A position paper (8 pages) + summary (3 pages) explores how the ER&I sphere—with a specific focus on the agrifood sector—contributes to the Global Gateway. It reflects the perspectives of Agrinatura, the European Alliance on Agricultural Knowledge for Development.
Examples: ER&I Projects as Global Gateway Strategy Enablers
- VCA4D (Value Chain Analysis for Development): Provides standardized, evidence-based sustainability analyses for over 65 value chains (to date), informing EU investment decisions.
- SASI-SPI: Delivers sectoral studies focusing onto investments needs towards agrifood systems’ sustainable transformations.
- DeSIRA LIFT & LIFT+: Supports 70+ projects in co-designing climate-smart innovations and fostering policy dialogue for scaling agroecological transitions.
- GENE-LINK (2026–2029): Strengthens the link between African research labs and the private sector to valorize nature-derived products (bioeconomy).
- Coffee Value Chain Support: A holistic model integrating vocational training for agroforestry, participatory research on bio-solutions, and innovation hubs to support SMEs in meeting EU deforestation and safety standards.
Rationale
The Global Gateway responds to a rising demand for trusted, sustainable investments. Recent strategic frameworks, such as the Draghi Competitiveness Report and the Niinistö Report, underscore that Research and Innovation (R&I) must sit at the heart of Europe’s international partnerships. This aligns with the "360-degree" and "triptych" approaches adopted by DG INTPA, which integrate Higher Education, R&I, and vocational skills to power the Green and Digital transitions.
In the agrifood sector, the Global Gateway prioritizes private sector investments to build productive, sustainable value chains connecting farmers and processors to global markets. While the initiative is global, Africa remains a primary priority due to its rapid demographic growth, the central role of small-scale family farming, and existing gaps in connectivity and processing infrastructure.
To optimize ER&I investments, Agrinatura draws on lessons from the 2025 "Boosting Agrifood Research and Innovation" conference, recommending four priority actions:
- Strengthen international dialogue to align agendas (e.g., the AU-EU FNSSA Roadmap) with long-term frameworks like the Global Gateway.
- Foster innovation ecosystems (Living Labs, incubators, and accelerators) to scale interventions.
- Improve governance and coordination between EU instruments (e.g., Horizon Europe and NDICI).
- Build coherent funding mechanisms that blend public, private, and partner-country resources across all stages of innovation
Aggrey Agumya - Executive Secretary of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa on value addition and the reasons of poor food processing in Africa
Patrick Okori Executive Secretary of Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM)
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