Our values and member commitments

The full Code of Conduct

The summary above is for reading. The full Code below is what members agree to when they apply. It sets out the values and the members' commitments in detail.

The purpose, in full

The African Biologicals Alliance exists to advance a thriving, independent, African-owned biological inputs sector that supports agricultural resilience, innovation, environmental sustainability, food security and economic opportunity across the continent.

We work to strengthen the ability of African enterprises to develop, manufacture, register and commercialise safe, effective and scientifically credible biological agricultural inputs.

African Biologicals Alliance provides collective representation, sector intelligence, technical collaboration and capacity development, while advocating for fair, transparent and proportionate regulatory systems.

We believe Africa should have the knowledge, capacity and economic sovereignty to develop solutions suited to its own agricultural, ecological and social needs.

The values, in full

African Ownership, Agency and Independence

We believe African enterprises should have a meaningful opportunity to develop, own and benefit from the technologies, manufacturing capabilities and markets that serve the continent.

We champion independent African entrepreneurship, innovation, manufacturing and fair participation in agricultural value chains.

We are committed to protecting African Biologicals Alliance's independence from disproportionate influence by multinational corporations, dominant commercial interests and other parties whose objectives may conflict with the Alliance's mission.

Scientific Integrity and Credibility

We value sound science, credible evidence, professional competence and continuous learning.

We support rigorous but proportionate assessment of biological products, recognising their diversity and the need for regulatory approaches appropriate to their characteristics and risks.

We reject fabricated evidence, misleading claims and the misrepresentation of product performance, safety or regulatory status.

Environmental and Human Wellbeing

We believe agricultural innovation should contribute to healthier soils, biodiversity, environmental resilience and the protection of human and animal health.

We promote biological solutions as part of a broader transition towards more sustainable, regenerative and ecologically responsible agricultural systems.

We recognise that biological origin alone does not guarantee safety or efficacy. Products must be evaluated responsibly on their merits.

Fairness, Inclusion and Mutual Respect

We believe African innovators and enterprises, including emerging and smaller manufacturers, deserve fair opportunities to participate in markets, regulatory processes and sector decision-making.

We value constructive engagement, respectful disagreement, diversity of expertise and equitable participation.

We oppose bullying, intimidation, discrimination, exploitation and the deliberate exclusion of legitimate participants for improper commercial or personal advantage.

Collaboration Without Compromising Independence

We believe shared challenges are best addressed through cooperation, knowledge exchange and collective advocacy.

We encourage collaboration that strengthens African technical capability and creates opportunities for mutual benefit.

We also respect the independence of individual businesses, their commercial boundaries, their intellectual property and their right to compete fairly.

Collaboration within African Biologicals Alliance must never require a member to surrender commercially sensitive information or proprietary knowledge.

Integrity, Accountability and Transparency

We believe trust is built through ethical conduct, truthful representation, responsible governance and accountability.

Members must act in good faith, disclose relevant conflicts of interest and uphold the credibility of the Alliance.

African Biologicals Alliance's collective interests and mission must not be subordinated to the undisclosed private interests of any individual member or group.

Scope and Commitment

This Code applies to all African Biologicals Alliance members and to their representatives when acting on behalf of, participating in, or using the name, resources, networks or platforms of African Biologicals Alliance.

Members are expected to uphold both the letter and the spirit of this Code.

Membership signifies a commitment to the Alliance's purpose, values, constitution and applicable governance policies.

Ownership, Independence and Disclosure

Members shall:

• Provide accurate and complete information regarding their ownership, beneficial ownership and control when applying for membership.
• Disclose material direct or indirect ownership, governance or controlling relationships with multinational agrochemical corporations or other entities relevant to membership eligibility.
• Disclose arrangements that may materially compromise their independence or create conflicts with African Biologicals Alliance's mission.
• Notify African Biologicals Alliance within 30 days of becoming aware of material changes that affect their membership eligibility.
• Refrain from concealing beneficial ownership, nominee arrangements, controlling interests or other relevant relationships.

African Biologicals Alliance reserves the right to verify information reasonably necessary to establish and maintain membership eligibility, subject to appropriate confidentiality safeguards.

Foreign investment, commercial relationships or licensing arrangements do not automatically constitute misconduct. Their relevance will be evaluated against African Biologicals Alliance's membership criteria and the nature of any influence or control they confer.

Scientific and Regulatory Integrity

Members shall:

• Represent their products, technologies and research findings accurately.
• Make efficacy, safety, environmental and performance claims that are appropriately supported by evidence.
• Respect applicable regulatory requirements and the authority of lawful regulatory processes.
• Refrain from falsifying, selectively misrepresenting or knowingly concealing material information in regulatory submissions or scientific claims.
• Avoid falsely representing unregistered products as registered or approved.
• Support evidence-based, transparent and proportionate regulation of biological products.
• Engage respectfully and truthfully with regulators, researchers, farmers and other stakeholders.

Members may legitimately challenge regulatory decisions, advocate for reform and question inappropriate regulatory barriers. Disagreement with a regulatory authority, or participation in lawful regulatory reform advocacy, does not itself constitute misconduct.

Intellectual Property, Confidentiality and Trust

Members shall:

• Respect the intellectual property, trade secrets, proprietary technologies, confidential business information and research of other members.
• Refrain from unauthorised copying, exploitation, disclosure or commercial use of another member's confidential information or intellectual property.
• Respect the confidentiality of information shared through African Biologicals Alliance under an express confidentiality designation or agreement.
• Obtain appropriate permission before sharing confidential documents, product dossiers, formulations, research data, customer information or commercially sensitive material.
• Refrain from using access obtained through African Biologicals Alliance to unfairly appropriate another member's business opportunities, proprietary work or innovations.

Participation in African Biologicals Alliance does not transfer ownership of intellectual property or grant any implied licence to use another member's protected material.

Members remain free to independently develop competing products and technologies, provided they do not misuse protected information or engage in unlawful conduct.

Fair Competition and Ethical Commercial Conduct

Members shall:

• Compete fairly and comply with applicable competition and anti-corruption laws.
• Refrain from collusion, price fixing, market allocation, bid rigging, coordinated boycotts or other unlawful anti-competitive arrangements.
• Not use African Biologicals Alliance meetings, communication platforms or resources to exchange competitively sensitive information in a manner that may facilitate unlawful coordination.
• Refrain from making knowingly false or malicious statements intended to damage the reputation or legitimate business interests of another member.
• Avoid bribery, improper inducements, fraudulent conduct and deliberate misrepresentation in commercial or regulatory dealings.

African Biologicals Alliance shall not be used as a vehicle for improper market coordination or commercial exclusion.

Conflicts of Interest and Undue Influence

Members and their representatives shall:

• Disclose actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflicts of interest relevant to African Biologicals Alliance decisions, activities or representation.
• Refrain from improperly using African Biologicals Alliance positions, confidential information or relationships for personal or corporate gain.
• Respect established governance and decision-making processes.
• Declare relevant financial, commercial or organisational interests before participating in decisions in which those interests could materially influence their judgement.
• Recuse themselves from decisions where required by African Biologicals Alliance's governance rules or a reasonable conflict-management determination.

No member may claim to represent African Biologicals Alliance publicly or commit African Biologicals Alliance to a position, agreement or financial obligation without appropriate authorisation.

Respectful Participation and Constructive Engagement

Members shall:

• Treat fellow members, African Biologicals Alliance representatives, partners and stakeholders with dignity and respect.
• Engage constructively even where commercial interests, technical opinions or policy positions differ.
• Refrain from harassment, intimidation, retaliation and discriminatory conduct.
• Respect collective decisions reached through legitimate governance processes, while retaining the right to express dissent through appropriate channels.
• Avoid conduct intended to deliberately undermine African Biologicals Alliance's lawful activities or the fair participation of other members.

Members are not required to agree with every position adopted by African Biologicals Alliance and retain the right to pursue independent business and policy interests, consistent with their membership obligations.

Responsible Use of African Biologicals Alliance's Name, Platforms and Resources

Members shall not:

• Present individual commercial opinions as official African Biologicals Alliance positions without authorisation.
• Use African Biologicals Alliance membership to imply that African Biologicals Alliance has certified, endorsed, approved or independently verified their products.
• Use African Biologicals Alliance's name, logo, member directories, databases, regulatory intelligence or communication platforms for unauthorised commercial or political purposes.
• Disclose restricted African Biologicals Alliance documents, strategies or member information without permission.
• Misrepresent the benefits, status or privileges of membership.

Members may accurately identify themselves as African Biologicals Alliance members in good standing, subject to applicable branding and communication guidelines.

Commitment to Environmental and Social Responsibility

Members shall strive to:

• Develop, manufacture and promote biological products responsibly.
• Reduce avoidable risks to human health, biodiversity, ecosystems and agricultural livelihoods.
• Maintain appropriate product quality, traceability and stewardship practices.
• Promote accurate product information, responsible application and appropriate user training.
• Support fair labour practices, skills development and the growth of African scientific and manufacturing capacity.

African Biologicals Alliance recognises that members operate at different stages of development. Continuous improvement, proportionality and good-faith engagement are central to these commitments.

Raising Concerns and Reporting Misconduct

Members may raise concerns regarding suspected breaches of this Code through a confidential process designated by the African Biologicals Alliance Board.

Concerns should be submitted in good faith and, wherever practicable, supported by relevant information.

African Biologicals Alliance shall:

• Treat allegations fairly and confidentially to the extent reasonably possible.
• Avoid prejudging complaints.
• Give affected members a reasonable opportunity to respond.
• Manage conflicts of interest in investigating or deciding complaints.
• Protect individuals who raise genuine concerns from retaliation.
• Discourage malicious, knowingly false or vexatious complaints.

Addressing Breaches of the Code

African Biologicals Alliance will ordinarily seek proportionate and constructive resolution of breaches, taking account of the seriousness of the conduct, the evidence available, any resulting harm and the member's response.

Depending on the circumstances, responses may include:

1. Informal engagement or clarification.
2. Written advice or a request for corrective action.
3. A formal written warning.
4. Temporary restrictions on participation in specified activities, where authorised by African Biologicals Alliance's governing documents.
5. Suspension or termination of membership in accordance with African Biologicals Alliance's Memorandum of Incorporation and applicable procedures.

Serious misconduct, deliberate deception, unlawful behaviour, misuse of confidential information or conduct fundamentally incompatible with African Biologicals Alliance's purpose may justify stronger action.

Members shall be afforded procedural fairness, including appropriate notice and a reasonable opportunity to respond, subject to any lawful urgent protective measures.

Any suspension, termination or appeal procedure must comply with African Biologicals Alliance's Memorandum of Incorporation and applicable law.

Adoption and Review

This Code takes effect on 30 October 2026.

The Board shall periodically review the Code, with opportunities for member consultation, to ensure it remains relevant, practical and aligned with African Biologicals Alliance's mission.

No amendment to this Code may override the rights and obligations established by applicable law or African Biologicals Alliance's Memorandum of Incorporation.