Developing a joint AU-EU Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) supporting the Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA) partnership

AKIS is defined as the combined organisation and knowledge flows between persons, organisations and institutions who use and produce knowledge for agriculture and interrelated fields. Technological, non-technological and social innovation should be considered in an AKIS. In the context of the FNSSA, developing an effective AKIS in close cooperation with the International Research Consortium on FNSSA will strengthen long-term sustainability and foster the co-creation and flows of knowledge and innovation aimed at ensuring food and nutrition security and improving sustainability of agriculture through the agroecological transition and the adaptation to climate change.

Proposals should:

• identify, map and study the main AKIS actors and AKIS structures at different levels (local, national, regional) and their relationships in a set of countries in the African context to support the agroecological transition, in close cooperation with the FNSSA International Research Consortium;
• explore how to effectively and efficiently enhanced cooperation and knowledge flows between AKIS actors through activities at various geographical levels;
• develop relevant models and formulate operational recommendations for a joint AU-EU AKIS to improve resilience and sustainability of agrifood systems both in Africa and Europe;
• pilot and animate a joint AU-EU Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) as a bi-continental networking and knowledge sharing platform linking African and European AKIS actors to exchange experiences and best practices on how to enhance co-creation and flows of knowledge and innovation aimed at food and nutrition security.

Proposal should contribute to the implementation of the short-term and medium-term actions outlined in the AU-EU Innovation Agenda in the priority area of Green Transition, particularly in the priority area of Green Transition (notably actions (4) and (5) among short-term actions and (1) and (3) for medium-term actions), and aim to translate R&I efforts into tangible business, products, services, development and employment opportunities in Africa and Europe. Proposals should be in line with the conclusions of the 2023 AU-EU Agriculture Ministerial Conference[[https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/events/5th-african-union-au-european-union-eu-agriculture-ministerial-conference-2023-06-30_en]] and support the African Free Trade Area. To leverage opportunities for furthering impact and outreach, proposals should frame an active collaboration with the project resulting from the call “HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-05-two-stage: Developing agroecology living labs and lighthouses for climate action under the Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA) partnership”.

Proposals should also contribute to the implementation of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) adopted R&I roadmaps by researchers, farmers and policymakers pertaining to climate change, particularly in the areas impact of water scarcity and drought in rural areas, sustainable agriculture production, biodiversity and changing climate.

Proposals must implement the ‘multi-actor approach’ to ensure the adequate involvement of the public authorities, advisory services and farmer organisations.

Proposals should adopt an inclusive approach that respects and integrates local knowledge and practices alongside technological and scientific expertise, where indigenous insights are enriched by innovative approaches and new technologies through mutual learning.

The JRC may contribute to foster synergies with the PANAP[[ DataM - PANAP official website - European Commission (europa.eu)]] community, engagement with stakeholders, dissemination of results, notably to policy-makers, and through cooperation with the EC Knowledge Centre for Global Food and Nutrition Security.