UPSCALE at the Cooperation Lounge Africa-Europe: Science Meets Politics

The Scientific Coordination Office (WKS) Bavaria-Africa of BayFOR together with the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union, organized the “Cooperation Lounge Africa-Europe: Science meets Politics” on 10 and 11 December 2024 in Brussels. The UPSCALE partner Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) joined representatives from politics, academia, and innovation at this event to strengthen African-European collaboration in research and innovation through science diplomacy.

The event brought together 129 participants from academic institutions, the private sector, civil society, foundations, and political organizations across both continents. It featured high-level networking sessions, keynote presentations, poster exhibitions, panel discussions, and an interactive workshop/World Café aimed at fostering stronger research partnerships. Among the mentioned activities and as a result, participants proposed recommendations to strengthen African-European cooperation and to improve research and innovation project cycles.

UPSCALE’s Contribution to the Dialogue

Dr. Shem Kuyah, a representative from JKUAT, presented a poster on the UPSCALE project, focusing on the Push-Pull cropping system. The poster highlighted UPSCALE’s structure, its workflow, key concepts and methodologies, and the impacts the project has made so far in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Some of the key impacts of UPSCALE’s work include:

• Increased crop yields and resilience of food systems,
• Improved household livelihoods and social well-being,
• Provision of nature-based agroecological solutions for sustainable farming,
• Support for women, youth, and farmers with special needs,
• Reinforced EU-Africa multi-lateral joint research initiatives.

These outcomes demonstrate the strength of collaborative research in improving food security and supporting climate change resilience in areas of sub-Saharan Africa.

During the event, Dr. Kuyah shared valuable insights on the implementation and management of the UPSCALE project, discussing both the opportunities and challenges faced in African-European research and innovation cooperation. This conversation is particularly important as UPSCALE continues to develop nature-based solutions, such as Push-Pull Technology, that aim to improve farming systems, increase food security, and boost livelihoods for smallholder farmers across Africa.

Looking Ahead

Since the UPSCALE project is a Horizon 2020 Research & Innovation project that supports smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa to improve food security, livelihoods and climate change resilience, JKUAT will continue with its contributions by testing the integration of the Push-Pull cropping system with sustainable intensification practices, cropping systems, and value chains, such are agroforestry or legume integration with pigeon pea.

Photo credits:https://www.bayfor.org/en/index.html