04/12/2025

From the plot to the CSR report: strengthening the resilience of West African agricultural value chains

Galileo highlights agroforestry solutions at Natexpo 2025

At this year’s Natexpo, the international trade fair dedicated to organic products and the future of sustainable food systems, Nitidæ and Max Havelaar France presented the first action plans developed within the CIRAD-led Galileo project. The session took place on 30 November and formed part of the fair’s main theme, Climate and Nutrition and the One Health concept, which recognises the close connection between human, planetary, and animal health.

Representing different levels of the organic supply chain, participants gathered to explore how agroecology can strengthen resilience in West African agricultural sectors. This aligns closely with Galileo’s mission to co-develop solutions adapted to local realities and deliver meaningful impact on the ground.

The presentation addressed pressing challenges such as soil degradation, economic pressure on producers, and the difficulty of generational renewal in agriculture. Galileo partners highlighted practical pathways to reinforce both farmer resilience and the sustainability of supply chains.

A central message was the essential role of dialogue. The Living Labs established in the Galileo project illustrate how bringing producers, buyers and local actors together supports the co-creation of agroforestry solutions that are realistic, accepted and durable.

The intervention also emphasised the importance of understanding local contexts for meaningful CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) strategies. Initiatives supported by buyer engagement and market opportunities were recognised as more robust and impactful over time.

Agroforestry provides a practical way to put agroecological principles into action and, in Galileo, serves as a central approach for co-developing and testing these solutions directly with producers. Galileo’s participation contributed to broader discussions at Natexpo on short supply chains, agroecology and food resilience. The intervention aimed to raise awareness of the major issues shaping agroecological transitions and to demonstrate how the Living Lab approach provides concrete, field-tested methods to support producers and secure resilient supply chains.

Natexpo once again proved to be a valuable platform for dialogue and shared engagement. The event reaffirmed a clear message: the agroecological transition must be collective, rooted in local realities, and inclusive of all actors from farm to fork.

All project activities will be published on the project’s social media accounts. Stay tuned!