The European Alliance on Agricultural Knowledge for Development

Torsten Rødel Berg, Phd, Senior Research Internationalization Adviser

Dept. of Agroecology, Aarhus UniversityEFARD, 24 November 2015, Bruxelles

AGRINATURA is a grouping of European universities and research organizations with a common interest in supporting agricultural development in a sustainable manner in order to improve people’s lives.

Joining forces for agriculturalknowledge for development

Agrinatura was created in 2009 by NATURA and ECART

Some 2000 development-oriented researchers

30 member organisations

17 countries

What unites us…

Recognition of need for more effective linkages between farmers and producer associations and research and extension + policyNeed for more investment in research, education and innovation in the Global SouthSustainable agriculture – agri-food systems, climate smart approaches

Reflecting EU and global research agendas

SCAR and SDC alignment: Food first focus, based on sustainable agriculture: Global interactions as regards climate effects, access to resources, technological, biological and social resilience

Knowledge systems with more emphasis on research and higher education as creators and co-creators of development relevant knowledge.

A vibrant European agricultural research area with sufficient critical mass to meet the common global challenges, in partnership with developing and emerging economy countries.

Our Vision

1. Policy advocacy for agricultural research and

education for development / support & advice to policy making at European level

2. Strategic alliances, partnerships and networks with stakeholders in development

3. Joint (north-south) participation in European / international programmes and projects

4. Unlock synergy/capitalise on added value of collective action vested in member organisations

Four strategic goals

Activities, Goal 1. Policy advocacy contribution to Global Conference on Agricultural

Research for Development (GCARD) Contribution to Global Conference on Higher Education in

Africa (GCHERA), Forum for Agric Research in Africa (FARA) GA

Representation of European research and education stakeholders at EFARD, Association for European Life Science Universities (ICA) etc.

Liaison with DG research, DG Devco (Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation), advocating for ARD, advocacy at the EU Parliament level

Activities, Goal 2: Strategic alliances, partnerships & networks

Other regional ARD platforms, part. RUFORUM

World Farmers Organisation Tropical Agriculture Platform partner

Tropentag: Goettingen 2012, Hohenheim 2013, Prague 2014, Berlin 2015

Activities, goal 3: Joint programmes and projects, examples

PAEPARD (Platform for African-European Partnerships on

Agricultural Research for Development) CGIAR Monitoring FARMAF – Farm Risk Management for Africa: EU financed,

Agrinatura Implemented Academic partnerships with focus on capacity building:

Edulink, Tempus, Erasmus Mundus, Erasmus + -Joint master and PhD courses at the European level (

AgrisMundus, Agtrain);- ALFABET scholarships- ASK Asia- Trainings organized with Ruforum and Anafe

Capacity Development for Agricultural Innovation Systems (CDAIS)

Funded by EC, jointly implemented Tropical Agriculture Platform (FAO - TAP) Agrinatura project – 2015-2018

Goal of making agricultural innovation systems more efficient in meeting the demands of farmers, agri-business and consumers

Activities: Capacity development interventions for selected agricultural innovation partnerships

Countries: Angola, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Bangladesh, Laos, Guatemala, Honduras

Capacity Development for Agricultural Innovation Systems (CDAIS)

Progress:Agrinatura-FAO agreement signedTAP CD-AIS Common Framework developedCountry teams established (Agrinatura, FAO, National Coordinator/Manager), Scoping studies near completion (8 countries) National Inception workshops started (Nov 15- Feb 16;) Needs assessment planned (Jan-June 2016)

ProIntensAfrica Not Agrinatura project, but

Coordination and Support Action CSA by (many) Agrinatura members and African ARD landscape (FARA).

Consortium of 23 countries in Africa and Europe

Identifies pathways to Sustainable Intensification of African Agri-food systems

7 Work packages, paving the way for Joint Programs, ERA-NETs and potential new funding instruments

ProIntensAfrica

Progress:H2020 CALL: SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY – RESILIENT AND RESOURCE-EFFICIENT VALUE CHAINSERA-NET Cofund: EU-Africa Research and Innovation partnership on food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture – DL Feb 2016

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