Background

BioFach is without competition the most important organic trade fair in the world. The number of exhibitors at BioFach is increasing every year, with a total of 2,565 in 2007. The number of Sub Saharan African Exhibitors was in average 24 per year 2003 to 2007. Up to that point most of the African exporters were sponsored by export promotion programs, such as EPOPA, Sippo and CBI. This enabled their participation, but it also meant that their stand was in the stand of their sponsor, and sometimes companies from the same countries exhibited with different sponsors.

At the BioFach 2008, 2009 and 2010 an African pavilion was organised by Grolink and Agro Eco - Louis Bolk Institute, in cooperation with:

• IFOAM
• African Union (from 2010)
• EPOPA (only 2008)
• International Trade Centre
• FAO (only 2008)
• Swedish Society for Nature Conservation
• Hivos
• Osec – Sippo (only 2008)
• UNEP-UNCTAD CBTF
• EAOA – national coordination in Ethiopia
• NOGAMU- national coordination in Uganda
• KOAN- national coordination in Kenya
• TOAM- national coordination in Tanzania
• OPPAZ - national coordination in Zambia
• GOAN - national coordination in Ghana
• MADABIO - national coordination in Madagascar
• ZOPPA Trust - national coordination in Zimbabwe (from 2010)
• Nigerian Organic Agriculture Network, NOAN
• Organic South Africa - national coordination in South Africa (only 2008 and 2009)
• Organic Exchange - national coordination Burkina Faso and Benin
• Min. Agric Rwanda - national coordination in Rwanda
• BioTropical – national coordination in Cameroon
• Agro Eco - Louis Bolk Institute East Africa
• Agro Eco - Louis Bolk Institute West Africa
• Senegalese Association for the Promotion of Organic Agriculture

The pavilion raised a lot of attention. In 2008 there were 73 exporters from thirteen African countries. Besides the exporters other organisations, such as the national organic movements and the partners were invited to have a stand within the pavilion. See the table below for details.

*NOAM = National Organic Agriculture Movement and other service companies

Italic = Estimate

A complete catalogue of all exhibitors was produced every year 2008, 2009 and 2010.

A symposium was held both 2008 and 2010 at the fairground. It featured a high-level panel and subsequent sessions on the following topics:

• The status of organic farming in Africa
• How organic markets can help and has helped African small holders
• Doing business from and with Africa
• Organic Agriculture and the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals
• Initiatives to support organic farming in Africa
• The way ahead for organic in Africa

In 2008, there were 28 speakers of which 17 were from Africa. It was well attended with between 60 and 150 persons for the various sessions. In 2010, there were 17 speakers which included representatives from the various National Movements in Africa and a representative from the African Union. The symposium in 2010 was also well attended with approximate 130 participants.

The evaluation by the organiser, partners and exhibitors was very positive. The fair generated a lot of direct business. At the same time, the value of a trade fair expands far beyond the direct business generated on the ground.

Most exporters assessed the event and the business established as good or excellent.

They also found the stand, the service and the program in the stand to be good. The country coordinators’ evaluation was also positive.

The event generated a lot of media attention and undoubtedly resulted in an improved image of Africa as a supplier of organic products.

The African Pavilion concept will be repeated for three years after 2008. It is envisioned that it is not necessary to organise a symposium each year, so for 2009 and 2011 there will only be a few targeted seminars integrated in the BioFach congress programme. Bringing African policy-makers to the event is valuable for their interest in the sector and therefore there are allocations for that.