Agrisud International at SIA 2026 in Paris: participation focused on transitions and alliances

This year, Agrisud International attended the International Agricultural Show with a clear ambition: to remind visitors that agroecological transitions will only succeed if they are rooted in local communities and if producers are fully involved in the solutions. 

Two highlights marked this participation: a round table organized with Max Havelaar France and devoted to agroecological transitions in Côte d'Ivoire - this year's featured country - and the signing of a strategic partnership with SEMAE to strengthen seed systems for family farming. 

Understanding agroecological transitions at the country level 

On February 27, the round table brought together economists, climate experts, NGOs, and stakeholders involved in carbon finance and biodiversity. Together, they painted a clear picture of the situation in Côte d'Ivoire: a major agricultural country, but one facing pressure on its forests and the need to transform its production models. As Quentin Bédrune, a research engineer at Citepa, pointed out, Ivorian agriculture emits relatively little, but deforestation linked to the expansion of cocoa plantations weighs heavily on the national carbon footprint. Côte d'Ivoire has committed to an ambitious trajectory of reducing emissions by 2035, which involves a fundamental rethinking of forest resource management, restoring degraded landscapes, and strengthening agroforestry.  

During the discussions, the issue of financing transitions came to the fore. Carbon mechanisms are still insufficient to meet needs. That is why new tools are emerging, such as biodiversity credits presented by Fabiola Flex, president of the Organization of Biodiversity Certificates (OBC). A pilot project in Côte d'Ivoire aims to test an assessment grid developed jointly with local stakeholders, with a view to issuing the first biodiversity certificates by 2027. For Patrice K. Adaye, CEO of AGROMAP, these mechanisms can offer fair recognition of sustainable practices and pave the way for new sources of income for family farms. 

When transitions take shape in territories  

The second part of the round table illustrated the practical implementation of the agroecological transition in Côte d'Ivoire. Simon Baliteau, Deputy Director of Operations at Agrisud International, presented the AVAL project run in partnership with Agronomes & Vétérinaires Sans Frontières and PPI.  

This project supports 1,000 family farms around Abidjan in their agroecological transition: crop diversification, production of bio-inputs, and improvement of soil fertility. The initial results are encouraging (increased yields and incomes), but scaling up remains a challenge and requires structural support: local biofactories, training, applied research, and land tenure security. 

In a different context, but with the same desire to restore balance, Alain Panhard, Director of NBS2 Operations at aDryada, presented the Karidja project, which aims to restore 70,000 hectares of agroforestry in Haut-Sassandra. The approach is based on a 50-year concession combining reforestation, agroforestry, and carbon valuation, in a model that provides for the equitable sharing of benefits between the Ivorian government and local communities. 

A clear message emerged from all these discussions: agroecological transitions can only succeed if producers see concrete benefits and become full partners in the solutions. 

A strategic partnership for more resilient seed systems 

In parallel with this round table, Agrisud International and SEMAE formalized a cooperation agreement that is set to play a key role in the coming years. The two organizations have decided to pool their expertise in order to strengthen seed systems for family farming in a sustainable manner.   

Agrisud's field experience and in-depth knowledge of small-scale farming and the socio-economic realities of micro-agricultural businesses are now combined with SEMAE's expertise in regulation, quality, certification, and sector structuring. 

By combining their expertise, the two organizations are laying the foundations for an ambitious cooperation aimed at:

• Improving and structuring local seed systems,
• Professionalizing stakeholders,
• Adapting approaches to the socio-economic realities of small agricultural businesses,
• Jointly developing actions, training programs, and projects to serve local communities. 

This alliance opens up new prospects. It will improve access to high-quality seeds that are suited to local conditions, while strengthening the skills of stakeholders and laying the foundations for more robust supply chains capable of supporting the agroecological transition in the long term.
 

-----

1 OBC: the organization brings together companies, NGOs, and scientific experts to develop an operational certification system based on scientific data and proven in the field.  
2 NBS: Natural Based Solutions ​