Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Australian International Food Security Centre (AIFSC) have announced a 4-year, C$15m ($14.42m) research partnership to improve food security in Africa.
The project, which is a part of Cultivate Africa's Future (CultiAF) initiative, will leverage the potential for innovation among the region's smallholder farmers, the majority of whom are women, in order to combat hunger in sub-Saharan Africa.
This announcement was made at the 2013 Africa Agricultural Science Week conference.
The project will help promote food security in Eastern and Southern Africa by addressing persistent problems such as post-harvest losses, malnutrition, poor product quality, and inefficient water use.
Managed by IDRC, and funded equally by IDRC and AIFSC, CultiAF contributes to Canada's and Australia's commitment to combat hunger, food and insecurity throughout the developing world.
IDRC president Jean Lebel said that the program will support research to find more effective ways to increase productivity and food security.
"Canada's IDRC is pleased to partner with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) to advance ideas and innovative breakthroughs that increase food security through practical science for development," Lebel added.
Australian International Food Security Centre director Mellissa Wood said, "Australia and Canada prioritize food security as a key element in our aid agendas, and recognize the untapped potential of innovation for smallholder farmers in helping food reach those who need it."
Under the project, research organizations from ten countries - Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe - are eligible to compete for grants of up to C$3m ($2.88m( each.
Winning collaborative research projects should help smallholder farmers reduce post-harvest loss of crops; improve yields and livestock productivity through better water use; and improve nutrition. Resulting innovations are expected to be of use to other parts of Africa and will support national and regional food security efforts on the continent.
CultiAF builds on Canadian and Australian leadership in research innovation and food security throughout the world.
