, we realise it is important to offer local crops with varieties that are suited to the local climate. Therefore we make use of plant material from institutes such as the World Vegetable Center. Furthermore, we participate in projects like the Amsterdam Initiative against Malnutrition (AIM) that brings different stakeholders together to improve food and nutrition security through a broad portfolio of projects.
