PIP (2009-2014) – Statement of Intent

A second phase of the PIP was launched in October 2009 for a period of 5 years. The programme is funded by the EDF (European Development Fund) and will again be managed by COLEACP, the association for ACP (African-Caribbean-Pacific) exporters and EU importers of horticultural produce. This statement outlines the principles that underline and orientate this new phase.

  1. Towards zero pesticide residues: PIP (COLEACP) is mindful of the high stakes at play in terms of the environment and human health. Crop Production Guides to Good Practice will promote measures that are technically and economically feasible for ACP producers, and that enable the supply of fruit and vegetables with minimal pesticide residues.
  2. ACP fruit and vegetables responding to the concerns of European consumers. Besides food safety, the questions of environmental protection, sustainable development and ethical trade are becoming the most pressing consumer concerns. In the same way that it tackles food safety, PIP will address these new issues in order to help ACP suppliers take the appropriate and necessary action.
  3. Raising awareness and influencing policy. PIP will lobby policy makers to ensure that the impact of their decisions on ACP players, and on achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), can be taken into account. This includes public sector (e.g. EC legislators) and private sector players (e.g. retailers), as well as NGOs.
  4. Facilitating trade to support smallholder farmers. European supermarkets are increasingly aware of their roles and responsibilities in promoting sustainable development and poverty alleviation. PIP (COLEACP) will strive to keep small-scale growers at the heart of ACP horticultural supply chains. This means reducing technical and economic barriers that have surfaced in recent years (and make unreasonable demands on resources), as well as helping producers and exporters to overcome them. With appropriate technical assistance, small-scale producers can supply high quality and safe fruit and vegetables that conform to the requirements of the European market.
  5. Contributing to sustainable and safe food for local markets. The considerable progress made in improving production for export should also benefit and be a factor in the modernisation of horticulture producing for the ACP market. To this end PIP (COLEACP) will compile new production guides for use by support programmes to improve production and distribution for the local market. Again the place of small-scale growers will be at the centre of our activities.
  6. Developing FairTrade: a means of saving socially important but threatened supply chains. Faced with increasing production costs due to the combined demands of supermarkets and new legislation, PIP will develop Fair Trade supply chains in the fruit and vegetable sector (French beans, pineapple, mango, avocado,…). Collaboration with the key players in fair trade will be fundamental.
  7. Private sector contributing to the Millennium Development Goals. Through the activities of PIP, COLEACP will encourage and support its members, as well as other private sector players (e.g. retailers), to ensure that the horticultural trade contributes to the achievement of the MDGs: poverty alleviation, food security, and environmental protection.