Rédaction Africa Links 24 with lexpress
Published on 2024-02-26 02:45:00
The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Suzelin Ratohiarijaona, led the Malagasy delegation
The Biofach trade fair was held for four days in Nuremberg, Germany, from February 13 to 16. A strong delegation from Madagascar led by the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Suzelin Ratohiarijaona, and composed of members of the Symabio, actively participated. With the main theme “Food for the Future: Women’s Impact on Sustainable Food Systems,” the 2024 edition of the Biofach trade fair was officially inaugurated by the German Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture on February 13. In his speech, he emphasized the importance of women in the sustainability of food systems, highlighting their essential role in preserving ecosystems and the need for strict regulations to ensure the quality of production.
Ten companies operating in the “organic” sectors – vanilla, essential oils, spices, cocoa, medicinal plants – led by the president of Symabio, Heriniaina Ramboatiana, and some members of the board of directors, exhibited their products at the “Madagascar Stand.” The participants were accompanied by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MINAE), the Economic Development Board of Madagascar (EDBM), the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Madagascar (FCCIM), the Project for the Adaptation of Agricultural Value Chains to Climate Change (PrAda/GIZ), Competence Center for the Private Sector (CCPS/GIZ), and the Integrated Growth Poles Project (PIC/World Bank).
According to the supervising ministry, the goal was to strengthen support for the sector by presenting regulatory progress, promoting exchanges with technical and commercial partners, and expanding the search for new markets, European or otherwise. The demand for organic products is evolving and follows the global trend towards the well-being of consumers.
Strengthening partnerships
On the sidelines of the trade fair, a meeting was held with the president of IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements), Karen Mapusua, accompanied by her team. Exchanges were also conducted with Charlotte Braquet, Expert sourcing and market, and the team of IPD (Import Promotion Desk), representatives of COLEAD (Liaison Committee Entrepreneurship – Agriculture – Development) present at the fair, including Victor Boro. Additionally, there were fruitful discussions with Francis Nsanga, Project Manager of the Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture in Eastern Africa (KHEA).
According to the Malagasy delegation, participation in the trade fair and various meetings have deepened ongoing partnerships with Madagascar. During this fair, it was planned that a roadmap would be established for each of these partnerships to identify short- and medium-term actions to be implemented. Furthermore, the MINAE minister met with the Ugandan Minister of Agriculture, Fred Bwino Kyakulaga, and the Executive Director of the Biovision Africa Trust (Kenya) to discuss the development of organic agriculture at the regional level and to strengthen the partnership between Madagascar, Uganda, and Kenya.
This is not the first time that Madagascar has participated in the Biofach trade fair. For several editions now, the island has been betting on this global event that brings together the main players in the organic food and agriculture sector every year. A trade fair that brought together 2774 exhibitors and around 46,700 professional visitors from about one hundred countries during this edition.
For the participants from Madagascar, the outcome is satisfactory. Significant sales were concluded, but more importantly, new partnerships were formed. According to a member of the Symabio board, the organic sector significantly contributes to Madagascar’s economy, with a turnover of around 300 million dollars. The participation of Malagasy companies in Biofach has greatly contributed to this result.
“Biofach has once again been a rewarding experience during which we had the privilege of meeting key players in organic agriculture and sustainable development. From lively discussions with the fair’s organizer to fruitful exchanges with various entities, each meeting has been a source of inspiration and learning. This event has strengthened our belief in the potential of organic agriculture to promote sustainability and the health of our planet,” said Symabio.
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