Successes and challenges in tackling constraints in soybean processing through multi-stakeholder innovation platforms in Agricultural Research for Development: an evidence from the Consortium Soja du Bénin

This paper examines the role of the Consortium Soja du Bénin (CSB) in addressing constraints related to soybean value chains in Benin. The methodology applied consisted of desk research, observation, focus group discussions with two soy women cooperatives, field visits, interview with the consortium members and an evaluation workshop with 13 partners involved in the ‘Project Soy Afitin and Milk’-ProSAM (with financial support from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development through the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)/Platform for African-European Partnerships for Agricultural Research for Development (PAEPARD)”. The CSB is a dynamic multi-stakeholder innovation platform initiated in 2011 to improve soybean value chains in Benin. This paper focused on ProSAM implementation, one of the CSB projects, which aims to increase household income through improved food chain of soybean derived products (milk and afitin). The improved soy milk shelf life from one day to six months and the formulation of a soybean-based taste enhancer, ‘Dadonu’, are two results from the collaboration among CSB partners. The commitment of each partner to participate in the innovation and knowledge co-creation process, the good co-ordination mechanism, the internal facilitation, the effective internal and external communication contributed to these achievements and to the overall successful implementation of the project. Furthermore, the dynamic nature of the consortium, especially in identifying strategic partners to develop projects has yielded significant outputs considering the size of resources mobilized for the implementation of other projects. Other multi-stakeholder platforms can capitalize on these experiences to effectively generate innovations and efficiently tackle constraints in the agricultural sector

Successes and challenges in tackling constraints in soybean processing through multi-stakeholder innovation platforms in Agricultural Research for Development: an evidence from the Consortium Soja du Bénin

This paper examines the role of the Consortium Soja du Bénin (CSB) in addressing constraints related to soybean value chains in Benin. The methodology applied consisted of desk research, observation, focus group discussions with two soy women cooperatives, field visits, interview with the consortium members and an evaluation workshop with 13 partners involved in the ‘Project Soy Afitin and Milk’-ProSAM (with financial support from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development through the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)/Platform for African-European Partnerships for Agricultural Research for Development (PAEPARD)”. The CSB is a dynamic multi-stakeholder innovation platform initiated in 2011 to improve soybean value chains in Benin. This paper focused on ProSAM implementation, one of the CSB projects, which aims to increase household income through improved food chain of soybean derived products (milk and afitin). The improved soy milk shelf life from one day to six months and the formulation of a soybean-based taste enhancer, ‘Dadonu’, are two results from the collaboration among CSB partners. The commitment of each partner to participate in the innovation and knowledge co-creation process, the good co-ordination mechanism, the internal facilitation, the effective internal and external communication contributed to these achievements and to the overall successful implementation of the project. Furthermore, the dynamic nature of the consortium, especially in identifying strategic partners to develop projects has yielded significant outputs considering the size of resources mobilized for the implementation of other projects. Other multi-stakeholder platforms can capitalize on these experiences to effectively generate innovations and efficiently tackle constraints in the agricultural sector

A Joint Meeting of the EUCARPIA Section, Organic and Low-Input Agriculture, ECO-PB, LIVESEED, INSUSFAR, DIVERSify, HealthyMinorCereals, ReMIX, and Wheatamix University of Kassel, 19th–21st February 2018, Witzenhausen, Germany ; Abstract Booklet

This Symposium was financially supported by EUCARPIA and organised in collaboration with ECO-PB