Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)

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    Reimagining Agricultural Research in Africa: Demand, Innovation and Transformation
    (FARA, 2026-07) Fatunbi A. O., Odeke M., Njukwe E., Munoko K., Mabuza M.
    Reimagining Agricultural Research in Africa: Demand, Innovation and Transformation examines the current state, challenges, opportunities, and future trajectory of agricultural research systems across Africa. The publication argues that strong, well-funded, and competitive agricultural research systems are fundamental to achieving food security, economic growth, climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and agricultural transformation across the continent. The book situates agricultural research at the center of Africa’s development agenda and explores how investments in science, innovation, education, and technology can drive the transformation of agrifood systems. It reviews the evolution of National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), regional research organizations, universities, innovation platforms, and continental initiatives such as CAADP, Agenda 2063, STISA-2034, the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa, the Soil Initiative for Africa, and the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan. The publication introduces forward-looking concepts including Agricultural Research Sovereignty, the Agricultural Research Transformation Index, and the Africa Agricultural Research Transformation Framework, offering practical pathways for strengthening African-led research systems that are globally competitive, digitally enabled, and capable of accelerating innovation and development outcomes.
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    2026–2030 Knowledge Management Partnership Framework for Agricultural Research for Development in Africa
    (FARA, 2026-07) CAADP-XP4 Consortium, CGIAR, KM4AgD CoP, & African Union Commission
    The Knowledge Management Partnership Framework for AR4D in Africa (2026–2030) provides a continental strategic framework for strengthening collaboration on knowledge management among the African Union Commission, CAADP-XP4 consortium institutions, CGIAR, and related African agricultural research and innovation partners. The framework repositions knowledge management from a narrow focus on repositories and dissemination toward a broader system of adaptive learning, implementation intelligence, institutional change, and impact-oriented knowledge ecosystems that support the transformation of Africa’s agrifood systems. FARA African Union Building on the 2023–2025 framework, the document responds to evolving continental priorities under the Kampala CAADP Declaration and the CAADP Strategy and Action Plan 2026–2035, which emphasize science, technology, innovation, learning, foresight, and implementation. It establishes a shared vision of an African agricultural research and innovation ecosystem in which knowledge is intentionally governed, shared, co-created, and applied to accelerate resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agrifood transformation. FARA African Union The framework defines strategic objectives covering KM governance, adaptive learning, digital knowledge infrastructure, AI readiness, indigenous knowledge integration, coordinated dissemination, and evidence of KM contribution to transformation outcomes. It outlines governance arrangements, implementation mechanisms, monitoring and learning processes, and expected results by 2030, including stronger institutionalization of KM, more coherent continental collaboration, enhanced African agricultural knowledge infrastructure, improved capacity sharing, and greater recognition of indigenous knowledge systems.
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    AUSO Newsletter - Issue 001
    (FARA, 2026-07-01) AUSO
    The inaugural issue of the AUSO Newsletter provides an overview of progress made during the first year of implementation of the African Union Soil Observatory (AUSO) project. It highlights key milestones achieved in strengthening soil health monitoring, developing soil information systems, promoting sustainable land management, and building a continent-wide soil information ecosystem that supports evidence-based decision-making for agriculture, food security, and climate resilience. The newsletter introduces the objectives of AUSO, emphasizing its role in establishing a user-friendly Soil Observatory comprising a Soil Data Centre and Soil Health Dashboard to address soil data gaps across Africa. It also showcases major project activities, including the project launch, data management training programmes, continental surveys, strategic partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and preparations for upcoming scientific and policy events. Designed as a periodic communication publication, the newsletter serves as an outreach and knowledge-sharing platform for partners, policymakers, researchers, development practitioners, and other stakeholders interested in advancing harmonized soil information systems and sustainable soil management across Africa.
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    Diversity and consumer perception of Neglected and Underutilise Crop Species (NUS) in the North West Region of Cameroon
    (2026-06) Ethelyn Echep Forschibe, Glenn-Neuville Akwenui, Akwa Nerine Kecha, Ignatius Azeteh
    This Presentation explores the study of the diversity of Neglected and Underutilized Crop Species in Bamenda, Cameroon, and how consumer perception influences their consumption.
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    Africa Manifesto and Plan of Action on Forgotten Foods
    (FARA, 2021) FARA, GFAR, CAADXP4
    The Africa Manifesto and Plan of Action on Forgotten Foods presents a continental framework for promoting the production, utilization, conservation, and commercialization of forgotten foods in Africa. The document argues that Africa's increasing food insecurity is linked to an overreliance on a limited number of staple crops and the gradual abandonment of traditional food systems. Forgotten foods are identified as valuable resources with significant nutritional, medicinal, economic, cultural, and environmental benefits that can contribute to food security, poverty reduction, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods. The manifesto highlights the limited research, policy attention, extension support, and market development devoted to forgotten foods and calls for coordinated action among governments, research institutions, development partners, private sector actors, and farming communities. It proposes strategic interventions including awareness creation, research and innovation, participatory breeding, sustainable seed systems, conservation of genetic resources, market development, capacity strengthening, policy advocacy, curriculum integration, and resource mobilization. The document serves as both a policy advocacy instrument and a strategic roadmap for integrating forgotten foods into Africa’s agricultural transformation agenda, while contributing to the achievement of food and nutrition security, climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development goals.
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    Compendium of Forgotten Foods in Africa
    (FAO, 2024) FAO, FARA
    The Compendium of Forgotten Foods in Africa is a comprehensive reference resource documenting 100 forgotten food crops prioritized by stakeholders across Africa. Developed by FAO and FARA, the publication provides detailed information on botanical classification, agroecological suitability, agronomic requirements, nutritional composition, traditional and medicinal uses, and value-addition opportunities for a wide range of indigenous African food species. The compendium was produced as a response to the United Nations Food Systems Summit and the Global Manifesto on Forgotten Foods, providing evidence-based information to support the integration of forgotten foods into African food systems. It contributes to efforts aimed at improving access to nutritious foods, promoting sustainable consumption patterns, strengthening nature-positive food production systems, advancing equitable livelihoods, and enhancing resilience to shocks and climate-related challenges. Designed as a practical sourcebook, the publication serves researchers, nutritionists, policymakers, development practitioners, and other stakeholders seeking to promote, conserve, research, and commercialize Africa’s forgotten foods as part of broader food systems transformation initiatives.
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    Demystifying Indigenous Knowledge systems as Superstition in Advancing African Agriculture
    (FARA, 2026-05-28) Benjamin B. Jabik (PhD)
    This presentation examines the role of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in advancing sustainable agricultural development in Africa and challenges the tendency to dismiss local knowledge as superstition. The author argues that Indigenous Knowledge represents a systematic, experience-based, and context-specific body of knowledge developed by local communities through long-term interaction with their environment. Using qualitative and ethnographic approaches, the presentation distinguishes Indigenous Knowledge from myths and superstition by emphasizing its practical utility, ecological specificity, cultural grounding, and intergenerational transmission. The discussion highlights the importance of Indigenous Knowledge in agricultural resilience, biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, seasonal forecasting, agroforestry, soil fertility management, and sustainable farming systems. The presentation further advocates for integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems into agricultural research, policy, curriculum development, and innovation systems in Africa. It concludes that documenting, investing in, and institutionalizing Indigenous Knowledge can contribute significantly to sustainable agricultural transformation, climate resilience, and locally driven innovation across the continent.
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    Letter of Agreement between the African Union Soil Observatory (AUSO) Horizon Europe Project and the Soil Health Monitoring and Information Systems for Sustainable Soil Management in the Mediterranean Region (SOILS4MED) PRIMA Project
    (FARA, 2026-05) FARA, AUSO, Soils4Med, UNISS, EU
    This Letter of Agreement (LoA) formalizes collaboration between the African Union Soil Observatory (AUSO) Horizon Europe Project and the SOILS4MED PRIMA Project on knowledge exchange, soil health monitoring, soil information systems, sustainable land management, and capacity building. The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between African and Mediterranean institutions working to improve soil health governance, food security, and climate resilience. The agreement outlines areas of collaboration including joint research initiatives, exchange of scientific information, organization of conferences and training programs, strengthening National Soil Information Systems (NSIS) in Africa, policy engagement, and development of soil health indicators and monitoring methodologies. The LoA further defines mechanisms for intellectual property management, collaborative agreements, data sharing, acknowledgment procedures, confidentiality requirements, and governance arrangements supporting long-term cooperation between the two projects. Annex I provides a detailed framework governing background intellectual property, access rights, use conditions, and acknowledgment requirements for datasets, methodologies, soil information system architectures, mapping tools, and training materials exchanged under the collaboration.
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