Agrinatura Newsletter – January 2026

The second Science Policy Lab (SPoL) convened 38 participants in Addis Abeba to discuss the transformation of agro-silvo-pastoralism (ASP) food systems in the Horn of Africa.

Organized under the SASi-SPi ASP study, the event brought together policymakers, researchers, pastoralists, funders and civil society.

Key presentations highlighted the importance of ASP for sustainable food systems in dryland Africa.

Stakeholders discussed governance, social inequality and gender dynamics affecting pastoral systems. Priorities included securing pastoral lands, recognizing customary governance and improving policy coordination. Participants also explored future scenarios and pathways for strengthening climate adaptation and local capacities.

More here.

 The 40th EFFoST International Conference 2026 will be hosted by the Poznań University of Life Sciences in Poznań, Poland on November 4-6, 2026.

Organised by the European Federation of Food Science and Technology, this prestigious event brings together academia, industry and policy actors.

The conference addresses the dual challenge facing food systems: resource dependence and growing environmental pressures.

Under the theme “Building Sustainable Food Systems: Today’s Challenge for a Better Tomorrow”, participants will explore innovative solutions across the food chain.

Five key subthemes will structure the discussions, including raw materials and alternative foods.

Other focus areas include food processing, packaging, digitalisation and artificial intelligence.

Consumer science, personalised nutrition and advances in food safety and traceability will also be covered.

The anniversary edition aims to foster collaboration and partnerships for resilient and sustainable food systems. More here.

The Directorate-General of the European Commission Research and Innovation (DG RTD) is preparing a new EU Agricultural Research & Innovation (R&I) Strategic Approach, planned for mid-2026. This strategy will shape how EU agri-food, forestry, and rural innovation strengthens competitiveness, improves sustainability and builds long-term resilience.

Sharing your reflections on new opportunities arising from today’s policy context will help identify priority R&I thematic areas, bolster the uptake of new knowledge and innovation by farmers, foresters and rural actors and revamp the whole innovation journey from research to start-ups and scale-ups for the benefit of the wider EU economy.
A short questionnaire is now open to collect feedback.

The consultation is open until 25 January 2026.

Access the survey here.

Development cooperation has long been a subject of controversy. Which approaches produce lasting results? Where do persistent challenges remain? And when must we acknowledge outright failure? Such questions are plentiful, yet reliable answers remain scarce. This book by Jörn Dosch and Pamina Becker delivers a rigorous and nuanced assessment of development cooperation’s effectiveness. Its analysis is grounded in a wide-ranging review of independent evaluation reports and several hundred expert interviews. Detailed examples from more than 50 donor and recipient countries on five continents, spanning over two decades, offer a uniquely broad evidence base. Special attention is given to European Union and German initiatives. The focus lies on the effectiveness of good governance - widely regarded as the cornerstone of global development in the 21st century. First published in German, this English edition was facilitated by artificial intelligence and subsequently revised, expanded, and updated by the authors for accuracy and relevance. Access the publication here.

During the formulation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, many promoted policy coherence as a key tool to ensure achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a way that “leaves no one behind.” Their argument assumed that coherent policymaking contributes to more effective policies and supports over-arching efforts to reduce inequality. As the 2030 Agenda reaches the halfway point, however, countries are falling short on many SDGs, particularly SDG 10 (reduce inequality). This study revisits the basic assumptions about policy coherence underpinning the SDGs. We systematically screened the peer-reviewed literature to identify 40 studies that provide evidence about whether coherent policymaking contributes to more effective outcomes and helps to reduce inequality. We find that coherent policymaking did not help reduce inequality in a majority of cases and made it worse in several. Our findings challenge the narrative that coherence is a necessary pre-condition for progress on the SDGs for all people. More here.

EU companies recorded strong growth in research and development (R&D) in 2024, particularly in energy, health, aerospace and defence, according to the 2025 EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard. The report highlights Europe’s leadership in several strategic sectors, while also pointing to growing global competition, especially in information and communication technologies.
R&D investment in electricity and renewable energy rose by nearly 20%, supporting the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal.
Health-sector R&D grew by 13%, outperforming other regions worldwide.
Aerospace and defence firms also increased R&D spending to strengthen Europe’s defence readiness.
The scoreboard provides valuable insights into global R&D trends and competitive dynamics.
To boost Europe’s innovation capacity, the Commission is advancing initiatives such as the Startup and Scaleup Strategy.
Upcoming measures also include the European Innovation Act, new research infrastructures and stronger support for AI in science.

More here.

The European Commission has endorsed the Seville Declaration on Domestic Revenue Mobilisation (DRM), reinforcing global efforts to strengthen fair, transparent and sustainable public revenues. Launched at the Fourth Financing for Development Conference in Seville in 2025, the Declaration advances financing for the Sustainable Development Goals. Developed under the Addis Tax Initiative (ATI), it sets an ambitious vision for DRM beyond 2025. The EU’s endorsement highlights the importance of fair taxation to rebuild fiscal space amid rising debt and financing pressures. The Declaration focuses on four priorities: fair and gender-responsive tax systems, country-led tax reforms, combating illicit financial flows, and strengthening accountability. The EU commits to continued financial and technical support for DRM reforms in partner countries. It also reinforces international cooperation against tax evasion and avoidance. Transparency, public participation and efficient public spending are key pillars. Through ATI leadership, the EU reaffirms its role as the world’s largest DRM supporter. The Commission calls on global partners to endorse and implement the Declaration.

More here.

 From reducing costs to enhancing productivity, artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping global trade and creating new opportunities for companies of all sizes and geographical locations to expand their reach in the global economy. But while AI offers the promise of levelling the playing field – particularly for small firms in developing economies – it could just as easily risk deepening existing divides if barriers to inclusive adoption are not addressed, this joint survey by ICC and the World Trade Organization identifies. More here.

Prof. Roel Merckx has been appointed as the new Chair of the Integrated Partnership Board (IPB), effective 1 January 2026. Prof. Roel Merckx, a native of Belgium, professor emeritus of KU Leuven and Board Chair of IITA brings extensive leadership experience in agricultural science and capacity building in the South. His appointment comes at a pivotal moment as CGIAR accelerates its efforts toward global food, land and water systems transformation in a context of climate crisis and continues to optimize its governance through sustained engagement across the Integrated Partnership.

CGIAR is pleased to announce that Renaud Seligmann has been appointed as the new Chair of CGIAR System Council, effective 1 January 2026.

Renaud is the Director for Strategy and Operations in the Planet Vice Presidency at the World Bank. A French national, he joined the World Bank in 2007 as a Senior Financial Management Specialist in the Africa Region. He has held various positions, including Practice Manager in the Governance Global Practice, in the Africa and Middle East Regions, as well as Country Director and permanent representative of the World Bank in the Russian Federation.

This report examines agricultural transformation institutions, or Agriculture Transformation (AT) models, across Sub-Saharan Africa, providing practical, evidence-based insights into how these institutions are designed, function and adapt over time.

Commissioned by AATI, the study aims to guide future agricultural transformation efforts by governments and development partners. It compares AT models in Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo and Nigeria, highlighting differences in institutional design, governance and delivery. The report blends country case studies with cross-country insights and practical tools to support future implementation.

AATI is a partnership between the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Gates Foundation, AGRA and McKinsey & Company. The purpose of the initiative is to support the establishment or strengthening of national delivery mechanisms designed to advance agricultural transformation policies and programs in Africa. More here.

As climate risks, nutrition insecurity and market concentration intensify, agricultural biodiversity is becoming central to food system resilience.
The webinar held on 15 December 2025 explored how biodiversity-rich production systems can be integrated into global value chains without sacrificing commercial viability.
Experts examined the role of landraces, orphan crops and genetic diversity in climate adaptation and improved nutrition. The session highlighted why biodiversity is undervalued in trade and how incentives, certification and traceability can change this.
Discussions covered seed systems, regenerative practices and corporate procurement models that reward diversity.
A key focus is scaling impact through farmer-led conservation and premium markets for indigenous crops.
Speakers also addressed emerging global frameworks for measuring and valuing biodiversity.
The webinar aims to position agricultural biodiversity as a mainstream business and policy priority.

Recording here.

The fifth Workshop on Implementing the AU–EU Innovation Agenda was held on 17 December 2025 in Brussels and online, bringing together innovators, researchers and policymakers from Africa and Europe. Co-organised by the African Union, European Union and the Africa–Europe Foundation, the event focused on innovations for climate resilience and sustainable energy. Around 40 participants attended in person, with over 250 joining online. Discussions highlighted the Green Transition and its links to food security, agriculture and public health. Participants received updates on the 2025 implementation progress of the AU–EU Innovation Agenda and opportunities for engagement in 2026. Experience-sharing sessions showcased initiatives such as LEAP-RE, HENDDU, Nigeria’s Project Green Initiative and the SESA project. The workshop presented funding and scaling opportunities under programmes including LEAP-SE, RAISEAfrica and Horizon Europe. Interactive Networking Café sessions fostered collaboration on climate, energy and social innovation. The event concluded with a reaffirmed commitment to strengthening Africa–Europe partnerships for climate resilience and sustainable energy. More here.

A new online crop management support platform aims to help farmers sustainably increase crop production under climate change.
The initiative addresses the need to boost productivity using the same land and fewer inputs, particularly in Latin America.
It will provide free, science-based digital tools to support decision-making by farmers and advisors.
The project is led by a multidisciplinary research team from universities in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Honduras, and is co-financed by FONTAGRO.
The platform will use phenological models to improve crop adaptation through better cultivar and sowing date selection, while identifying strategies to reduce yield gaps and carbon footprints.
Crop simulation models will support climate-responsive agronomic management.
Training and open access to the platform will be provided to farmers, advisors and students through partner institutions.

FONTAGRO is a strategic co-financing fund and regional cooperation mechanism for agricultural innovation in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Spain, founded by finance ministers to promote sustainable agri-food systems through research, development, and knowledge sharing, backed by entities like the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).  More here.

Two new topics have been jointly decided by the funders amongst Southeast Asia and Europe. The 10th Joint Funding Call will soon open, bringing new opportunities for researchers and innovators across Europe and Southeast Asia to collaborate on cutting-edge solutions. Topics for the 10th call: New Materials & Green Transition and Climate-Resilient Smart Agriculture using AI & IoT.

More here.