Togo now has a national framework for structuring and developing organic production, thanks to a validation workshop launched on February 3, 2026, in Lomé, bringing together public and private stakeholders and international organizations.

A Framework for Structuring Organic Agriculture in Togo

Togolese stakeholders in organic agriculture – cooperatives, NGOs, the Ministry of Agriculture, and partners – are working within a unified regulatory framework for the production, certification, and marketing of organic products.

This framework defines technical standards (seeds, inputs, farming practices), certification procedures, and national labels to guarantee the traceability and quality of certified organic products.

The validation workshop, which concluded on February 5, allowed for the refinement of the document before its submission to the government for official adoption, with a view to its implementation in 2026.

Why is organic food strategic for Togo?

Organic agriculture addresses several national priorities:

• Climate resilience: reduced dependence on costly chemical fertilizers and decreased vulnerability to global climate shocks;
• Access to high-end markets: certification for export to Europe (EU Regulation 2018/848) and urban Africa (growing demand for healthy products);
• Public health and soils: reduction of chemical residues, preservation of soil fertility, and crop diversification.

Togo aims to convert 10% of its agricultural land to organic farming by 2030, focusing on organic cotton, cocoa, fruits, and vegetables, for a potential turnover of 50 billion CFA francs.

Key content of the framework

This national framework covers:

• Technical standards: ban on GMOs, crop rotation, composting, biological pest control;
• Certification: accredited bodies (ECOCERT, Nature Organics), annual inspections, and penalties for non-compliance;
• Support: producer training, conversion subsidies (seeds, tools), and a guarantee fund for biocredit.

This project complies with international standards (IFOAM, Codex Alimentarius) while integrating local realities (tropical climate, polyculture).

Partners and funding

This project is supported by the Bio-Togo National Platform, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, the FAO, and the European Union (through the Sustainable Agriculture Support Program).

Mixed funding: national budget (20%), donors (70%), contributions from private stakeholders (10%), with a seed fund dedicated to bio-adapted varieties.

Challenges and Prospects for 2026

The situation is critical: global demand for organic products has exploded (+12% per year), but African supply remains marginal (1% of certified land).

Challenges: train 50,000 producers, create 10 processing centers, and ensure the conversion of 100,000 hectares.

For Togo, this framework could transform family farming into a profitable export sector, creating 100,000 green jobs and increasing rural incomes by 30%. This national benchmark positions Togo as a leader in organic agriculture in West Africa, in line with the agroecological transition and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2 and 13).