Unlocking Africa’s Food Systems: International Collaboration at University of Leeds Research Week

The International Food Systems Research Week held at the University of Leeds brought together partners from across Africa to tackle challenges in food systems and supply chains. Organized by the Global Food and Environment Institute (GFEI) in collaboration with the FoSTA Health program, the week aimed to foster research and innovation collaboration opportunities across various themes including changing food systems supply chains and regulations, as well as human, animal, environmental, and plant health.

Participants included representatives from academia, industry, and government from South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, and Tanzania. The event also featured the introduction of Cheney Fellow Cecilia Onyango, an Associate Professor of Horticulture at the University of Nairobi, who was introduced to the scheme through the FSNet-Africa project. The Cheney fellowship enables researchers to spend time at Leeds exploring new ideas and building collaborations. Professor Onyango highlighted the opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration and connection with the Knowledge Equity Network to reduce inequalities and tackle global challenges together.

Professor Nick Plant, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Leeds, emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing global challenges such as food security. He stressed the need for a holistic approach and strong interdisciplinary collaboration. Throughout the week, various research programs from Leeds were shared, including FoSTA Health and FSNet-Africa, focusing on food security and African food systems in partnership with institutions such as the University of Pretoria and Food, Agriculture and the Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN). Researchers discussed topics such as supply chain regulation, trade, One Health, food systems mapping, and modeling.

The event also included a tour of research facilities at the University of Leeds, including the research farm and CIEL National Pig Centre. Professor Stephen Whitfield, Interim Director of GFEI, emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary partnerships in understanding the implications of food system changes in Africa. Moreover, the week helped identify opportunities for ongoing collaboration and a co-developed research agenda, aligning with the UK government’s commitment to strengthen science collaboration partnerships with South Africa. Overall, the event aimed to drive change and address global challenges through research and innovation collaboration.