The report by the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) - covering, specifically for Africa, developments in the agri- and food business sectors throughout the conintent - spotlights how ongoing dialogue and cooperation among partners supported developing and least-developed countries to strengthen their food safety, animal and plant health capacity, to facilitate safe trade, despite the ongoing pandemic.

The latest Annual Report provides snapshots of STDF-supported projects and project preparation grants, on lowering aflatoxin contamination in maize in Burkina Faso to reduce borders rejections; improving phytosanitary controls to boost Ugandan flower exports; promoting IT solutions for pest surveillance and reporting in the Asia-Pacific; promoting biopesticide use in Asia, Africa and Latin America to facilitate trade; prioritizing SPS investments in the Caribbean and Ecuador; and strengthening the safety and quality of Sri Lankan spices for export.

“Strengthening SPS capacity is not only critical for developing countries to recover from shocks and continue participating in the global trading system, but also to become more resilient against future outbreaks of pests and diseases. The STDF is here to connect stakeholders and to innovate, learn and catalyse SPS improvements to facilitate safe trade, worldwide.”
Melvin Spreij, Head of the STDF.

Please read the full report here.