Togolese women's cooperative wins international agroecology award

The Union des coopératives de femmes du canton de Yokélé (UCOFECY) has been awarded the 2026 Benoît Maria Public Prize for agroecology. Based in the Kloto region of Togo, the organization was recognized for its training center dedicated to promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Established in 2018 and led by President Avossé Abra Clémentine, UCOFECY comprises four cooperatives: Gbenodou, Akofa, Goto, and INGREED. The group engages in diverse activities including market gardening, soybean and ginger production, livestock, and the manufacturing of local oils and soaps.

The Benoît Maria Prize, established in 2022 by the NGO Agronomes et vétérinaires sans frontières (AVSF), is an international distinction awarded biennially to innovative peasant organizations in Africa and Latin America. The prize honors the memory of Benoît Maria, an agronomist assassinated in 2020 while defending indigenous and peasant rights.