New Africa-Europe Research Cluster launched to transform Sustainable Food Systems

The Africa-Europe Cluster of Research Excellence on Sustainable Food Systems (CoRE-SFS) was officially launched on 3-4 October 2024 at the University of Pretoria (UP). This transformative initiative aims to address critical food system challenges through collaborative research and innovative approaches, ultimately building long-term resilience.

CoRE-SFS is one of 21 research clusters founded by the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities (The Guild). This partnership brings together 120 institutions across 42 countries, and is designed to bolster science, technology, and innovation between the continents over the next decade.

Situated within UP’s Future Africa platform, CoRE-SFS will be led by Professor Frans Swanepoel, Future Africa Research Chair in Sustainable Food Systems, in partnership with Professors Alberto Credi and Luca Fontanesi from the University of Bologna.

Supported by extensive research infrastructure available through ARUA and The Guild, CoRE-SFS adopts a shared approach to achieving food security and agricultural sustainability, operating under a targeted action plan. The initiative focuses on four priority areas: climate-smart agriculture, nutrition-sensitive practices to enhance health and food security, poverty reduction through livelihood support, and initiatives to cultivate healthy food environments.

In 2026, UP will begin awarding 45 annual PhD scholarships through support from the Mastercard Foundation, with 15 additional scholarships awarded to the University of Cape Town. This decade-long programme will further involve leading African institutions, including Uganda’s Makerere University, the University of Nairobi, and Morocco’s Mohammed VI Polytechnic, among others.

This article is adapted from an original piece first published on the University of Pretoria’s website.