Platform for African – European Partnership in Agricultural Research for Development

Thursday, January 26, 2017

EU-Africa Food Systems workshop

23-24 January 2017. Brussels. European Commission, DG Research and Innovation. A workshop was held on on EU-Africa R&I Partnership on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture.

On 23 of January DG AGRI hosted the meeting which was on pillar I aspects.  Around 25 experts from Africa and Europe discussed issues of sustainable intensification and on diversifying farmer’s revenues: converting agricultural waste into products, materials and energy. Presentation from this workshop are available under this link.  aAsummary of discussion will be posted later.

Opening session
Sustainable intensification I - Crops and livestock - agricultural practice for improving farm output and farmers living conditions
Parallel sessions
Group I: Sustainable intensification II: soil and land management for improving agricultural diversity and preserving biodiversity
Group II: Diversifying farmer’s revenues: converting agricultural waste into products, materials and energy. Identifying and adapting simple and robust technologies for use in African rural communities without substantially changing agricultural systems and practices.
On the 24 of January DG RTD had a meeting on pillar II of the Roadmap for Food and Nutrition security and Sustainable Agriculture.

The second day the topics were:
  1. Agricultural systems and nutrition, what are research and innovation needs for farming systems to deliver better on nutrition?
  2. Innovations in African speciality food with high nutritional value to supply local urban markets and global markets.
  3. Research and Innovation for plant based protein food?
  4. How to reduce food waste along the post-harvest – consumer chain in Africa? Scope for technological and social innovation? Is there a role for bio-based packaging?
  5. Food Safety – Mycotoxins, including aflatoxin – challenges for research and innovation.
The presentations on 'Food Systems Approach' – in Africa focused on research and innovation questions and priorities which were identified before the workshop, starting with an insight into the different viewpoints of scientific disciplines and stakeholders to food systems:
  • Agricultural systems and nutrition, what are research and innovation needs for farming systems to deliver better on nutrition? 
  • Hidden Hunger – Malnutrition and the first 1000 days of life – food based research and innovation needs 
  • A Food System Approach for Africa – research and innovation needs
Pillar 2 of the Roadmap – Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition, focused on:
  • Research and Innovation needs for improved food value chains for local urban markets and global markets 
  • Research and Innovation for plant based proteins? 
  • How to reduce food waste along the post-harvest – consumer chain in Africa? Scope for technological and social innovation? Is there a role for bio-based packaging? - 
  • Food Safety – Mycotoxins, including aflatoxin – challenges for research and innovation - Approaches to Innovation
Extract of the programme:

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