R&I Conference 2025
CONFERENCE "BOOSTING AGRIFOOD RESEARCH AND INNOVATION COOPERATION FOR IMPACT AT SCALE"
From March 11-13, the conference on ´Boosting agrifood research and innovation cooperation for impact at scale´ took place in Brussels as well as online. Please find below the conference main outcomes/objectives and links to all recordings, PowerPoint presentations, and speeches.
The main outcome of the conference was to provide key arguments and recommendations to better efficiency, complementarities and synergies between the several EU instruments (NDICI & Horizon Europe) to support R&I on agrifood systems in LMICs, with the objectives (i) to clarify roles to support “innovation from research outcomes” to “innovation at scale” and “impacts at scale”, and (ii) to better align the EU R&I investments on agrifood systems with the EU Global Gateway strategy and country partners priorities.
The main conference objectives were to:
- Share results and lessons on the contribution of R&I projects to food systems transformation in LMICs through the experiences of UE interventions and similar other international interventions.
- Identify key enablers and hurdles for innovation at scale for productive, inclusive, and sustainable investments into agrifood systems.
- Explore future contributions of R&I for agrifood systems transformation, innovation system strengthening and innovation policies in support of development agendas.
- Inform policy makers and provide recommendations on improved complementarity and synergy of EU mechanisms and approaches to support R&I at scale in partner countries, including inputs to the EU-Africa R&I Partnership on FNSSA.
The full rationale of the conference can be read here.
The conference report can be found here.
RECORDINGS AND PRESENTATIONS
Day 1
Session 1: Opening
Session 2: Setting the scene
Session 3: What is the EU R&I cooperation landscape: policies, partnerships and instruments
Session 4: What have we learned from the DeSIRA regional conferences in Asia, Latin America and Africa
Session 5: How to do research in partnership for innovation to contribute to productive, inclusive and sustainable food system transformation in diverse contexts
- Presentation Aurelie Toillier
- Presentation Annick Sezibera
- Presentation Aristide Sempore
- Presentation Benjamin Rimaud
- Presentation Absa Mbodj
- Presentation Natalia Brzezina
Session 6: R&I to support food system transition based on agroecology, nature-based solutions, regenerative and nutrition sensitive approaches
- Presentation Oliver Oliveros
- Presentation Jonathan Mockshell
- Presentation Gerald Schwarz
- Presentation Etienne Basset
- Presentation Thomas Dubois
- Presentation Violaine Laurens
Day 2
Session 7: How to support innovation at scale for productive, inclusive and sustainable food system transformation and potential contribution of research
- Presentation Guy Faure
- Presentation Boru Douthwaite
- Presentation Elise Juguet
- Presentation Syndhia Mathé
Session 8: Plenary synthesis of the lessons and recommendations
Session 9: Pathways for future interventions (in support of innovation for productive, green and inclusive food systems transformations in the context of the EU Global Gateway strategy - High-Level Panel
Session 10: Future R&I EU interventions to support the Global Gateway strategy and the AU-EU Innovation agenda
Day 3
Session 11: Consultation on the update of the AU-EU R&I FNSSA Roadmap
Session 12: Framing of the AU-EU FNSSA International Research Consortium (IRC)
Session 13: Internationalization of EU R&I co-funded partnerships: Challenges and Opportunities
Session 14: Plenary
Session 15: Parallel sessions
- Presentation Baitsi Podisi
- Presentation Thomas Dubois
- Presentation Kwaku Antwi
- Presentation Pascale Debord
Session 16: Closing session