ECOWAS Set to Boost Trade and Food Quality,Overhauls Agricultural Standards in W/ Africa.
By Raymond Enoch
In a bold move to modernize agriculture and strengthen regional trade, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has revised its agricultural product standards. This revelation came during a landmark four-day workshop held from May 19 to 22, 2025, in Lomé, Togo.
The workshop, convened by ECOWAS’s Directorate of Industry in partnership with the Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development, was supported by the Food System Resilience Program (FSRP), an initiative backed by the World Bank. The program aims to fortify food security and build agricultural resilience against climate, health, and economic shocks in West Africa.
Speaking at the event’s opening, Mr. Lassane Kaboré, Director of Industry at the ECOWAS Commission, underscored the significance of the initiative:
“Updating our agricultural standards means modernizing our agriculture, protecting our consumers, and supporting regional integration. It is a crucial step toward meeting the expectations of West African markets.”
Focusing on six vital agricultural commodities—rice, maize, tomatoes, dry beans, fresh cassava, and groundnuts—the workshop aimed to harmonize member states’ revision proposals in alignment with the ECOWAS Standards Harmonization Model (ECOSHAM).
This effort is integral to the rollout of two cornerstone policies: ECOQUAL (the ECOWAS Quality Policy) and ECOWAP (the ECOWAS Agricultural Policy). These frameworks aim to enhance the quality and competitiveness of agricultural goods, ultimately driving intra-regional trade and ensuring healthier, safer food products for West African populations.
The revised draft standards were officially validated during the workshop. The next phase involves national consultations across ECOWAS member states before final ratification by the ECOSHAM Technical Management Committee.
With these updates, ECOWAS takes a decisive step toward a more unified, quality-driven agricultural future for the region.
