EU and Africa’s research projects come together to address food and nutrition security in both continents

The need for sustainable food production systems that respond to the rising demands of a global population is a challenge in both Europe and Africa. Several European programmes are supporting research and innovation aimed at improving food and nutrition security of vulnerable populations, as well as supporting sustainable and resilient agriculture and food systems. 

20 EU-funded projects came together last month to discuss how they can collaborate to contribute to the four pillars of the EU-Africa Research & Innovation Partnership on Food and Nutrition Security, and Sustainable Agriculture’s (FNSSA): Sustainable intensification;  improvement of agriculture and food systems for nutrition;  expansion and improvement of agricultural trade and markets; and, cross-cutting topics.

Participants discussed and proposed possible joint activities, such as sharing knowledge platforms to develop combined communication and dissemination activities to bring R&I results to the users. The projects concluded that there is a need to create multi-stakeholder networks for capacity building at a local level in African countries and share efforts for innovation adoptions. 

The funded projects are part of the EU response to support research and innovation in Africa, strengthen research capacities and involve key actors at regional and national level. The group included: 11 Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 2 projects, among them the ERA-NET co-fund LEAP-AGRI that gathers 19 European and African countries; three of its co-funded projects; and six projects funded by the African Union Research Grants or the DeSIRA initiative (Development of Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture).  

Jointly organised by the Research Executive Agency (REA) and the Horizon 2020 project LEAP4FNSSA, this was the first of a series of events for the projects to create synergies and reach higher impact.

Learn more about the 11 Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 2 projects that are contributing to the FNSSA partnership: 

EWA BELT - Linking East and West African farming systems experience into a BELT of sustainable intensification 

FOODLAND - Food and Local, Agricultural, and Nutritional Diversity  

FOSC - Food System and Climate (FOSC): Assessing the impact of climate change on food and nutrition security and designing more sustainable and resilient food systems in Europe and beyond  

HealthyFoodAfrica - Improving nutrition in Africa by strengthening the diversity, sustainability, resilience and connectivity of food systems  

InnoFoodAfrica - Locally driven co-development of plant-based value chains towards more sustainable African food system with healthier diets and export potential  

LEAP-AGRI - A long-term EU-Africa research and innovation partnership on food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture 

LEAP4FNSSA - Support to the implementation of the long-term EU-AU Research and Innovation Partnership for Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture 

Soils4Africa - Soil Information System for Africa  

SustainSAHEL – Synergistic use and protection of natural resources for rural livelihoods through systematic integration of crops, shrubs and livestock in the Sahel

SustInAfrica - Sustainable intensification of food production through resilient farming systems in West & North Africa  

UPSCALE – Upscaling the benefits of push-pull technology for sustainable agricultural intensification in East Africa