On 20 November 2025, representatives from Agriterra and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Livestock of Senegal gathered at the Residence of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Dakar for a moment of significance. In the presence of farmer organisations, Dutch agribusinesses, and key development partners, both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that sets a shared course for the next five years(2026–2030).
The MoU was signed by Jasper Spikker, CEO of Agriterra, and Dr. Mabouba Diagne, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Livestock of Senegal. Their signatures reflect a renewed commitment to strengthening farmer organisations as catalysts for local prosperity and resilient rural communities.
A strengthened foundation for collaboration
For many years, Senegal and the Netherlands have worked closely to advance agricultural development. This new MoU deepens that collaboration by bringing together Agriterra’s cooperative expertise and Senegal’s ambition to modernise its agricultural sector.
The cornerstone of this agreement is a shared belief: farmer organisations are crucial drivers of transformation when they are strong, transparent, and well-supported.
The government’s Coopérative Agricole Communautaire (CAC) program recognises this potential, and through the MoU, Agriterra will continue to support CAC Diender. The model is being piloted to showcase what organized farmers can achieve together in the future. Together, we aim to build a scalable example that can inspire cooperatives across the country.
A response to real challenges
Despite its vast potential, Senegal’s agricultural sector continues to face key challenges:
- Limited access to quality inputs and finance
- Gaps in storage, processing, and market infrastructure
- Weak market connections and bargaining power
- Limited opportunities for youth and women
The partnership between Agriterra and the Ministry is designed to address these challenges practically and sustainably. By combining local knowledge with international expertise, both parties will work to strengthen cooperative structures, improve services to members, and enhance opportunities for value creation across the sector.
Expected results over the MoU period (2026 - 2030)
Over the coming five years, the collaboration will focus on:
- Strengthening 15 cooperatives, including CAC Diender
- Improving governance, financial management, and operational transparency
- Enhancing market access, value addition, and member services
- Expanding opportunities for youth and women within cooperatives
- Supporting policy environments that enable cooperative growth
Every action, every training, and every exchange visit serves the same purpose: empowering farmer organisations to become engines of local prosperity.
As Jasper Spikker shared during the ceremony:
“The success of the cooperative movement in the Netherlands stands as a powerful example for the CAC program and other farmer cooperatives. It shows that their active contribution is vital to achieving Senegal’s ambition for food sovereignty.”
And Minister Diagne echoed this spirit of shared responsibility:
“Let us work towards a true win-win partnership. By modernizing agriculture and investing in agro-industrial infrastructure, we can help Senegal move decisively toward food sovereignty.”
Looking ahead
The MoU lays the foundation for five years of focused collaboration, bringing together capacity-building workshops, exchange visits with Dutch agribusiness experts, coordinated planning to position CAC Diender as a national reference model, and engagement with new partners to expand the coalition for impact. Through these efforts, Agriterra continues to uphold its commitment to empowering farmer organisations and partnering up to strengthen local prosperity, sowing the seeds of change together for a thriving Senegal tomorrow.
