Objectives/Mission/Vision

The Africa-Europe Cluster of Research Excellence in Sustainable Food Systems (CoRE-SFS) will address food-systems challenges by (i) conducting collaborative research on food-systems transformation, (ii) assuring continuity through a 10-year collaboration, (iii) pooling resources for scale and impact, and (iv) significantly bolstering capacity in African institutions.

Aligned with the three pillars of research, education, and technology transfer, equitable collaborations will span disciplines, geography, and sectors, enabling solutions that transcend unilateral approaches.

The CoRE-SFS will contribute to sustainable food-systems transformation through the three impact areas of food, nutrition, and health; poverty reduction, sustainable livelihoods, and jobs; and climate-smart agriculture. Two crosscutting enablers to enhance impact are discerned, namely (i) digital technologies and data science; and (ii) a focus on gender, youth, and social inclusion.

The research will be challenge focused and outward looking, integrated (working across disciplines, geographies, and sectors), engaged (working with and in the interests of stakeholders), and systems focused.

Within the broad impact areas, focused on the three pillars, the CoRE-SFS has identified several important priorities, which remain open to a range of solutions. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Genetic improvement and breeding of crops, fruit trees, livestock, and fish.
• Development and adoption of technological innovations to improve production performance in the agricultural and food sectors.
• Climate-smart agriculture to preserve ecosystems and improve water-use efficiency.
• Nutrition and health, including exploring the interlinkages between agriculture, food, and people to ensure dietary diversity as well as safe and nutritious food.
• Sustainable post-harvest loss and waste reduction along the value chain.
• Optimising the social, economic, and environmental benefits from agri-food system activities, with a focus on poverty reduction and inclusivity (gender and the youth).

Strengthening policy and institutions through establishing ongoing engagement in research, education, and technology transfer in the agricultural and food sectors.

The CoRE-SFS partners map