The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has taken a significant step toward improving agricultural quality and enhancing intra-regional trade by revising standards for key food products across West Africa.
From May 19 to 22, 2025, ECOWAS convened a four-day regional workshop in Lomé, Togo, focused on updating and harmonizing agricultural standards for rice, maize, tomatoes, dry beans, fresh cassava, and groundnuts. The workshop was organized by the ECOWAS Commission’s Directorate of Industry in collaboration with the Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development, and supported by the World Bank-backed Food System Resilience Program (FSRP).
Speaking at the event’s opening, Mr. Lassane Kaboré, Director of Industry at the ECOWAS Commission, stressed the strategic importance of the initiative. “Updating our agricultural standards means modernizing agriculture, protecting consumers, and supporting regional integration. It is a crucial step toward meeting the expectations of West African markets,” he said.
The revisions were guided by the ECOWAS Standards Harmonization Model (ECOSHAM) and align with the broader goals of two major regional frameworks: ECOQUAL (the ECOWAS Quality Policy) and ECOWAP (the ECOWAS Agricultural Policy).
The updated draft standards were officially validated at the end of the workshop and will now undergo national consultations in each member state before final adoption by the ECOSHAM Technical Management Committee (TMC).
The move is expected to enhance food safety, improve product quality, and facilitate trade within the region—key components of ECOWAS’s strategy for strengthening food systems in the face of climate, health, and economic shocks.
