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Faced with growing urbanization, land pressure and the effects of climate change, peri-urban market gardening plays a strategic role in the food supply of Ivorian cities. However, this sector remains faced with numerous challenges: soil degradation, intensive use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, marketing difficulties, post-harvest losses and even poor structuring of stakeholders.

It is in this context that the MARIGO – Peri-urban Agroecological Market Gardening project was launched in December 2020. Funded by the European Union and coordinated by ºÚÁÏÍø911, the project was implemented until June 2025 in the regions of Abidjan, Bouaké, Korhogo and Yamoussoukro.

The main objective was to promote the agroecological transition of peri-urban market gardening systems while sustainably strengthening the capacities of producers, researchers and stakeholders in the sector. To achieve this, the project relied on a large consortium bringing together ºÚÁÏÍø911, the École Supérieure d'Agronomie - Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (ESA-INP-HB), the Swiss Center for Scientific Research (CSRS), the Institute of Research and Development (IRD), the National Center for Agronomic Research (CNRA), several Ivorian universities, NGOs and agricultural support structures.

Beyond the scientific and technical results, MARIGO leaves a structuring legacy: shared knowledge, training tools, consolidated networks of actors and territorial dynamics capable of continuing the transformations undertaken towards more sustainable and resilient food systems. This final report reviews the main achievements of the project, its impacts and the perspectives opened up to sustainably support the agroecological transition in West Africa.

A participatory approach at the heart of the project

One of the specificities of the MARIGO project lies in its participatory approach. From the start, the project involved producers, professional agricultural organizations, public structures, NGOs, researchers and the private sector in defining needs and solutions to be tested.

This dynamic materialized through the creation of four multi-stakeholder platforms in the areas of intervention. These spaces for dialogue allowed the different stakeholders to share their experiences, discuss the constraints of the sector and co-construct solutions adapted to local realities.

Recognized by local and national authorities, these platforms now have a formal organization and autonomous operation which should allow exchanges and actions to continue beyond the duration of the project.

The project also organized several ideotyping workshops bringing together researchers, producers, traders, NGOs and institutions. These workshops made it possible to collectively imagine more resilient market gardening systems, capable of responding to the climatic, economic and health challenges facing the sector.

Understanding the realities of the Ivorian market gardening sector

For several years, the project teams carried out major diagnostic work in order to better understand the functioning of the market gardening sector in Côte d'Ivoire. The research focused on production systems, agricultural practices, soil quality, plant health, post-harvest losses as well as household consumption habits.

A large survey carried out among 5,000 households made it possible to identify a strong consumer demand for healthier and better-quality vegetables. These results confirmed the interest in developing more sustainable production methods that are better valued on the markets. The project also made it possible to draw up a precise inventory of agricultural practices in the market gardening areas studied. Researchers have highlighted a significant use of chemical pesticides and mineral fertilizers, with consequences on soil health, biodiversity and the health quality of production.

At the same time, several scientific studies have been carried out on pests and diseases affecting market garden crops. New species of pests, pollinators and natural auxiliaries have thus been identified and characterized, allowing a better understanding of the biological balances in Ivorian market gardening agroecosystems.

Testing agroecological solutions adapted to the territories

Beyond diagnostics, MARIGO has experimented with numerous agroecological innovations in the different areas of intervention of the project. The tests were carried out both on experimental stations and directly with producers in order to guarantee their adaptation to the realities on the ground.

Several techniques were thus evaluated: cultural associations, use of composts and biofertilizers, recycling of organic materials, physical protection of crops or even the use of plant extracts as alternatives to chemical pesticides.

Research conducted on soil health has made it possible to identify alternative organic fertilizers capable of sustainably improving the fertility of market gardening plots. The work also promoted the promotion of local knowledge and exchanges between producers and researchers around soil management practices.

The project also worked on post-harvest conservation technologies to reduce food losses. Innovative solutions based on physical treatments using light, bio-sourced extracts or conservation films of plant origin have been tested on several market garden products with promising results.

Train producers and strengthen skills

Strengthening the capacities of stakeholders constitutes one of the major achievements of the MARIGO project. More than 600 people were made aware of or trained in agroecological production techniques, including producers, agricultural technicians, students, entrepreneurs and trainers.

The project also made it possible to train 40 producers who became relays in their territories to disseminate agroecological practices to other farmers.

At ESA-INP-HB, training modules in agroecology have been developed in order to sustainably integrate these themes into agricultural courses. Continuing training was also organized for the benefit of farmer organizations, partner NGOs and public agricultural support structures.

The project finally encouraged digital innovation through a hackathon and the development of several prototypes of digital tools intended to support agroecological market gardening production.

Promote agroecological products and raise consumer awareness

To support the agroecological transition, MARIGO has also worked on the valorisation of products from sustainable practices. The project supported the creation of a participatory guarantee system and a local organic label, “Labelivoire SPG”, making it possible to better identify agroecological production among consumers.

This initiative aims to strengthen trust between producers and consumers while encouraging the reduction in the use of chemical pesticides in market gardening systems. The discussions carried out as part of the project showed that the recognition of product quality constitutes an important lever for accelerating the adoption of agroecological practices.

Increased visibility for agroecology

Throughout the project, MARIGO partners increased communication actions and dissemination of results. The project was presented at the International Agricultural Show (SIA) in Paris, the “Salon de l'Agriculture et des Ressources Animales” (SARA) in Abidjan as well as at several scientific and institutional events organized in Ivory Coast and West Africa.

Videos, policy briefs, regional workshops, agroecology days and educational materials have been produced in order to widely raise awareness among stakeholders in the sector and the general public about the challenges of sustainable agriculture.

The project has also developed a significant digital presence through its website and social networks, helping to strengthen the visibility of agroecological initiatives in Côte d'Ivoire.

A legacy for the future of Ivorian food systems

The official closure of the MARIGO project, organized in May 2025 during SARA, made it possible to present the main results obtained to institutions, technical partners, producers and civil society actors. On this occasion, the European Union delegation in Côte d'Ivoire praised the quality of the partnership and the importance of the results obtained to support the sustainable transformation of Ivorian food systems.

Beyond the scientific and technical results, MARIGO today leaves behind a reinforced network of actors, lasting training tools, innovations adapted to the territories and a collective dynamic around agroecology. The project partners now wish to continue this mobilization through new initiatives around soil health, biodiversity, food quality and the “One Health” approach.