Bi-regional scientific cooperation on food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture

Abstract

This chapter argues that Africa-Europe cooperation still faces two significant challenges: first, the practical implementation of innovative solutions to the challenge of assuring food security is still lagging behind; second, equal partnerships still need to be further institutionalised in order to become more enabling of positive change. As food and nutrition security issues touch on structural socio-economic, political and even environmental constraints, they require extensive networks of research, innovation and institutional collaboration. Despite several achievements, persisting asymmetries continue to burden the achievement of food and nutrition security goals in Sub-Saharan Africa. The authors point out the strategic role that African countries could play first in cooperating with less developed European countries and in promoting alternative concepts of nutrition and environmental development on the global stage.