Agri-food systems are complex and highly diverse, ranging from smallholder rain-fed farming and pastoralism in many African countries to intensive livestock systems and high-tech greenhouse production in Europe. This diversity means that there is no single model or one-size-fits-all solution. Policies and interventions need to be grounded in local realities, data, and evidence, recognising different farming practices, market structures, cultural traditions, and environmental constraints.

Across much of Africa, yield gaps remain wide—not only because of agronomic issues, but also because of limited access to finance, quality inputs, advisory services, infrastructure, digital tools, and secure land tenure. At the same time, Europe faces its own agri-food challenges: environmental pressures from livestock, the need to reduce emissions, protect biodiversity, improve diets, and align with the Green Deal and Farm to Fork objectives. These situations are different, but closely connected: regions with fast-growing populations and food demand are not always those with the fastest production growth, which makes international cooperation and fair trade increasingly important for global and regional food security.

There are also structural challenges within agri-food systems: increasing concentration in seeds, livestock genetics, and processed foods can skew research and investment towards a limited set of crops and value chains, while many staple crops and traditional foods vital to African food security receive less attention. Without targeted public-interest research and innovation, important opportunities for climate-resilient, nutrition-sensitive, and biodiversity-friendly food systems can be missed.

Within this context, Africa–Europe scientific and innovation collaboration around agri-food systems is both necessary and full of opportunity. Joint work can focus on, for example:

• climate-resilient crops and sustainable livestock systems

• soil health, water management, and sustainable intensification

• agroecology and agrobiodiversity

• nutrition, food safety, and healthy diets

• digital agriculture, data, and AI tools for farmers and value chains

• inclusive value chains and local processing that create jobs and added value

EU funding instruments such as Horizon Europe and its successor FP10, NDICI–Global Europe, Global Gateway, and EU Research Missions provide concrete entry points for African researchers, innovators, and institutions to collaborate with European partners on these themes.

In this landscape, AERAP’s role in agri-food systems is to help turn these possibilities into real collaboration. AERAP can:

• bring together African and European scientists, innovators, and stakeholders through workshops, roundtables, and Science Summit sessions focused on agri-food systems;

• share information on relevant EU calls and programmes, helping African partners identify and join consortia;

• support networking, matchmaking, and knowledge exchange between institutions across the two continents;

• highlight success stories and promising initiatives that show how Africa–Europe agri-food cooperation can improve resilience, livelihoods, and environmental sustainability.

By doing so, AERAP helps make sure that the complexity and diversity of agri-food systems in Africa and Europe is reflected in concrete research and innovation partnerships, and that African actors— including women, youth, and local institutions—can fully access and benefit from EU-supported opportunities in this field.