{"id":451331,"date":"2026-07-22T15:09:03","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T14:09:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/no-category\/eco-farm-la-bonne-semence-winner-of-dragons-den-benin\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T15:21:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T14:21:33","slug":"eco-farm-la-bonne-semence-winner-of-dragons-den-benin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/news\/eco-farm-la-bonne-semence-winner-of-dragons-den-benin\/","title":{"rendered":"Eco-farm La Bonne Semence winner of entrepreneurial competition Benin"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p>On June 2 and 3, 2026, IUCN NL, in collaboration with ECO-BENIN and others, organized a competition between four eco-startups from the Mono Reserve in Benin.<br><br>The Concours des Entrepreneurs consisted of four participants who competed for two days for a grand prize of CFA 1,500,000 \u2013 approximately \u20ac2,300 \u2013 to support the further growth of their sustainable enterprises.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"background background-preset-primary\" id=\"block_471d35b751a1c17bfd815163cd2d186a\">\n             <div class=\"dark custom-padding-top\">\n    \n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">GC Energie Solaire<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\"><p class=\"cookiebanner_video_embed\" id=\"obmvwwo7i3pw36jk\"> In order to view this movie you have to accept &#8216;Social media and advertising&#8217; cookies. Click <a class=\"open-cookie-settings\">here<\/a> to change your cookie settings.  <script>if(!window.dgmCookieVideoBlocks) { window.dgmCookieVideoBlocks=[]; } window.dgmCookieVideoBlocks.push({ content: \"<figure class='wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio'><div class='wp-block-embed__wrapper'><iframe title='Introducing GC Energie Solaire | Concours des Entrepreneurs 2026 - Benin' width='500' height='281' data-src='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Yr3PwP4UCC8?feature=oembed' frameborder='0' allow='accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share' referrerpolicy='strict-origin-when-cross-origin' allowfullscreen src='data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==' class='lazyload' data-load-mode='1'><\/iframe><\/div><\/figure>\", id: \"obmvwwo7i3pw36jk\" });<\/script> <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p>Crespin Gb\u00e9nou, director of GC Energie Solaire, employs local youth to install and maintain solar panels and pumps, among other things.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">BioRiche<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\"><p class=\"cookiebanner_video_embed\" id=\"ibhri9sqfygyw2u8\"> In order to view this movie you have to accept &#8216;Social media and advertising&#8217; cookies. Click <a class=\"open-cookie-settings\">here<\/a> to change your cookie settings.  <script>if(!window.dgmCookieVideoBlocks) { window.dgmCookieVideoBlocks=[]; } window.dgmCookieVideoBlocks.push({ content: \"<figure class='wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio'><div class='wp-block-embed__wrapper'>https:\/\/youtu.be\/Yd0mJ_jLA_U<\/div><\/figure>\", id: \"ibhri9sqfygyw2u8\" });<\/script> <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p>Hyacinthe Boco started BioRiche, a company that transforms washed-up seaweed into biological pesticide.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"background background-preset-primary\" id=\"block_471d35b751a1c17bfd815163cd2d186a\">\n             <div class=\"dark custom-padding-top\">\n    \n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">La Bonne Semence<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\"><p class=\"cookiebanner_video_embed\" id=\"vzcoe9qqbn7khean\"> In order to view this movie you have to accept &#8216;Social media and advertising&#8217; cookies. Click <a class=\"open-cookie-settings\">here<\/a> to change your cookie settings.  <script>if(!window.dgmCookieVideoBlocks) { window.dgmCookieVideoBlocks=[]; } window.dgmCookieVideoBlocks.push({ content: \"<figure class='wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio'><div class='wp-block-embed__wrapper'><iframe title='Introducing La Bonne Semence | Concours des Entrepreneurs 2026 - Benin' width='500' height='281' data-src='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-dl1gs4r7bI?feature=oembed' frameborder='0' allow='accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share' referrerpolicy='strict-origin-when-cross-origin' allowfullscreen src='data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==' class='lazyload' data-load-mode='1'><\/iframe><\/div><\/figure>\", id: \"vzcoe9qqbn7khean\" });<\/script> <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p>Karen Agbadja pitched at the Concours on behalf of her father Patriege Agbadja, the founder of Eco-farm and residence La Bonne Semence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">CC Miel<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\"><p class=\"cookiebanner_video_embed\" id=\"lqt0canbc1yo6sap\"> In order to view this movie you have to accept &#8216;Social media and advertising&#8217; cookies. Click <a class=\"open-cookie-settings\">here<\/a> to change your cookie settings.  <script>if(!window.dgmCookieVideoBlocks) { window.dgmCookieVideoBlocks=[]; } window.dgmCookieVideoBlocks.push({ content: \"<figure class='wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio'><div class='wp-block-embed__wrapper'><iframe title='Introducing CC Miel | Concours des Entrepreneurs 2026 - Benin' width='500' height='281' data-src='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zPZnBP3r99o?feature=oembed' frameborder='0' allow='accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share' referrerpolicy='strict-origin-when-cross-origin' allowfullscreen src='data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==' class='lazyload' data-load-mode='1'><\/iframe><\/div><\/figure>\", id: \"lqt0canbc1yo6sap\" });<\/script> <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p>Paulin Zabo, Chair of the Supervisory Board, introduces CC Miel, a cooperative of beekeepers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Het Concours des Entrepreneurs<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\"><p class=\"cookiebanner_video_embed\" id=\"reb1t0hj4982pura\"> In order to view this movie you have to accept &#8216;Social media and advertising&#8217; cookies. Click <a class=\"open-cookie-settings\">here<\/a> to change your cookie settings.  <script>if(!window.dgmCookieVideoBlocks) { window.dgmCookieVideoBlocks=[]; } window.dgmCookieVideoBlocks.push({ content: \"<figure class='wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio'><div class='wp-block-embed__wrapper'><iframe title='Concours des Entrepreneurs | Grand Popo, Benin' width='500' height='281' data-src='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YA-HIdYtN5A?feature=oembed' frameborder='0' allow='accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share' referrerpolicy='strict-origin-when-cross-origin' allowfullscreen src='data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==' class='lazyload' data-load-mode='1'><\/iframe><\/div><\/figure>\", id: \"reb1t0hj4982pura\" });<\/script> <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p>On day one, the entrepreneurs received training on completing a business canvas to map out and refine their business operations. On day two, the pitches took place before a five-member jury of experts, national and regional press, and an audience present, including three local mayors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p>Karin Agbadja from La Bonne Semence, the youngest participant and the only woman, is initially very nervous and walks off the stage during the practice. She spends the rest of the evening and part of the night practicing her pitch. \r\n\r\nThe next day, in front of the entire audience and a very proud father, she finally manages to secure first prize.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br>IUCN NL project in Benin<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p>The Councours de Entrepreneurs is organized as part of the long-term project AGeReB: Sustainable management and financing of the Mono Biosphere Reserve in Benin.<br><br>For more information about this project and all activities, please visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/project\/sustainable-management-and-financing-of-the-mono-biosphere-reserve-in-benin\/\">project page.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On June 2 and 3, 2026, IUCN NL, in collaboration with ECO-BENIN and others, organized a competition between four eco-startups from the Mono Reserve in Benin. The Concours des Entrepreneurs consisted of four participants who competed for two days for a grand prize of CFA 1,500,000 \u2013 approximately \u20ac2,300 \u2013 to support the further growth [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":449838,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[375,376],"class_list":["post-451331","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-agereb","tag-mono-delta-benin"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/451331","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=451331"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/451331\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":451340,"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/451331\/revisions\/451340"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/449838"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=451331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=451331"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=451331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}