1 The Regional Multidisciplinary Platform “Rural communities, Environment and Climate in West Africa” UE, Bruxelles 26th November, 2013

2 The Regional Multidisciplinary Platform “Rural communities, Environment and Climate in West Africa” How do European and African research, innovation and development actors cooperate ? Why must European – African actors (research, innovators, farmers,..) cooperate ? Focus on WEST AFRICA a region of high population growth, sensitive to climatic hazards, the well-being of its population depends heavily on the availability and the access to natural resources the projections for the future are uncertain, Food security, environment and climate are linked in West Africa.

3 The Regional Multidisciplinary Platform “Rural communities, Environment and Climate in West Africa” How do European and African research, innovation and development actors cooperate ? Moreover, it is estimated that 80% of Africa's population depends directly on agriculture for their livelihood and the sector has 70% of full-time jobs. a 1% increase in agricultural productivity reduces poverty by 0.6% in Africa (Source: Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa: In this perspective, small farmers have a key role to play in improving the food security and preserving natural resources Food security & the preservation of natural resources In the face of climate change Not only African challenge, but African and European shared and common interest taken into account by Bi-regional dialogue & Strategy Why must European – African actors (research, innovators, farmers,..) cooperate ?

How do European and African research, innovation and development actors cooperate ? How can European – African actors (research, innovators, farmers,..) cooperate ? Food security & the preservation of natural resources In the face of climate change Sharing a commun platform towards a commun objective At the regional scale in order to impact strategies at national & regional levels Should be tackled In a cross-disciplinary approach To promote innovations

5 At the regional scale in order to impact national & regional strategies In a cross-disciplinary approach Innovations for the resilience of rural communities and natural resources in West Africa, and promote Adaptations to climate change Innovations for the resilience of rural communities and natural resources in West Africa, and promote Adaptations to climate change Environment Rural communities Climate Food security & the preservation of natural resources In the face of climate change How can European – African actors (research, innovators, farmers,..) cooperate ? Sharing a commun platform towards a commun objective

6 Environment Rural communities Climate Merging various Scientific Expertise for New knowledge; Education & training, Innovation 66 Research Policy makers End-Users Strengthen the dialogue Between Provide EXPERTISE to decision-makers and end users Food security & the preservation of natural resources In the face of climate change How can European – African actors (research, innovators, farmers,..) cooperate ? Sharing a commun platform towards a commun objective

A regional ambition 7 4 pillars Regional Research projects Field Observatories International laboratories Capacity building How can European – African actors (research, innovators, farmers,..) cooperate ? Sharing a commun platform towards a commun objective

8 Example; Benin How can European – African actors (research, innovators, farmers,..) cooperate ? Gathering EXPERTISE At the beginning 300 scientists, from 100 institutions Large diversity of expertise (excellence scientific, on fields)

9 Example; Burkina Faso How can European – African actors (research, innovators, farmers,..) cooperate ? Gathering EXPERTISE At the beginning 300 scientists, from 100 institutions Large diversity of expertise (excellence scientific, on fields)

10 Example; Ivory Cost How can European – African actors (research, innovators, farmers,..) cooperate ? Gathering EXPERTISE At the beginning 300 scientists, from 100 institutions Large diversity of expertise (excellence scientific, on fields)

11 AMMA : West African Monsoon, its variability and its impacts examples To encourage multi-disciplinary High level regional Programmes Pillar : Regional Research projects How can European – African actors (research, innovators, farmers,..) cooperate ? Gathering EXPERTISE CEREO : ecological and social meta-rules that confer viability and sustainability to agro-socio-ecosytems (cereals) …. (see web site for others) ESCAPE : past and future vulnerability of rural communities in Africa to environmental and climate change; adaptation At the beginning 300 scientists, from 100 institutions Large diversity of expertise (excellence scientific, on fields)

12 How can European – African actors (research, innovators, farmers,..) cooperate ? Creating common infrastructure Joint Laboratory Pillar : International Lab LMI Prediction of climatic and anthropogenic impacts on Water Resources in sub-Saharan Africa LMI IESOL Ecological intensification of agricultural soils in West Africa LMI ECLAIR West-African Climate, African Monsoon, Climate change LMI PATEO Heritage and Territory of Coastal Wetlands LMI Plant Pathogens Observatory in West Africa: Biodiversity-Biotechnology-Biosafety and Biosecurity LMI LAPSE Adaptation of plant and soil microorganisms to abiotic stresses

13 PhDs students, Technical trainings To stimulate the reinforcement of building capacity of African students, and permanent staff Pillar : Building capacity How can European – African actors (research, innovators, farmers,..) cooperate ? Creating common infrastructure Joint Laboratory Pillar : International Lab

14 How can European – African actors (research, innovators, farmers,..) cooperate ? Creating common infrastructure Multidisiciplinary Observatories Pillar : Observtories Long-term monitoring from 1990’s over key regions of Land surface, Ocean, Atmosphere, Aerosols and chemistry

15 How can European – African actors (research, innovators, farmers,..) cooperate ? EXPERTISE (Science & Field)common infrastructure + To transfer of inoculation technology (symbiotic microorganisms) to famers in West Africa To monitor and forecast crop yields in west Africa (Agrhymet) To set up on field participatory plateform for Jatropha (UE-Europaid Project) Research Policy makers End-Users Able to answer to local needs (some examples) How can research advance the innovation process ?

16 An example Societal research: Partnership Research Laboratories - Producer organizations for transfer of inoculation technology (symbiotic microorganisms) How can research advance the innovation process ? Innovation plateform

17 How can research advance the innovation process ? Inoculation (addition to plant culture of microbe cells) of selected symbiotic microorganisms (rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi): - technological innovation of research, alternative to chemical fertilizers - environmentally friendly and inexpensive - improves agricultural productivity and soil fertility Soyben inoculation of in Bénin (source : P. Houngnandan) Peanuts inoculation in Senegal (source : A. Kane) Non inoculé Inoculé Non inoculéInoculé Integration of symbiotic micro-organisms in soil crop management

18 How can research advance the innovation process ? Fact: Inoculation underutilized by users West Africa Conclusive lab results but lack of in situ research Lack of dissemination of inoculation technology to users Establishment of partnership in SENEGAL  Researchers in Soil microbiology  Producer organizations  Agricultural and Rural services based on network of producers' organizations in Senegal under the leadership of CNCR (Conseil National de Concertation et de Coopération des Ruraux) Partnership approach Get to know Working together Consider a long-term collaboration Ensure capacity building Enter the research in societal project Social value of research

19 How can research advance the innovation process ? Initiative released in West Africa under leadership of ROPPA based on existing networks:  Laboratoires of microbiological research  National farmers' platforms Mali Senegal Burkina Niger Benin Project of incubation Organization of inoculum production and quality control Quality control Mass production Up-scaling using Impacts : Sustainable development and respect for users Long-term collaboration between researchers and farmers Appropriation and diffusion of innovations driven by the Producer Organisations (OPs) Present demand of producers: inoculum in mass and of quality Need partnership with the private sector Social value of research

20 How can research advance the innovation process ? Research Policy makers End-Users Monitoring and forecasting the crop yields in Africa An example Observation of millet cropping systems in Niger Research topic: Impact of climate on crop yields Development, improvement of a crop model in Niger Main collaborations : CIRAD (Montpellier) et AGRHYMET (Niamey) The crop model is now used by AGHRYMET to provide a monthly bulletin of monitoring and forecasting of the cropping season

21 Large diversity of Scientific “expertise” For Innovation and Participatory R&D Large diversity of Infrastructure For building capacity Field Observatories For long term multi-disciplinary surveys The Regional Multidisciplinary Platform “Rural communities, Environment and Climate in West Africa” Environment Rural communities Climate 21 Research Policy makers End-Users

22 The Regional Multidisciplinary Platform “Rural communities, Environment and Climate in West Africa” Environment Rural communities Climate 22 Research Policy makers End-Users SREC a West African - French network BUT wish to move from an African- French level to a more African – European Level WISH to share SREC to European partners : Sharing forces and scientific competences Identifying synergies and Seeing how to work together Strengthen Researcher - end users - policy makers links Being more competitive for funds

23 Thank you for your attention