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CORAF recently organized the second edition of its symposium on the state of agricultural product processing, under the theme of "Promoting research on agricultural product processing: achievements and opportunities available to the private sector for job and wealth creation in West and Central Africa". The event brought together key players in agricultural research in the region from November 21 to 23, 2023 in Lomé.

This event was a key opportunity to promote research into post-harvest processing, in order to increase shelf life, quality and product diversification in West and Central Africa. The event provided an opportunity to highlight research findings on harvesting, processing, preservation and marketing in a variety of fields: fruit and vegetables, cereals, non-wood forest products, roots and tubers, and livestock. It was also an opportunity to discuss standards and legislation relating to the processing and marketing of agricultural products.

By emphasizing the importance of innovation, dialogue and collaboration between research and private-sector players, this symposium reaffirms the relevance of crossing expertise and pooling collective intelligence, exploiting research results and finding innovative solutions to the region's multifaceted agricultural challenges.

The major recommendations to emerge from the symposium highlight the importance of integrating the private sector into agricultural research work. This approach aims to facilitate the adoption and dissemination of research results directly to end-users, notably farmers.

CORAF's Executive Director, Dr Abdou TENKOUANO, stressed the urgent need to place the various technologies developed by research at the heart of exchanges, and to make them accessible to all producers.

"This approach at CORAF is summarized in what we call the theory of change/impact pathway, which consists of raising awareness, gaining acceptance or adoption, and scaling up. Technologies are not developed to be put in drawers, but to have an impact on development", insists Dr Abdou TENKOUANO.

The closing ceremony was an opportunity to reward the outstanding presentations of studies from countries such as Cameroon, Benin, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria. A total of six scientific studies were honored for their outstanding contribution.

The Lomé Symposium reinforces CORAF's position as a key player in agricultural development, illustrating its commitment to sustainable and inclusive agricultural development.