Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Long-term Europe-Africa Research and Innovation Partnership for Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture

Titre : SustInAfrica : Sustainable intensification of food production through resilient farming systems in West & North Africa

Pays/Région : Ghana ; Burkina Faso ; Niger ; Egypt ; Tunisia

Date : Start date 2020-09-01 End date 2025-08-31

Identifiant : 214-SUSTINAFRICA
Type de projet : Development and innovation oriented (research) project

Objectif
Large areas of agricultural land in W. and N. Africa are heavily degraded, with water scarcity, low soil fertility and poor plant health, due to use of unsuitable agronomic systems and inappropriate management. In W. Africa, poor water, organic matter and nutrient retention limit food productivity, whilst in N. Africa, salinisation, wind erosion, formation of crusts and compaction threaten rainfed cropland and silvopasture. The low food productivity, poor resilience and unsustainability of current approaches have severe socioeconomic and environmental consequences. The overall goal of SustInAfrica is to empower smallholder farmers, small and medium enterprises and various government and non-governmental organisations in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Niger, Egypt and Tunisia to successfully intensify food production and deliver ecosystem services in a sustainable and resilient manner. This will be achieved through : A) comprehensive analysis of i) local/regional target ecosystems ; ii) currently applied and potential landscape, soil, water and plant health management strategies and agronomic systems ; iii) relevant actors across supply/value chains ; iv) business models and policies ; v) challenges and threats to production ; B) development of technologies, including a smart platform supporting farmers in decision-making, concerning factors assessed in A) ; C) implementation of field trials at target sites, combining traditional knowledge, sustainable strategies and systems (agroecology, agroforestry, organic farming) and modern technologies (developed apps/platform) ; D) communication/dissemination/education/training to inform stakeholders/consumers and empower smallholders (especially women/youths) ; E) exploiting/continuing approaches/technologies for improved productivity/ecosystem services, long-term self-sufficiency beyond the project, reduced hunger/poverty and gender/wealth disparity, reduced environmental impact, long-term local food sectors growth/increased economic benefit.

Coordinateur : Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE)
Partenaires : Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB) International Center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) Lisbon School of Economics and Management (ISEG) University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) Gorta Associação para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Ciências (FCiências.ID) University of Cape Coast University for Development Studies (UDS) Dexafrica Farmerline Ltd University of Dédougou Abdou Moumouni University Cairo University Heliopolis University Olive Institute

Financement principal : Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) (H2020)
Budget : 6 997 319 EUR

FNSSA project database