This year the Rikolto lens has been on Inclusive Business. Doing business with a long-term outlook, and fulfilling the needs of farmers and buyers alike, they can plan ahead more carefully, resulting in stronger businesses.
Meanwhile, we are exploring new horizons in West Africa.
Since there are very few women represented in the management of farmer organisations, all Rikolto’s partners have to address gender equality during the projects’ implementation.
After years of strengthening the farmer cooperatives’ businesses and investing in infrastructure and certification, the farmers managed to reach Subway’s quality and safety standards.
In this partnership with CONEXIÓN Chocolates, they were involved in the whole process: from choosing the flavours to the design of the packaging.
In DRC, we have been pushing for the creation of professional coffee cooperatives, giving the farmers full ownership, and with a focus on increasing the quality of the coffee. Our approach is now being replicated in other regions.
In Burkina Faso and Mali, Rikolto worked to make farmer organisations ready and capable to supply rice to school canteens and government institutions, both at national and local level.
In Honduras, in coordination with the National Autonomous University of Honduras, young people can follow our course that focuses in developing business skills. Since it started, the gender gap decreased. We want to reach 50% by next year.
The book tells the stories from 9 cities that are leading the transition to sustainable food systems in Vietnam, Belgium, Tanzania, Indonesia, Ecuador, Honduras and Nicaragua.
By linking the cooperative with buyers willing to pay a higher price for sustainably produced quality products, farmers are encouraged to implement good agricultural practices.
Farming isn't easy, but agriculture has a lot to offer to young entrepreneurs. Last year, FAO, Rikolto and YPARD, organised 2 workshops where these opportunities were introduced to young people: we want to make a job in agriculture attractive again.
GoodFood@School supports the nutritional policy in schools with emphasis on health in combination with sustainability. A charter has been signed and approved together with stakeholders from the Flemish government, catering industry, and education sector.
We support the development of food safety policies. Half of the items had detectable pesticide residues, of this, 75% were above the maximum limit. Consumers and farmers' blood was tested too and disturbing values of pesticides residues were measured.