FORUS and World Agriculture Forum announce collaboration to strengthen farmer-owned cooperatives globally

South Africa, 10 September 2026. FORUS Digital Cooperative and the World Agriculture Forum (WAF) today announced a strategic collaboration to strengthen the participation of farmer-owned agricultural cooperatives in the emerging TerraNexus ecosystem.

TerraNexus is being developed as a cooperative-led global ecosystem connecting agricultural cooperatives and their farmer members to opportunities in markets, finance, technology, services and investment.

The collaboration combines WAF’s global agricultural network and country-level engagement with FORUS’s digital infrastructure for cooperatives, including verified identities, connected digital tools and financial services.

The initiative takes a cooperative-first approach, working through the institutions that farmers already own and trust. This will provide cooperatives with a practical pathway to participate in the broader TerraNexus ecosystem while retaining their local identity, governance and focus on members.

WAF’s Country Councils will help connect agricultural cooperatives with national and international stakeholders, supporting locally grounded implementation while linking farmer organisations to global knowledge, innovation and opportunity.

“The most effective way to create lasting value for farmers is to strengthen the cooperative institutions they own and govern. By combining WAF’s global agricultural reach with FORUS’s digital infrastructure, we can create practical, trusted pathways for cooperatives and their members to participate in a more connected agricultural economy.”

WAF has set an ambition to reach and support up to 300 million farmers by 2030 through TerraNexus. FORUS will support this ambition by helping establish the digital and financial foundations that enable agricultural cooperatives and their members to participate confidently in the ecosystem.

“TerraNexus is intended to mobilise the strength of farmer-owned institutions at meaningful scale. FORUS brings valuable capability in cooperative enablement, verified identity and financial infrastructure, helping translate our global and country-level networks into practical opportunities for agricultural cooperatives and the farmers they serve.”

The organisations will now work together to define priority areas for implementation. These are expected to include cooperative onboarding and enablement, pathways for member participation, and the digital and financial infrastructure required to support inclusive agricultural growth.

About the World Agriculture Forum

The World Agriculture Forum is a global platform that brings together governments, farmers, agribusinesses, experts and development institutions to advance sustainable agricultural development.

Through policy advocacy, trade facilitation, technology-driven solutions and inclusive partnerships, WAF works to strengthen resilient and food-secure agricultural systems.