Issues and projects

The issues that drive our work

Food systems are at the heart of some of the most pressing issues of our times. They are both culprit and victim of the inter-related challenges of climate change and inequality. In the same way, food systems are part of the solution, too.

Rikolto joins forces with different stakeholders to tackle the burning issues related to our food systems, and accelerate food system change to benefit our planet and its people.

Dive into our projects

With a team of over 60 colleagues, we work in 4 countries in East Africa (Tanzania, DR Congo, Uganda and Rwanda). Browse our projects to discover the solutions we co-create to transform our food system.

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Good Food for Cities

Afrifoodlinks working on food safety and waste management in Mbale City

Mbale’s food environment has its own challenges. With one of the biggest central markets of the country, it lacks a good governance structure and suffers from infrastructural problems. Food supply in Mbale is known to surpass food demand, but also producing a lot of (biodegradable) waste. The Afrifood project in Mbale aims to tackle those challenges and transform the city’s urban food environment.

Updated on:

July 25, 2024

Good Food for Cities

Resilient communities and safeguarded livelihoods in the face of climate and health hazards

Farmers in northern Tanzania are now changing their farming practices to make the community at large more resilient to climate change and covid-19.

Updated on:

July 25, 2024

Sustainable cocoa and coffee

Change Brewing - carbon low coffee being produced in Uganda

As is already the case in other countries in the region, the coffee-cocoa programme is also taking of in Uganda. With activities in Greater Masaka, and in collaboration with Export Trading Group (ETG), Rikolto is promoting sustainable and low carbon coffee production in the region.

Updated on:

July 19, 2024

Good Food for Cities

Kungahara project to boost the production and consumption of healthy, sustainable, and nutritious food in Rwanda

Kungahara is a 3-year project (2024 – 2026) funded by the European Union and implemented by Rikolto in partnership with Kilimo Trust Rwanda and Rwanda Consumer's Rights Protection Organization (ADECOR) to boost the production and consumption of healthy, sustainable, and nutritious food to enhance nutrition security and local food system resilience in the region.

Updated on:

July 25, 2024

Good Food for Cities

Inclusive & future-proof vegetable and fruit businesses in Tanzania’s Southern Highlands

Building an inclusive and competitive fruit and vegetable sector in Tanzania that supports farmers and contributes to job creation and food and nutrition security.

Updated on:

July 25, 2024

Sustainable rice

The white egret: an icon of local rice development in the DRC

Thanks to government cooperation, World Bank funding and the implementation of the PICAGL programme, new dynamics are emerging in the rice value chain in South Kivu and Tanganyika in DRCongo. Increased productivity, sustainable production and high-quality local rice are creating new business opportunities for farmers and young people.

Updated on:

July 19, 2024

Good Food for Cities

Generation Food goes international

A young community of innovators wants to give their peers a sustainable future through inclusive businesses in food systems.

Updated on:

July 25, 2024

Good Food for Cities

Good food for the Green City in Tanzania

Mbeya, the biggest urban centre in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania, faces several challenges in providing safe and nutritious food to its citizens. Discover the bountiful harvest of an innovative and collaborative effort to address those issues.

Updated on:

July 25, 2024

Good Food for Cities

Sustainable water management for resilient communities in rural Tanzania

Despite having an ideal climate and soil for agriculture, farmers in the Meru and Rungwe districts of Tanzania are struggling to realise their potential due to the effects of climate change, water scarcity, and socio-economic factors. Don't miss out on this inspiring project of resilience and innovation.

Updated on:

July 25, 2024

Sustainable rice

Fostering sustainable rice production through climate finance

Funded by the Government of Flander (G-STIC Climate Action programme), the project was co-developed with Ecosystem Equity (formerly Greenfi) and is also implemented in partnership with TARI-Ifakara. It aims at making climate finance more accessible to support the transition of smallholder rice farmers from conventional to sustainable rice production practices.

Updated on:

July 19, 2024

Good Food for Cities

Tanzanian hortipreneurs: a new generation

Supporting youth- and women-led businesses to improve inclusion in the food system.

Updated on:

July 25, 2024

Good Food for Cities

Constructing Kampala’s pathway to becoming a Food Smart City

Building Kampala's future as a sustainable and inclusive food system

Updated on:

July 25, 2024

Sustainable rice

Congolese rice farmers conquer the local market

Eight rice cooperatives in the Ruzizi valley join forces and win the hearts of beer and rice fans.

Updated on:

July 19, 2024

Good Food for Cities

Good Food for the city of Arusha

Together with the city council, Rikolto will support initiatives to increase food safety in grains and horticulture sectors, leading to better market opportunities for the farmers and healthier food for the people in and around Arusha.

Updated on:

July 25, 2024

Sustainable rice

Strengthening rice sector climate adaptation and mitigation in Uganda

Encouraging sustainable rice production in Eastern and Northern Uganda

Updated on:

July 19, 2024

Sustainable cocoa and coffee

Speciality coffee from Kivu and Ituri, DRC

Small-scale coffee farmers prepare to export high quality organic Arabica coffee.

Updated on:

July 19, 2024

Sustainable rice

Transforming Northern Uganda into a regional food basket

Empowering smallholder farmers of rice, cassava and soybean to transform Northern Uganda into a food basket for Uganda and its neighbouring countries.

Updated on:

July 19, 2024

Good Food for Cities

Inclusive Business in the Tanzania Pulses Sector

Rikolto will support traders and exporters to explore new ways of doing business with organisations of smallholder farmers. A better market position of these farmer organisations is the end goal.

Updated on:

July 25, 2024

Sustainable rice

East Africa Food Trade project

Smallholders produce around 80-90% of maize, rice and other staples in East Africa, many are net buyers of staples, with less than a third selling their produce. Through the establishment of Village Stores, organising collective sales and other initiatives, market access of the farmers improved significantly.

Updated on:

July 19, 2024

Good Food for Cities

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables in Arumeru, Tanzania

High Value Crops: the perfect tool to fight poverty

Updated on:

July 25, 2024

Good Food for Cities

Generation Food: Youth as innovators of Uganda's food systems

Changing an unsustainable and exclusive food system into an innovative, sustainable and inclusive one driven by youth to build a strong and resilient Mbale and Gulu.

Updated on:

July 25, 2024

Good Food for Cities

Wanted: Food for the Future

A unique project in which the Belgian Province of Flemish Brabant, Rikolto, retailer Colruyt Group and the University of Leuven together with young people, experts, farmers, etc. look for ways to feed the growing global population in a sustainable way.

Updated on:

July 25, 2024

Good Food for Cities

Uganda and Tanzania transforming the horticulture sector through inclusive business models

Horticulture is one of the few opportunities for small scale farmers to find a route out of poverty, Rikolto currently is working in Uganda and Tanzania with over 3,000 horticulture farmers to support inclusive business development to unveil their potential to transform the sector towards sustainability.

Updated on:

July 25, 2024

Sustainable rice

Sustainability as the key to strong and competitive rice markets in Tanzania and Uganda

Significant business opportunities remain for rice farmers. Future investments must enable smallholder farmers and processors to build their businesses in a sustainable way and to acquire new skills.

Updated on:

July 19, 2024

Sustainable rice

Rice farmers in Iringa step up their climate smart agriculture game

Climate change is a challenge for farmers around the world. This is no different for rice farmers in Iringa, Tanzania. Climate smart agriculture is the future; it is sustainable and profitable.

Updated on:

July 19, 2024