GLOBALG.A.P. Tourstop 2025 opens in Nairobi to strengthen agri-food trade

KENYA – The GLOBALG.A.P. Tourstop 2025 opened on Tuesday in Nairobi, drawing farmers, exporters, financiers, and regulators into a three-day dialogue on compliance and product diversification as pathways to expand Africa’s agri-food trade.

The event, hosted by GLOBALG.A.P. and Rootooba with support from the European Union, TradeMark Africa (TMA), Absa Bank, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), is themed “Driving the region’s agri-food trade through compliance and product diversification.”

Organizers say it aims to build practical partnerships that can grow regional markets while raising the competitiveness of African produce abroad.

Speaking on behalf of Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui of the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry, Acting Secretary for Trade Michael Mandu urged countries to align regulations to reduce friction at borders. “Diversifying our agricultural and food export base is not optional-it is essential for Kenya’s and Africa’s competitiveness in a changing global trade environment,” he said.

Kinyanjui has set a target of increasing intra-African trade from the current 12 percent to 25 percent within a decade.

He pointed to Special Economic Zones and County Aggregation and Industrial Parks as key levers for agro-processing and support to small and medium enterprises.

Compliance as a market passport

Lillian Mwai, Kenya Country Director at TMA, described compliance as the foundation for export growth. “Compliance is the currency of trust in agrifood trade. It secures shelf space in European supermarkets, retail chains in Dubai, and wholesale markets across Africa. Without it, every harvest risks rejection-and with rejection comes lost livelihoods,” she said.

Mwai noted that diversifying products into oils, pastes, dried fruits, and fresh produce opens access to new markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area. She added that TMA, with support from the European Union, has already trained more than 5,000 farmers, resulting in the export of over 100 tonnes of fresh produce in 2024.

Five packhouses have achieved BRCGS certification, and nearly 1,000 farmers are on track for GLOBALG.A.P. and GRASP certification.

Dr Charity Mutegi, Lead at Rootooba, echoed that compliance is at the center of farmer success. “In today’s world, access to markets is access to compliance. Buyers demand assurance-proof that produce is safe, traceable, responsibly grown, and sustainable. Certification, such as GLOBALG.A.P., is that passport. It tells a retailer in Europe or a distributor in America: Kenyan produce meets the same standard as anything grown in your backyard,” she said.

Financial commitment and technology support

Elizabeth Wasunna, Director of Business Banking at Absa Bank, said the bank sees farmers as central to growth. “We view farmers not just as food producers but as nation builders,” she said. Absa has pledged KES 100 billion to agriculture over five years, with KES 15 billion already disbursed in 2024.

Robert Peck, Senior Operations Officer at IFC, explained that financing compliance facilities remains a priority. “Compliance is a catalyst for trade facilitation. Harmonized standards and streamlined procedures reduce costs and post-harvest losses while connecting smallholder-certified producers to global export opportunities,” he said.

Kenya has also rolled out the National Horticulture Traceability System and the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity program to guarantee quality from farm to market.

The event runs until Thursday with sessions on strengthening compliance systems and product diversification. On the final day, participants will visit selected farms and enterprises to observe GLOBALG.A.P.-compliant operations, covering both crop and aquaculture practices.

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