The Italian Trade Agency (ITA) has organised an interactive skills development programme for businesses and entrepreneurs within Africa’s agri-food value chain under a structured initiative dubbed Lab Innova for Africa.

The capacity-building programme is designed to support the scaling of African agro-exports to the European market.

The week-long training brought together selected African agribusiness owners for an intensive, high-impact programme aimed at equipping participants with the technical, managerial and market-access skills required to compete successfully within the European Union (EU).

Lab Innova is a specialised training programme for Africa’s agri-food sector, promoted by ITA in close collaboration with key Italian partners, including Macfrut—one of Europe’s leading agri-food trade fairs.

In an interview, ITA’s Accra Director, Mr Luigi Puca, explained that the training sought to familiarise participants with specific export requirements necessary for trading within the European market.

“Through these trainings, we update African countries on Italy’s economic policies and legal frameworks to enhance their competitiveness and readiness for international trade. It is also a win-win situation because, through information exchange, our small and medium enterprises grow together with their African counterparts,” Mr Puca said.

Broadly, the initiative aims to strengthen the technical and managerial capacity of African agri-food companies by equipping them with the skills and operational knowledge needed to meet EU standards.

This is expected to facilitate improved access to European markets and foster mutually beneficial partnerships with Italian firms.

Participants undertook intensive courses covering business management, negotiation, international marketing, food safety regulations, logistics, packaging solutions and environmental sustainability.

The sessions were facilitated by ITA experts with specialist knowledge in the selected areas.

Mr Puca further noted that the training provided an opportunity to showcase market-leading innovations and update participants on specific food safety protocols relevant to agribusinesses and stakeholders within the agro-export value chain.

“We have a framework of regulations and laws that must be understood by foreign companies and producers. With this training, we are not only focusing on the technical or marketing aspects, but also addressing the legal framework that underpins international trade,” he added.

Beyond skills development, Lab Innova serves as a platform for technology transfer and innovation, drawing inspiration from Italy’s successful agri-food district model.

These districts—clusters of interconnected producers, processors, technology providers and research institutions—have played a central role in Italy’s global competitiveness in agri-food exports.

The training comes at a critical time, given the EU’s stringent requirements regarding food safety, quality standards, packaging, traceability and sustainability. It therefore equips local agribusinesses with the knowledge and strategies necessary to access the European market.

Training coordinator, Mr Uberto Trulli, described Lab Innova as a forward-looking and mutually beneficial initiative that will enhance the technical and trade capacity of actors within Africa’s agri-food export space.

“This collaboration seeks to enhance exposure and global competitiveness for African agribusinesses. The main objective of this project is to provide technical tools and assistance to African agri-food businesses and to create bonds and interaction with Italian companies,” he stated.

According to him, the initiative represents a win-win relationship, as the Italian market’s high demand for tropical fruits can be met by African producers, while African entrepreneurs can adopt Italian agri-food technologies, irrigation systems and production tools.

A participant and President of the Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana, who also serves as Vice-President of the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters, Dr Felix Kamassah, described the programme as highly impactful and insightful.

“The European market is entirely different, and I am excited because Lab Innova provides the opportunity for agribusinesses and entrepreneurs within Africa’s agro-export value chain to access and thrive in this competitive environment,” he said.

He added that he had gained practical knowledge about European market demand and how to identify existing gaps and opportunities as an exporter, including a deeper understanding of product branding and packaging requirements.

This year’s Lab Innova programme will culminate in a five-day study tour at the Macfrut exhibition in Rimini, Italy. The tour will include a guided visit to the exhibition, company site visits, business-to-business meetings and networking sessions.

The initiative was organised in partnership with local business associations and state institutions, including the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE), and the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG).

The Italian Trade Agency is the official government body responsible for promoting the trade interests of Italian businesses worldwide and attracting foreign investment into Italy, with a strong focus on agribusiness, manufacturing and technology transfer.

It serves as a bridge between Italy and global markets, leading trade, investment and cooperation initiatives.