In April 2026, IDC is working on exciting projects:

1) Spirulina is being hyped as a superfood. The global market for spirulina is expected to grow to $1 billion by 2030. However, global production of 15,000 to 20,000 tonnes of dried spirulina is highly concentrated and dominated by a few large plants in China. Less well known is that 2,000 to 4,000 tonnes of spirulina are harvested annually in Chad from wild collections around Lake Chad, which have been an important dietary supplement for local ethnic groups for centuries due to their high protein content. IDC supports GIZ and the EU in promoting the spirulina value chain with a value chain study and the preparation of Development Partnerships with the Private sector (DPP). Similar measures concern the cereal flour value chain.

2) In the week April 13-17, the GIZ SASI programme offered its first SASI training course in French. IDC co-moderated the seminar in Grand Bassam (close to Abidjan) which was much appreciated by the participants.

3) We are preparing a ValueLinks seminar in Garoua, Cameroun, for the regional GIZ PETRADEC project. The seminar will take place May 18-22.

4) In Southeast Asia, IDC, together with ECO Consult, supports the project Protection and Sustainable Use of Forest Ecosystems and Biodiversity (ProFEB) in Laos. A ValueLinks seminar is planned in Vientiane for the week June 8-12.

5) ValueLinks 2.0 Training Seminars with registration opportunities for participants will be organised by IDC in Germany and other countries and announced here on the website. This also applies to our traditional annual seminar in Oestrich-Winkel organised first in 2008.