KIOF is an NGO operating through Kenya and the Eastern Africa region.  The Institute’s vision is to achieve communities that are empowered with the skills and knowledge of organic farming to support sustainable rural livelihoods.  KIOF promotes organic agriculture with a focus on youth, women, and self-help farming groups by training smallholder farmers in organic farming methods using locally available resources.  Its techniques involve choice of crop, composting, planting systems, crop storage, animal husbandry, crop protection and soil conservation.

MHAC is a non-profit program aimed at increasing food security in Kenya by educating farmers in sustainable and organic farming techniques.  The Centre provides a two-year course in GROW BIOINTENSIVE, a low-cost agricultural technology suited to smallscale farmers.  It emphasizes compositing to improve soil fertility, mulching, biological controls to manage pests, and increasing productivity by improved spacing.  In addition to the training program, MHAC has developed mini-training centres in villages to provide information to women’s groups and farmers.

NOGAMU’s mission is to coordinate and promote organic agricultural development, networking and marketing in order to reduce poverty of the rural poor in Uganda.  It is an umbrella organisation which unites producers, processors, exporters, NGOs, and other organisations involved with the organic sector in Uganda.  NOGAMU provides services such as marketing, training, lobbying and advocacy, and promotion of certification and standards. 

PELUM is a network of non governmental organisations working with small-scale farmers in east, central, and southern Africa.  It has 210 member organisations in 10 different countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, South Africa, Lesotho and Botswana). The Association is working towards sustainable local community empowerment, food security and prosperity.  It strives to accomplish this by promoting ecological land use practices, seed security, and the consumption of indigenous foods. 

RIFR is a branch of the federal agricultural research organization of Iran.  The Institute has ten research divisions: Botany, Forest, Wood Science and Forest Products, Rangelands, Desert, Medicinal Plants and By-products, Natural Research Mechanization, Poplar and Fast Growing Trees, Biotechnology and Conservation and Protection of Forest and Rangeland.  RIFR conducts studies for the identification, conservation, restoration, exploitation and sustainable use of forest, rangelands and deserts and their products. 

SEKEM is an Egyptian Initiative that works on sustainable development both locally and regionally through various institutions including those in organic agriculture research and development.  Among the products that SEKEM produces are organic food and natural pharmaceuticals made from biodynamic farming.  Within SEKEM, the Egyptian Biodynamic Association (EBDA) provides biodynamic research and extension services to farmers in Egypt.  Specific areas of research include plant nutrition, plant protection, post harvest conditions, and seed quality.

SFRI’s goal is for the sustainable use of soil and water to promote soil health.  It aims to accomplish this goal by researching measures to combat soil erosion and improve the fertility of agricultural soils.  Specifically, studies examine soil moisture conservation, the relationship between rainfall and runoff, and the effects of macro-and micro-nutrients on agricultural production.

TOAM is the registered association of organic producers in Tanzania.  Its mission is to coordinate and facilitate stakeholders’ initiatives in tapping the potential of organic agriculture to improve livelihoods.  It provides organic producers with information, facilitates market linkages, and creates awareness on organic standards and technical back-stopping.

The University of Agriculture, Abeokuta aims to promote agricultural education and services for agricultural development and attainment of self-sufficiency in food and fibre. The University has established a Working Group on organic agriculture that undertakes research and capacity building in organic agriculture. Current research projects study the effects of compost and soil fertility-building schemes, as well as the effect of crop rotation schemes on the severity of pests and diseases. Information about these research endeavours is not currently available on the University webpage

VEERU is a research and training centre in veterinary epidemiology and livestock economics.  The Organic Livestock Research Group (OLRG) within VEERU carries out research to identify animal health and welfare constraints and research needs within organic livestock production.  Current studies focus on milk production characteristics and fertility in organic dairy cows.  Also, OLRG coordinated an EU-funded action project, Network for Animal Health and Welfare in Organic Agriculture (NAHWOA).