MaxiGrana: a collaborative innovation for a value added sesame seeds production chain in Burkina Faso Sesame seeds are produced in Burkina Faso by small farmers as one of their cash crops. Local middlemen, like the local partner in this project, Ets. Zoungrana et Frère, buy the seeds from the farmers and sell it to foreign companies abroad, like v.o.f. Harrie Goesten, the applicant in this project. The latter imports the sesame seeds into the Netherlands, have them cleaned and hulled by specialised companies, like the third partner in this project, J.C. Kremer Beheer B.V., and sells them all over the world. Sesame seeds from Burkina Faso appeared to contain between 15 to 20% impurities which makes transport cost relatively high. This is the reason why the 3 companies want to join forces in a joint venture to build and operate a state of the art sesame seed cleaning and hulling facility in Ouagadougou with the aim of exporting 99.9% pure and hulled sesame seeds to the rest of the world directly. To achieve this the project will also introduce new varieties and train 2,500 farmers in new cultivation techniques. The farmers concerned will be chosen in different provinces of Burkina Faso to minimise the risks of the usually very local droughts in the rainy season.This project will guarantee the farmers the possibility of selling sesame seeds at a fixed price and in large quantities. This will be the first time in Burkina Faso that an opportunity of this size exists.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)V.o.f. Harrie Goesten and Kremer Beheer B.V., both apply a CSR policy in their companies. Zoungrana has, as a traditional African trader, no such written policy, but does understand and applies the basics of the CSR idea. They are committed to maintain a higher sustainability level than what laws and regulations dictate. They are aware that they can play a role model and are committed to set an example in their industry with regard to employees, suppliers and clients. As certification is concerned, HACCP will be achieved and the quality management system will be ready for BRC, IFS or AIB at the end of the project.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsIn total 210 people will be employed of whom 17 medium- and high-level personnel. Two years after the project 340 people will be employed of whom 34 will be medium- and high-level. Wages are at least 15% above average. Thus, payment is always above the local minimum wage level. The joint venture will implement the same health and safety measures as Kremer has in its own facilities in the Netherlands. The physical inconveniences caused by dust, noise, resonance and tremors, toxic wastes and heavy work will be far less than usual in Burkina Faso industrial units. The consortium will be working according to the latest Dutch standards in this respect. The sesame seeds industry today uses transport bags of 80 kg, causing physical strain and overworking of operators and dockers. The consortium will introduce 50 and even 25 kg bags to avoid this.•	Innovation/Transfer of knowledgeA vast programme of knowledge transfer is foreseen on subjects such as new processing techniques, quality management and certification. The initiators and partners (e.g. GTZ or Oxfam Novib) will teach the farmers new agricultural practices with the aim of doubling the yields. Subjects include production and maintenance of good sowing seed stocks, agro forestry techniques, prevention of erosion and depletion of soil fertility. Furthermore, farmers are given the opportunity to join basic education classes in the evening hours for those who are not yet able to read and write.•	Chain effectsThe joint venture enters into long-term contracts with local transport companies, with local suppliers of soil canvasses and transport bags, with local suppliers of fertilizers and pesticides, and with local research institutes like INERA.The joint venture will contract 2,500 outgrowers united in 50 farmer groups, giving them long lasting contracts and a fair price. Contract farmers will benefit from the complete programme including: training, inputs and the possibility of basic education. Specialised institutes as GTZ will take care of the capacity building of farmer organisations.•	EnvironmentThe project has a positive impact on the environment. Good agricultural practices diminish the use of fertilizer and biocides, erosion and depletion of soil fertility will be minimised by introducing agro forestry techniques, low water using hulling techniques will be introduced and the maximum use of solar and other renewable power sources will be employed.•	Position of womenIn sesame production, in Burkina Faso, 70% of the farmers involved are female. This project will strengthen them by giving the assurance of a viable selling point for their production.Although the processing part of the chain is still dominated by men, the joint venture will endeavour to promote female employment there (also in the middle and higher segments) to at least 34% of the work force. Improving the sesame seeds exported from Burkina Faso into a 99.9% pure hulled and cleaned product for the international market by improvement of the husbandry techniques of the 2,500 farmers involved and installing a cleaning and hulling facility with at least a capacity of 1,500 tons per year.