Africa and Europe together for scientific research  [22.06.23]

The University of Hohenheim is among the key players of the new Clusters of Research Excellence / Cluster will be focused on Sustainable Food Systems

Solutions to address sustainable systems for food production: The University of Hohenheim is the co-proposer of a new university partnership on this topic. The partnership proposal was triggered by the collaboration between the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities (The Guild) and the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA).

European and African universities are joining forces to tackle the major global challenges of today and tomorrow. The collaboration between the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities (The Guild) and the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) has given rise to the Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence (CoRE), a novel model of university partnership that will pave the way for a new era of collaboration between Africa and Europe in the fields of research, innovation, and higher education.

The University of Hohenheim has proposed the recently approved cluster "Sustainable Food Systems" together with other universities. The University of Bologna and the University of Pretoria will coordinate the cluster. The project ranked first in the category of Innovation and Technology.

The Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence are based on multilateralism and research excellence: each partnership brings together at least three African universities and two European universities to work on a thematic area of common interest, addressing the major scientific challenges through research and higher education that leverage the skills and excellence of the participating universities. These actions have a long-term perspective, spanning at least a decade, ensuring a balance between the resources and priorities of African and European universities while focusing on the scientific education of the next generation of researchers.

Research Network Africa at the University of Hohenheim

“I am very delighted to hear the news that the Africa-Europe Cluster of Research Excellence in Sustainable Food Systems has been approved,” said Prof. Dr: Stephan Dabbert, President of the University of Hohenheim. “The University of Hohenheim is well positioned as a partner for this Cluster of Excellence due to the expertise that is already located at our institution. The Institute of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics – the Hans-Ruthenberg-Institute – at the University of Hohenheim bundles together this expertise. I am pleased to see our colleague Prof. Dr. Mizeck Chagunda leading this initiative from our side.”

The collaboration includes 16 other partner universities, 8 of which are European (Bologna, Warwick, Ghent, Göttingen, Ljubljana, Leeds, Montpellier, Hohenheim) and 8 African (Pretoria, Nairobi, Ghana, Kwazulu-Natal, Makerere, Western Cape, Johannesburg, Mpumalanga), along with 2 non-academic partners (the Agricultural Research Council, South Africa and the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network [FANRPAN]).

The Cluster will address the challenges that food production systems will have to face along the transformation towards increasing sustainability. Building on the solid foundations of established partnerships and programs, extensive collaborative research and capacity building are envisaged, with a particular focus on early-career researchers involved in joint projects. The goal is to contribute substantially to the innovation of African and European food systems.

“It is an honor to be the lead person from the University of Hohenheim on this very exciting and new type of science collaboration that goes beyond short-term collaboration and invests in academic careers at all stages,” stated Prof. Dr. Mizeck Chagunda. “The ‘Africa-Europe Cluster of Research Excellence in Sustainable Food Systems’ is of great strategic relevance, not only for the Hans-Ruthenberg-Institute, but also for Hohenheim as whole.”


More information

• Research Network Africa at the University of Hohenheim: https://africa.uni-hohenheim.de/en
• Hans-Ruthenberg-Institute: https://hri.uni-hohenheim.de/en
• The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities (The Guild)
• African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA)

Contact for press:

Prof. Dr. Mizeck Chagunda, Animal Breeding and Husbandry in the Tropics and Subtropics,
+49 711 459-24210, mizeck.chagunda@uni-hohenheim.de

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