The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), in collaboration with South African and Malawian institutions, is establishing the African-German Centre of Excellence for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems and Applied Agricultural and Food Data Science. Scheduled to commence operations in January 2025, the centre marks a major milestone in advancing agricultural research and fostering innovation across Southern Africa.
The initiative brings together multiple institutions to train young scientists in transdisciplinary research and ensure that research findings benefit stakeholders in business, politics, and civil society. Its core goals include empowering early-career researchers, facilitating knowledge transfer, and addressing critical agricultural and food system challenges through a comprehensive approach.
The centre’s primary collaborators include three South African universities—the University of the Western Cape, the University of Pretoria, and the University of Mpumalanga—as well as Malawi’s Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Germany’s University of Hohenheim will also play a pivotal role in the project.
Backed by over €6.5 million in funding from German federal ministries, the centre will operate until 2029. The Federal Foreign Office (AA) will cover operational expenses, while the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) will finance one academic chair in South Africa and support German doctoral and postdoctoral researchers. The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) will provide scholarships for African doctoral and postdoctoral students, and South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF) will fund a second academic chair in the country through its Department of Science and Innovation (DSI).
“The centre is a cornerstone for strengthening agricultural and nutritional research in Africa, and its potential for transforming food systems is immense,” DAAD representatives stated.
By integrating teaching, research, and capacity-building, the African-German Centre aims to tackle urgent food security and agricultural challenges while fostering collaboration between Africa and Germany. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing sustainable food systems and empowering the next generation of agricultural leaders in Africa.
Article by Nyokabi Wanjiku
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