The INCiTiS-FOOD and FCI4Africa projects formalised their intention to collaborate, recognising the potential to connect their complementary expertise in sustainable food systems, agricultural innovation and fair food trade across Africa.
Building sustainable food systems requires more than increasing agricultural production. It also involves ensuring that food is safe, nutritious and accessible, while creating fair opportunities for farmers, businesses and other actors throughout the agri-food value chain. Addressing these interconnected challenges calls for collaboration between research, innovation and policy initiatives.
Recognising their shared interests, the INCiTiS-FOOD and FCI4Africa projects signed a Letter of Intent (LoI), establishing a basis for exploring mutually beneficial activities and strengthening cooperation between the two Horizon Europe initiatives.
Complementary Approaches to Transforming African Food Systems
INCiTiS-FOOD focuses on improving food and nutrition security and food safety in African cities and towns through the development and implementation of innovative, inclusive and circular agri-food technologies and business models. Working through Living Labs, the project explores solutions such as hydroponics, aquaponics and insect farming to support more sustainable urban food production.
FCI4Africa (Fair Food and Trade Systems for Africa through Food Convergence Innovation) takes a complementary approach by focusing on making agricultural and food trade across Africa and between Africa and the European Union fairer, more transparent and sustainable. The project addresses challenges related to non-tariff measures, trade harmonisation and the digitalisation of food systems, while supporting smallholder farmers, small and medium-sized enterprises and other actors in the agri-food value chain.
Through its Food Convergence Innovation approach, FCI4Africa brings together technological innovation, market insights and policy-oriented research to address challenges such as food safety, climate neutrality, fairness and access to markets.
Although the projects address different dimensions of food systems, their objectives are closely connected. While INCiTiS-FOOD works to improve the availability and safety of nutritious food for vulnerable urban communities, FCI4Africa explores how fairer trade systems and improved market access can strengthen agricultural value chains and contribute to more resilient food systems.
Bringing these perspectives together creates opportunities to explore how innovation in food production can be connected with more inclusive and efficient trade systems.
Looking Ahead
The collaboration between INCiTiS-FOOD and FCI4Africa highlights the importance of addressing food system challenges through complementary perspectives, connecting sustainable food production with fair trade, innovation and improved market opportunities. By bringing together their respective expertise, the projects aim to explore new opportunities for research collaboration and knowledge exchange that can contribute to more inclusive, resilient and sustainable food systems across Africa.
As outlined in their Letter of Intent, potential areas of future cooperation include participation in joint research consortia and the organisation of collaborative webinars, particularly focusing on the connections between fair and free food and feed trade and food and nutrition security among vulnerable urban populations.
We look forward to exploring these opportunities and strengthening the exchange of knowledge and expertise between the two project communities.
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