Ntui-Bokito Galileo agroforestry living lab formally kicks off with the first stakeholders meeting and scenario games workshop – Galileo Project

18/12/2025

Ntui-Bokito Galileo agroforestry living lab formally kicks off with the first stakeholders meeting and scenario games workshop

Ntui-Bokito Living Lab scenario games workshop

The GALILEO workshop was held from 18 to 20 November 2025 in Ntui and aimed to strengthen a common vision for the cocoa agroforestry Living Lab. It enabled the establishment of a shared understanding of the project and its approach, the consolidation of multi stakeholder partnerships, the identification of local priorities and key challenges for innovative cocoa agroforestry, and the launch of the ex ante scenario process to select agroforestry practices to be tested.

Participants included farmer organisations (GIC MAGRIEL, GIC CAMBE, GIC Confiance), academic institutions (University of Dschang FASA), a vocational training centre (SOCOOPEK), research institutions (IRAD Ntui and IRAD Bokito), government institutions and programmes (MINADER, MINEPDEP, MINEPIA, PCP ACEFA, ONCC, Mairie de Ntui), traders (SIC Cacao, OFI), input dealers (TMG, Agri Shop), a financial institution (Cap Finance), civil society (SCOOPMAN), media (CRTV), and project partners (IRAD, CIRAD, NITIDAE, GDA, Wageningen University).

The process alternated between technical presentations, participatory discussions, group work and plenary sessions. Over the three days, participants identified key challenges and solutions, co constructed innovative agroforestry scenarios and defined zones, villages, target groups, species and sites for implementation. This was followed by voting to select three priority practices and solution pathways for experimentation.

The workshop concluded with the adoption of an action plan for the Ntui Bokito Living Lab, specifying roles for all stakeholders. Farmers in each zone were provided with maps and tasked with repeating the mapping exercise with other farmers to identify key challenges, solutions, accessible farms and priority innovations. In parallel, the project team committed to finalising the workshop report and refining the key scenarios. Monitoring indicators and coordination mechanisms were also discussed. Overall, the process strengthened collaboration and laid the foundation for the effective implementation of agroforestry innovations in the Ntui Bokito cocoa agroforestry Living Lab in Cameroon.

Key takeaways from Ntui-bokito cocoa agroforestry Living Lab

Innovative cocoa agroforestry through the introduction of new tree and plant species such as Canarium, bitter kola and cashew
Farmer grazer conflicts and destruction of cocoa farms by cattle are common, especially during the dry season
Climate change, bushfires and dry season conditions are destroying cocoa farms in the Ntui savanna zone
The social, economic and environmental benefits of trees in cocoa fields are not well understood or assimilated
There is a clear need for an agroforestry guide for cocoa farmers

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

Funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement 101181623. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement 101181623. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.