AUTHORS: Cecilia D’Alessandro (ECDPM), Gianpiero Menza (CGIAR) and Nora Hiller (IEEP)

Addressing the challenges of sustainable food systems in Africa requires not only groundbreaking research but also effective mechanisms for the uptake and scaling of innovations. However, without clear pathways to adoption, even the most promising solutions risk being confined to research papers and pilot projects.

This policy brief focuses on the critical importance of fostering the uptake and impact of research and innovation (R&I) in agrifood systems, particularly within the context of EU-Africa collaboration.

As Africa faces mounting challenges from climate change, resource scarcity, and food insecurity, R&I should not only produce innovative solutions but also facilitate their widespread adoption and scaling. Achieving sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agrifood systems in Africa requires translating science and technological advances into practical, large-scale applications.

This policy brief examines the EU-Africa R&I partnership, addressing key barriers to innovation uptake and exploring how to facilitate the scaling of agrifood innovations. It also draws on insights from other global initiatives and the broader innovation landscape, offering a comprehensive perspective on the challenges and opportunities in promoting the uptake of innovation.

The brief identifies several key factors for successful innovation uptake, including multi-stakeholder collaboration, long-term institutional support, market-driven solutions, and local leadership. The brief outlines the following recommendations:

1. Maintain strong EU investment in food systems R&I: ensure long-term, predictable funding to bridge the gap between research and application, supporting African-led innovation ecosystems.
2. Strengthen synergy between EU institutions: improve coordination between EU actors to align priorities and roles.
3. Strengthen knowledge platforms and learning mechanisms: facilitate multi-actor dialogue and improve monitoring and evaluation systems.
4. Prioritise long-term, patient capital: focus on financial mechanisms that enable iterative development and support local needs.
5. De-risk private sector investments: leverage blended finance and guarantees to attract private-sector capital for high-risk innovations.
6. Support market pathways and commercialisation: develop EU-African R&I funding streams that include market pathways and scaling support for startups and SMEs.
7. Embed local ownership and leadership: engage African actors in co-designing and leading R&I initiatives to address the needs of smallholder farmers and underserved communities.
8. Adopt a holistic ecosystem approach: strengthen regulatory frameworks, infrastructure, and capacity-building efforts to promote scaling.

This briefing was produced in the context of the European Sustainable Agriculture Dialogue (ESAD). ESAD is a multi-stakeholder platform created in 2019 and coordinated by IEEP that brings together key actors from across society – including industry, civil society, universities, and research centres – to discuss key topics, exchange our views and standpoints, and ultimately shape decisions toward sustainable agriculture.

Cover photo by Tim Oun on Unsplash