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Knowledge Centre for Global Food and Nutrition Security

We support the EU global commitment to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition through a dedicated, reinforced science-policy interface and a fostered inter-policy dialogue.

  • Page | Last updated: 13 Jun 2024

EU Research and Innovation activities on "Climate extremes and food security": highlight on DeSIRA initiative

Global Food and Nutrition Security

DeSIRA

The "Development of Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture" (DeSIRA) initiative was launched in 2018. The objective of DeSIRA is to contribute to climate-relevant, productive and sustainable transformation of agriculture and food systems in low and middle-incomes countries.

DeSIRA has 3 pillars:

  • Pillar 1: Research and innovation in agricultural and food systems: Fostering innovation in agriculture and food systems based on agroecological principles;
  • Pillar 2: Research infrastructure conducive to Innovation: Supporting the organizations in charge of the governance of research at regional, continental and global level;
  • Pillar 3: Knowledge and evidence to feed policy design: Drawing lessons for better research and innovation policies.

The funding is coming from the European Commission and represents around €300 million.

The latest Annual Global Report of the DeSIRA Initiative is available here.

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DeSIRA-LIFT

DeSIRA-LIFT (Leveraging the DeSIRA Initiative for Agri-Food Systems Transformation) is a service project (June 2021 – May 2024) to the European Commission with the main objective to enhance the impact of the DeSIRA Initiative by providing (on-demand) services to DeSIRA project holders and partners. DeSIRA-LIFT includes three service areas aligned to the three DeSIRA Pillars:

Service Area 1 supports country-led DeSIRA projects to enhance their impacts on climate-oriented innovation systems in line with more sustainable food system transitions;

Service Area 2 supports the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

Service Area 3 supports policy makers on themes related to agricultural research for development (AR4D) and innovation policies and programming.

DeSIRA-LIFT produces evidence-based knowledge to support the transformation of agri-food systems towards sustainability and inclusivity, particularly in least developed countries. The Community of Practice aims at sharing and learning about challenges and practices in managing for impacts in Research and Innovation projects of the DeSIRA Initiative.

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