CropLife Africa Middle East A.I.S.B.L. is a non-for-profit industry organization representing the leading global manufacturers of pesticides, seeds and biotechnology products in Africa and the Middle East. The regional association was registered in Brussels in November 2002 and represents today more than 20 national associations across its region. The association is legally fully independent but maintains a strong link with the global CropLife network (www.croplife.org).

Together with the national associations CropLife Africa Middle East is the voice and advocate for the Plant Science Industry.

They are committed to sustainable agricultural practices and to the responsible use of plant science technologies in the region. They promote the understanding of the benefits of modern plant science solutions. They are convinced that these products and solutions developed and distributed by their member companies are indispensable to control weeds.

They promote that the professional and responsible use of these products improves the incomes and livelihoods of farmers and their families and has the potential to contribute decisively to the growth of rural and national economies.

Vision: To ensure crop protection products and their suppliers are recognized for their long-term and vital role in sustainable agriculture and food safety.

Mission

Crop Protection

CropLife Africa Middle East represents the innovators, developers, manufacturers, formulators and registrants of crop protection and ag-biotechnology products.

CropLife Africa Middle East aims to be a valued contributor to our members’ operations. They work on behalf of their members, with governments and others interested in the future of food and farming to contribute in food security and food safety in the Africa Middle East region.

Plant Biotechnology

Biotech crops were first commercially cultivated in 1996 and first cultivated in Africa (South Africa) in 1998. These crops have been improved to resist certain insects pests and diseases; tolerate herbicide applications, which allows for the adoption of no-till practices; mitigate climate change conditions such as drought as well as use resources such as water and nitrogen more efficiently; and also have consumer benefits, such as non-browning varieties and health improvements, such as lowered mycotoxins and acrylamides or biofortification.

Today, globally more than 17 million farmers in 24 countries grow biotech crops on over 189.9 million hectares, of which the majority are in fact in developing countries. While South Africa and Sudan are the only two African countries currently growing biotech crops, new biotech products (cotton) have recently been approved for cultivation in Kenya and Nigeria, with many more countries both heavily involved in later stages of plant biotech research and focused on developing regulatory systems that facilitate access to these technologies. Active research across the continent includes various technologies in banana, cassava, cotton, cowpea, potatoes, rice, sorghum, sweet potatoes, and soybean.

Partnerships and Projects

As an association and individuals of the CropLife network they are passionate to improve the productivity of today’s low yielding agricultural systems especially in Sub Saharan Africa and thus reducing this continent’s growing dependency on food imports. With their efforts we con-tribute to strengthen the small holder agricultural sector and thus help creating attractive jobs and living conditions in rural areas which in turn reduces the desire to migrate to large cities and / or abroad. With these overarching goals in mind and over the past 10 years CropLife Africa Middle East has developed the culture, experience and skills to engage in public and private partnerships. In close cooperation with their national association they have become an attractive partner for many stakeholders who share these same goals. It is from this overarching ambition and positioning that they have developed their slogan Partners in Sustainable Agriculture