The One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative in Africa aims to build more sustainable food value chain systems, support family and smallholder farmers to be profitable and improve their livelihoods, minimize the use of chemical inputs and natural resources, reduce food loss and waste, and limit the negative impacts on the environment. It does this through green value chain development for Special Agriculture Products (SAPs), from green production to storage, processing and marketing.

OCOP is an opportunity for African countries to revisit or revamp value chains of important local agriculture products, in collaboration with FAO and other partners, to reap the rewards.

The OCOP initiative coincides with a growing need to diversify agricultural products to meet global consumption needs, and as climate change threatens productivity levels. It recognises that these challenges can be mitigated or overcome through innovation and collaboration.

OCOP also provides a platform for countries to learn from each other so that no one is left behind.

All African FAO Members are encouraged to join the initiative. It is country-owned and country-led.

With the commitment of governments, African countries can become key contributors to regional and international markets for their agriculture products, and drive progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, including ending poverty and hunger and reducing inequalities.