economic development that great success can be
achieved from humble beginnings. This is achieved
through the systematic institutionalization of resourcebased cooperatives to produce nutritious food, ?ber,
medicinal and other commodities, followed by the Agroprocessing bene?ciation of raw materials into
consumables for communities. It all starts with effective
food production subsistence, the base for any sustainable
healthy local economic development and growth,” says
Thierry-Alban.
NOPI applies a value-chain clustering approach to
empower smallholders to gain access to land, resources,
relevant technologies, training, education and skill
transfer opportunities, as well as the prospect of improved
health and wealth creation.
The National Organic Produce Initiative (NOPI) program-brainchild of whole team assembled since the WSSD
2002 --has partnership with two dynamic cooperatives to
foster a collective pursuit to improve the way of life of all
South Africans in a fast-changing world facing the
adverse effects of climate change and consequent food
shortages, as well as economic decline, unemployment
and entrenched poverty for many citizens.
My Planet My Choice is a COP 17 legacy project
designed to mobilize and skill communities, in
collaboration with municipalities, in Organic
Production and Agro-ecology Practices.
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The Consortium of Climate Smart Solutions, which
operates in the 'green and clean' municipal space is
representative of the necessity for municipalities to
access inner-city, urban and rural sustainable
agricultural programs. It is also the opportunity for
Municipalities to get acquainted with sectors such as
Infrastructure, mobility, eco-construction, water and
energy. NOPI employs the CCSS professional team on
strategies, policies, Measurable Reportable, Veri?able
(MRV's) systems, training, and project management to
facilitate Municipal partnerships with communities.
NOPI's agenda comprises the development of local
markets, micro-enterprises in catering, restaurants,
and food festivals, while My Planet My Choice
manages a network of partnerships that share
solutions with the NOPI program.
The Skills Village advocates a special approach to
enterprise creation and the mobilization of groups of
people around community-based events. As such, NOPI
partners with the Skills Village in staging productspeci?c festivals including cotton, citrus, Nguni Cattle,
sugar and poultry, created by Organic Production and
Agro-ecology Practices (OPAP) to encourage persistent
learning to accelerate change and transformation. A
process that is called: Transmorphosis. The African
Agro-ecology Agriculture Alliance (AAAA) in conjunction
with NOPI, takes care of entire African regions in
delivering a reciprocal networking platform, as well as
representing Africa in world forums.
CORPORATE SOCIAL REVIEW