New report presents an analysis of fruit and vegetable value chains in Benin 

For the full report

This newly released report explores the dynamics of fruit and vegetable value chains in Benin, identifying their contributions to food system outcomes such as human health and nutrition, economic development, and environmental sustainability. Based on a typology of fruit and vegetable value chains and their assessment, it is concluded that there are striking differences between how and how much these value chains contribute to food systems outcomes, and that policy makers and other key stakeholders should use these differences as a starting point for intervention and investment when striving to enhance food system outcomes.

This work is part of the SafeVeg project, launched in November 2020, a flagship initiative of the European Union’s Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA) program. Against the backdrop of evolving global and regional food systems dynamics, SafeVeg is a timely and strategic response to the challenges and opportunities facing vegetable production and consumption in West Africa, particularly in Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali. The initiative is spearheaded by the World Vegetable Center, in partnership with Wageningen University & Research, and CIRAD (the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development), alongside a network of national partners.

The overarching goal is to contribute to reducing undernourishment and improving incomes and productivity among smallholder vegetable producers, with a particular emphasis on empowering women and youth. Additionally, the initiative seeks to promote sustainable land use practices and enhance the resilience of vegetable value chains in the face of climate change and other environmental challenges. Recognizing the critical role of locally-produced vegetables in addressing food security and nutrition needs in West Africa, SafeVeg aims to strengthen the capacity of smallholder farmers, enhance market access and value chain efficiency, and promote the adoption of sustainable production technologies and practices.

By fostering collaboration among research institutions, government agencies, civil society organizations and the private sector – while leveraging interdisciplinary research, participatory approaches and stakeholder engagement – SafeVeg endeavours to create a conducive environment for innovation, knowledge sharing and policy development in the vegetable sector, that will catalyse transformative food system change and contribute to increasing the intake of vegetables.

This report shifts the lens to examine the broader dynamics of fruit and vegetable value chains in Benin. These chains are critical for transforming food systems and promoting healthy diets, as fruits and vegetables are often insufficiently included in diets in Benin. This gap highlights a need for significant improvements in how these value chains contribute to multiple goals of the food system. Currently, insights into how fruit and vegetable value chains are organized and function in the food system remain fragmented, with limited understanding of their structure and dynamics, particularly given the important role of the informal sector. This lack of clarity presents a significant barrier to identifying and implementing effective strategies that could incentivize improvements in these chains.

Egah J, Dijkxhoorn Y, Raoult J, de Steenhuijsen Piters B. 2025. Fruit and vegetable value chains in Benin’s food system. Wageningen, Wageningen Social & Economic Research, Report 2025-018. 34pp.

https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/fruit-and-vegetable-value-chains-in-benins-food-system

This research was carried out with funding from the European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands through the project “Safe locally produced vegetables for West Africa’s consumers (SafeVeg)” – ID-4000003936, part of the DeSIRA program and implemented by the World Vegetable Center, CIRAD and Wageningen University. The views expressed in this document can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.