Emotions from Fruit Logistica

 I am blogging from Berlin, Germany at the largest Food Fair in the World called FRUIT LOGISTICA (http://www.fruitlogistica.de/ ). 

 It has exhibitors showcasing their fresh fruits and vegetables from all over the World.

I must admit that I am overwhelmed, inspired and dissapointed.

Overwhelmed because I have never seen so much fruit in my life in one place, today I saw some vegetables that I have never seen before.

Inspired because Agriculture is a huge business that if countries, developing countries tap into, it would mean immense profits and economic development for us.

Which brings me to why I am dissapointed, the lack of a large African presence of exhibitors is rather surprising.

Africa is the new frontier of Food Security and Agriculture viability yet it goes without saying that we have once again missed a chance to showcase our selves and our products to the World.

Kenya, Ghana, Eritrea,Egypt and South Africa are practically the only African nations exhibiting their Agriculture products.

We have for a long time as Africa been standing in the corridors of the European Union lobbying for greater trade opportunities.

Where are the other Agriculture power houses of Africa.

Closer to home in Zambia, I have garnered some lessons which I will share in a series of posts.

Lessons about innovations that we can use in the motherland and countries that we share our borders with.

The major lesson I learnt though was a statement by Coleacp Director Guy Stinghlamber who is fond of saying 

"Change your chip." literally meaning change your thinking, change your mindset and think outside the box.

So you can find out more about COLEACP and the amazing work that they do in Africa, the Caribean and Pacific Areas (ACP) on their website.

http://www.coleacp.org/en