Category Archives: News

Last week, an Inter-Governmental Authority on Development’s mission (IGAD) took place in Casablanca, Morocco, on the topic of Effective Management of Obsolete Pesticides and Empty Pesticide Containers: Mapping and Establishing Regional Stockpiles for Rapid Response. The mission was co-organized by CropLife Africa Middle East, the World Bank , and the IGAD Climate Prediction & Applications Centre ICPAC .

Countries part of the mission were: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan.

Various topics were addressed, notably:
• Introduction to Challenges and International Best Practices: This session covered the root causes and contributors to obsolete pesticides, global and regional trends in obsolete pesticide management, and the harmonization of regulatory strategies for pesticide management across borders.
• Strategic Stockpile Mapping and Management: Discussions focused on key risks and challenges in pesticide management across the IGAD region, the root causes of obsolete stocks, challenges of obsolete stock management, and strategies to prevent the accumulation of stockpiles.
• Regulatory Frameworks and Cross-Border Cooperation: The dialogue included Morocco’s experience in managing obsolete stocks and the need to develop a draft framework for regional cooperation on stockpiles and rapid response.

These discussions were complemented by field visits to a disposal facility near Casablanca – Geocycle Maroc – as well as to University Mohammed 6 Polytechnic in Ben Guerir – organised by AgriEdge -, which CropLife AME wishes to deeply thank for their collaboration!

End of December, CropLife Egypt in collaboration with the Central Laboratory for Analysis of Pesticide Residues and Heavy Elements in Food (QCAP), hosted an informative workshop in Markaz Badr – Beheira Governorate end of December for strawberry producers and exporters

Titled “Key Factors Affecting Strawberry Crop Before and After Harvest,” this event is part of the Sustainable Pesticides Management Framework (SPMF) which officially launched in Egypt last October, to support small and medium agricultural producers in Egypt.

The workshop featured key speakers, including: Dr. Hind Abdellah, Director of the QCAP, Dr. Abdelmoneim Bakr, MENA Regional Director at CropLife Africa Middle East, and Dr. Said Abdella, Technical Consultant for Crop Life Egypt.

Our goal is to empower strawberry producers and exporters in Egypt to enhance local production and ensure compliance with international export standards. Together, we tackle
the challenges in agricultural production for a brighter, sustainable future!

On December 26, CropLife Ethiopia, Sasakawa Africa Association and the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture successfully held a High-Level Consultative Workshop in Ethiopia on the Responsible Use of Plant Protection Products: A Step Toward Sustainable Agriculture!

This event brought together key stakeholders committed to safeguarding our environment and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. We were honored to welcome the State Minister of Agriculture, the Deputy Director of the Ethiopian Agricultural Authority, and representatives from the Environment Protection Authority, along with leaders from industry, government, and NGOs.

A highlight of the workshop was Evelyn Lusenaka, CLAME’s Stewardship Director, who presented CLAME’s work regarding Empty Pesticide Container Management: Best Practices and Experiences in the Africa and Middle East Region.

This workshop marks a significant step toward raising awareness, fostering collaboration, and driving action on the responsible use of plant protection products in Ethiopia.