Our Inspiring Story

The Vignola meeting of 2008, in Italy, held alongside the IFOAM Organic Agriculture General Assembly, witnessed a groundbreaking commitment from organic agriculture actors representing African. This assembly of stakeholders fervently supported the establishment of AfrONet, a dedicated organization for advancing organic farming in Africa. Their collective vision and dedication marked a turning point, symbolizing a shared commitment to sustainable agriculture on the continent. The Vignola meeting laid the foundation for AfrONet, highlighting the collaborative spirit and determination driving the transformative journey toward organic practices in African agriculture. In 2009, at the African Organic Agriculture Conference in Kampala, Uganda, the necessity for an umbrella body to oversee organic agriculture networking in Africa was reiterated by NOAM representatives. Fast forward to May 1st, 2012, during a pre-conference meeting at the second African Organic Conference in Lusaka, Zambia. Thirty-eight participants, representing 16 African countries, collectively resolved to formally establish AfrONet as an umbrella organization. This landmark decision garnered endorsement from a diverse assembly of 300 participants hailing from over 40 countries. The establishment of AfrONet was subsequently incorporated into the Lusaka Declaration on Mainstreaming Organic Agriculture into the African Development Agenda. AfrONet, as articulated in its founding constitution, is to function as a charitable not-for-profit organization. Its mandate is meticulously defined, aligning with the overarching objectives outlined in its constitutional framework. This deliberate approach ensures the organization's commitment to its mission and purpose in fostering growth and collaboration within the dominion of organic agriculture in the African context.