About Us
Agrinnovators – The Hub for Agrifood Entrepreneurs
Agrinnovators is a dynamic platform dedicated to empowering agrifood entrepreneurs by fostering innovation, knowledge exchange, and business growth.
Through strategic partnerships across continents, COLEAD strengthens the capacities of producers, suppliers, processors, and smallholders to produce affordable, safe, and nutritious food for domestic, regional, and international markets. These collaborations drive food system transformation, promote sustainable agriculture, and attract investment.
Our Key Focus Areas:
🔹 Foresight – In partnership with the OECD, we analyze economic trends and emerging challenges in the agrifood sector to inform forward-thinking strategies and policies. We also engage with private sector actors to explore future market dynamics and opportunities.
🔹 Inspiration – Together with PAFO, IICA, PFO, and UN Women, we showcase best practices from successful entrepreneurs who champion sustainability and resilience. Key focus areas include sustainable food systems, fairness in value chains, markets & trade, employment (youth/women), nutrition and health, circular economy, smart farming, climate resilience.
🔹 Insights – We co-produce and share articles, reports, and technical papers on emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities in agribusiness. Business profiles of entrepreneurs help enhance visibility and market access.
🔹 Discussion & Networking – A dedicated forum facilitates collaboration, experience-sharing, business connections, and access to cutting-edge knowledge within the agrifood ecosystem.
🔹 Access to Support Services – Our partnerships provide entrepreneurs with access to tailored services and expertise to help scale their businesses and expand their impact.
Join Agrinnovators and be part of a thriving community contributing to the future of sustainable agrifood systems!
Contact us at : agrinnovators@colead.link
ABOUT COLEAD
The vision of the organization “Growing People” is that the needed transition to sustainable food systems will require continuous capacity building and training for current and future generations of producers, entrepreneurs, consultants, technicians, and all economic actors in the agricultural and food system. This is especially the case in member countries of the OACPS, and particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is well positioned to become the driving force behind a new, sustainable model of agriculture.
COLEAD also develops online material (available for free to anyone) that might be of interest for your activities (or members of your network):
·     The E-Learning with self-study courses
·     The E-Library on sustainable agricultural practices
·     The monitoring of the latest EU agri-food policies impacting low- and middle-income countries
Our Partner Organisations
ABOUT PAFO
PAFO is a continental platform currently composed of five regional farmers networks in Africa: the Eastern African Farmers Federation (EAFF); the Regional Platform of Farmers’ Organizations of Central Africa (PROPAC); the Network of farmers and Producers organizations in West Africa (ROPPA); the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU); and the Maghrebian and North African Union of Farmers (UMNAGRI). PAFO represents over 70 organizations of small-scale women and men farmers and producers from 49 countries in Africa.
PAFO was created in October 2010 by its constitutive general assembly, and subsequently recognized as the representative body at the highest continental level. PAFO is an important instrument for rallying direct farmer engagement on Africa’s growth and development agenda. Its vision is “A vibrant African agriculture, prosperous and sustainable ensuring food security and sovereignty, including the socio-economic and cultural development”.
The mission of PAFO is to (a) Defend the social and economic rights and interests of African farmers and producers and their organizations at continental and international levels; (b) Promote solidarity and partnership among farmers, (c) Influence agricultural policies and strategies at continental and international level to better take into account the interests of African farmers; (d) Contribute to the promotion of agricultural trade and African regional economic integration; and (e) Share information, experiences and knowledge in all areas of agriculture and rural development.
In performing its mission, PAFO and the sub-regional networks engage with several partners and are managing several projects. PAFO’s role has mainly been to advocate and influence priorities, policies, and strategies at the continental and global levels; as well as to share experiences and knowledge between members.
ABOUT IICA
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) is the specialised agency for agriculture of the Inter-American System that supports the efforts of Member States to achieve agricultural development and rural well-being.
The Institute provides cooperation services through close and permanent work with its 34 Member States.
Its four strategic objectives are: (1) increase the contributions of the agriculture sector to economic growth and sustainable development, (2) contribute to the well-being of all rural dwellers, (3) improve international and regional trade for countries in the region, (4) increase the resilience of rural areas and agrifood systems to extreme events.
IICA has a broad experience in areas such as technology and innovation for agriculture, agricultural health, food safety and quality, international agricultural trade, family farming, rural development, natural resource management and the bioeconomy.
ABOUT PFO
The Pacific Farmer Organisation (PFO) serves as a regional umbrella organisation for national farmer organisations across the Pacific Islands. Essential for effective engagement with farmers, farmer organisations are critical in empowering livelihoods for rural households across the Pacific Islands region.
Established in 2013, PFO’s mission is to enhance the vibrancy, viability, and sustainability of these organisations, thereby empowering rural households throughout the region.
PFO’s membership spans numerous Pacific Island countries. By uniting these diverse farmer organisations, PFO facilitates the sharing of knowledge, resources, and best practices to strengthen agricultural communities.
The organisation’s work focuses on six key areas: breadfruit & seeds, sustainable agriculture, youth in agriculture, women in agriculture and nutrition, policy engagement and partnerships, and organisational capacity building. These focal points reflect the priorities of its members and address common challenges faced by farmers in the Pacific region.
ABOUT OECD
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation that works to build better policies for better lives. It draws on more than 60 years of experience and insights to shape policies that foster prosperity and opportunity, underpinned by equality and well-being.
The OECD works closely with policy makers, stakeholders and citizens to establish evidence-based international standards and to find solutions to social, economic and environmental challenges. From improving economic performance and strengthening policies to fight climate change to bolstering education and fighting international tax evasion, the OECD is a unique forum and knowledge hub for data, analysis and best practices in public policy. OECD’s core aim is to set international standards and support their implementation – and help countries forge a path towards stronger, fairer and cleaner societies.
The OECD Fruit and Vegetables Scheme (FVS Scheme) facilitates international trade by simplifying administrative procedures. These standards cover aspects including size, colour, maturation periods, transportation, and storage. They establish uniform minimum quality requirements, definitions and classifications, product-specific tolerances, and other criteria related to sizing, presentation, and markings. Although voluntary, many of these standards have been incorporated into national or regional legislation and commercial contracts.
ABOUT UN WOMEN
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide.
UN Women supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality and works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to ensure that the standards are effectively implemented and truly benefit women and girls worldwide. It works globally to make the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals a reality for women and girls and stands behind women’s equal participation in all aspects of life, focusing on four strategic priorities: (1) women lead, participate in and benefit equally from governance systems, (2) women have income security, decent work and economic autonomy, (3) all women and girls live a life free from all forms of violence, (4) women and girls contribute to and have greater influence in building sustainable peace and resilience, and benefit equally from the prevention of natural disasters and conflicts and humanitarian action.
The UN Women Multi Country Office (MCO) – Caribbean covers 22 countries and territories in the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean, which are part of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Strides towards gender equality in the countries covered by the MCO have resulted in gains for women and girls in the Caribbean, relating primarily to high education rates, and increases in employment rates. Support to increase the contribution of women entrepreneurs leading businesses, particularly in the agricultural sector is a priority.