Food systems involve actors on different levels, interactions on multiple parallel scales, and infrastructure that supports the entire value chain. Understanding the interactions and providing adequate support is relevant in addressing food and nutritional security and environmental sustainability, especially in (peri-) urban areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, food systems in African city regions are failing to deliver the desired outcomes, as 25% of urban residents are still suffering from food insecurity and malnourishment. Organic waste is expected to increase threefold by 2030, out of which only 10% are recycled presently. Climate change compounds the situation by introducing challenges to food systems and societal structures. Transforming linear production and midstream components of the city region food systems into circular ones poses tangible solutions.
With a circular food system model at the core of the "Integrated and Circular Technologies for Sustainable city region FOOD systems in Africa" project, INCiTiS-FOOD aims to improve food and nutrition security in African city regions. Furthermore, INCiTiS-FOOD aims at reducing the food system-related environmental footprint and empowering vulnerable groups such as women and young adults by opening opportunities in agri-food supply and value chains. This will be achieved through interdisciplinary research, integrated best-fit technologies, stakeholder-led action that involves co-creation and co-development, capacity-building, research-practitioner-policy collaborative engagement, and Europe-African Union partnership.
The circular agri-food technologies explored by INCiTiS-FOOD comprise soilless farming, e.g. hydroponics, bioponics, recirculating aquaculture systems, aquaponics, snail farming, and insect farming. These agri-food technologies are deemed suitable for African cities because they do not require great access to land, water, or wealth. The project is based on a multi-actor approach, involving 8 city region Living Labs in 6 countries from three African regions (Nairobi & Nakuru in Kenya; Tamale in Ghana, Lagos & Ibadan in Nigeria, Moyamba in Sierra Leone; Bamenda in Cameroon; Franceville in Gabon).
