The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) calls for more engagement as the long-term EU-AU research and innovation partnership (LEAP) reaches its midpoint.
November 26, 2020, ACCRA, Ghana – Africa’s apex organization for coordinating and advocating for agricultural research and innovation has called on more African and European countries to prioritize investment in science, technology and innovation for agriculture on the continent.
The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) updated partners on a joint initiative between the European Union and the African Union to promote sustainable agriculture during its General Assembly this week. FARA also called on the agricultural research for development sector on the continent to unite and implement a roadmap for food and nutrition security.
“The general objective of LEAP4FNSSA is to establish a sustainable platform for the efficient and coherent implementation of the AU-EU Research and Innovation Partnership,”, said Yemi Akinbamijo, Executive Director of FARA.
“Agriculture is biology, and our agriculture is as good as our science. FARA drives the AU’s mandate to strengthen the application of science and technology to accelerate agricultural transformation in Africa and ensure equitable access to resources like the International Research Consortium. Meanwhile, it is vital that African partners play their part to help drive the agenda for improved food and nutrition security across the continent.”
The 8th FARA General Assembly included presentations from Dr Philippe Petithuguenin from the French research centre CIRAD, Dr. Shadrack Moephuli the President of South Africa’s Agricultural Research Council and Dr George Essegbey from the Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (CSIR-STEPRI) in Ghana. The Assembly called on African institutions to rally around FARA in its efforts to coordinate agricultural research for development on the continent.
“FARA holds an important mandate on the continent, which the LEAP4FNSSA can leverage for the establishment and operation of the International Research Consortium by Africa and Europe,” said Dr. Bouchaib Boulanouar, Partnerships Coordinator in Agriculture and Agro-industry at the African Development Bank and FARA Board Member.
“The roles of FARA and sub-regional organisations in building the IRC partnership platform are crucial. Among others, they involve inviting partners and disseminating information among stakeholders. FARA will ensure the IRC composition is equitable to advocate for mutual interests of Africans and Europeans.”
Speaking at the high level plenary panel of the 16th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Partnership Platform, which preceded discussions on the LEAP4FNSSA, FARA’s Executive Director also updated the African Union Commission and other stakeholders on the organisation’s perspectives in mobilizing support to African countries to enable them achieve CAADP targets, with the EU-funded CAADP XP4 programme as case study.
Read the full article via FARA web site.
Press kit:
- Closer Africa-Europe collaboration needed to deliver food and nutrition security roadmap–Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa | via ASARECA
- Collaboration needed to deliver food, nutrition security roadmap | via Bizcommunity.com
- Group calls for closer Africa-Europe collaboration to deliver food, nutrition security | via Daily News-Ghana
- Closer Africa-Europe collaboration needed to deliver food and nutrition security roadmap | via Ghana Web
- Group calls for closer Africa-Europe collaboration to deliver food, nutrition security | via CNR CITI Newsroom
- Closer Africa-Europe collaboration needed to deliver food and nutrition security roadmap | via Modern Diplomacy
- Closer Africa-Europe Collaboration Needed To Deliver Food And Nutrition Security Roadmap, Says Leading Research Body | via Modern Ghana
- Closer Africa-Europe Collaboration Needed to Deliver Food and Nutrition Security Roadmap, Says Leading Research Body | via East African Business Week