The SafeVeg Project takes the European Union Ambassadors to “Les Jardins de l’espoir,” one of its flagship Vegetable Business Networks. This field visit was very much appreciated by the guests of the SafeVeg Project and is part of the activities scheduled to commemorate Europe Day in Benin.

On 11 May 2023, their Excellency the Head of the European Union Delegation in Benin, the Ambassador of the Netherlands, the Heads of the Belgian, German, and French Cooperation, the Director of Cabinet of the Minister of Economy and Finance of Benin, the Deputy Director of Europe of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the delegations accompanying them were welcomed to the “Les Jardins de l’espoir ” by the Regional Director of the World Vegetable Center.

Located in Abomey-Calavi, the garden named “Les Jardins de l’espoir” that SafeVeg has decided to promote was created in February 2015 to produce vegetables without chemical inputs, thus healthy and organic vegetables to satisfy the growing demand of urban and peri-urban residents where consumers now swear by organic vegetables.

The SAFEVEG project coordinator took advantage of this high-level audience to present the SAFEVEG project, which operates in Benin, Burkina Faso, and Mali, as an action developed within the framework of the European Union’s initiative on intelligent innovation for development and climate through research in agriculture (and food systems) in developing countries.

From board to board and with rich explanations, the visitors went around the 1/3 hectare dedicated to the ecological production of vegetables and fruits.

Very impressed by what they saw and by the excellent work that SAFEVEG is doing to convince farmers to produce healthier vegetables for increasingly demanding consumers, the ambassadors expressed their satisfaction with the efforts made to get away from conventional market gardening and to grow healthy vegetables.

At the end of the visit, the Regional Director of the World Vegetable Center offered the diplomatic corps baskets of vegetables harvested in the area visited. The ambassadors and their suite were enthusiastic about this model garden outing.

An appointment has been made for a vegetable-tasting session soon.