Agrinatura Conference 2026

26–27 May , 2026. University of Reading, UK. Agrinatura Conference 2026 and its General Assembly. Conference Theme: "Shaping Future Food Systems through Research & Innovation" / "Anticipating Change and the Role of Research in Shaping Future Food Systems".

 
Key Discussions:

• Identifying key signals already reshaping global food systems.
  
• Plausible futures and transformation pathways heading toward 2035–2050.
• Cross-cutting themes of equity, inclusion, and the valorisation of local knowledge.
• Strategic choices for research institutions, partnerships, and networks.

The 2026 Agrinatura Conference and General Assembly brought together universities, research organizations, development partners, and agricultural innovation networks to discuss how research and innovation can help shape future food systems. Under the theme “Shaping Future Food Systems through Research & Innovation” and the subtitle “Anticipating Change and the Role of Research in Shaping Future Food Systems,” the event focused on identifying major drivers of change affecting agriculture and food systems, including climate change, technological transformation, shifting trade patterns, and evolving societal expectations.

The conference emphasized foresight and long-term thinking, exploring possible food system futures between 2035 and 2050. Discussions examined how research institutions, universities, and development organizations can better anticipate emerging challenges and opportunities. Key themes included multi-actor innovation, climate resilience, digital food systems, research–policy interfaces, and the role of partnerships in accelerating sustainable transformation. Participants also highlighted the importance of equity, inclusion, and the recognition of local and indigenous knowledge as essential components of future food system innovation.

Alongside the conference, Agrinatura’s General Assembly addressed the network’s institutional agenda, including future activities, collaborative projects, working groups, partnerships, and organizational development. The meeting served as a platform for members and partners to reflect on strategic priorities and strengthen cooperation across research and development networks working on sustainable agriculture and food systems. The event also attracted representatives from international organizations and regional agricultural research networks, including partners associated with GFAiR, reinforcing the importance of global collaboration in addressing food security, sustainability, and innovation challenges.

For more information on the conference outcomes, presentations, and related documents, you can visit the SIANI Event Page or the Agrinatura Annual Meetings Portal.

Selection of speakers:

• Dr Leonard Mizzi of the European Commission gave a keynote presentation on global food systems transformations  and providing the geopolitical perspective, while highlighting the importance of scaling innovations, building new alliances with the private sector, developing #investment pitches, and generating robust evidence to inform policy.
• Patrick CARON 
• Patrick Okori 
• Katja Vuori 
• Petronella Chaminuka emphasised the need to connect local and global innovators, strengthen science–policy interfaces, engage in more dialogue to reduce polarisation, eengage in equitable partnerships and reinforce the role of science in imagining and shaping possible futures. 
• Eugenia Saini 
• Shenggen Fan 
• Aggrey Agumya 
• Ravi Khetarpal & Romano De Vivo : global and regional perspectives from Latin America, Africa, Asia on the importance of interdisciplinary approaches, leveraging finance and investment, and equipping the next generation of scientists with new skills for a rapidly changing world shaped by AI and emerging #technologies. 
• Jim Woodhill strategic insights
• Paul Lindley OBE offered a compelling example of impact at scale through the story of Ella's Kitchen company — connecting innovation, nutrition, and consumer behaviour while demonstrating how research, constant innovation and entrepreneurship can drive meaningful societal change.
• Jelle Maas Wageningen University & Research facilitated the "Multi-actor innovation and private sector engagement" thematic track

Key takeaways were:

• genuine equitable partnerships are the key 
• we need different stakeholders and different knowledge systems if we want to find solutions that are locally relevant but also have potential to scale
• systemic challenges require systemic solutions, research for development needs to be demand driven and address several issues at the same time - climate adaptation, value chain structuration, access to markets and finance, nutrition 
• not every project can solve everything but more holistic thinking and new types of skills and competencies are needed
• there is nothing wrong with transactional cooperation - provided it is not extractive  but based on genuine partnerships 

Highlight: How can Africa–Europe partnerships become more anticipatory, coordinated and implementation-oriented in addressing the food systems poly crisis?

At the Agrinatura Conference 2026, the session on “Navigating the Food Systems Polycrisis” combined provocations, panel reflections and a participatory exercise where participants drew future food systems and reflected on what to change and how to change it. 

Key reflections: 

🌱 stronger coordination across stakeholders

🌱 linking producers and consumers

🌱 strengthening bottom-up processes through the IRC anchor institutions

🌱 involving local actors in co-creation and policy ownership

🌱 foresight and scenario analysis to anticipate climate shocks and future risks

🌱 mechanisms that better connect evidence, policy and implementation

Participants identified several practical pathways for change: • integrating health approaches into agri-food policy

• changing consumer mindsets through awareness and alternatives
• incentives and PPP finance mechanisms for producers
• collaboration between governments, universities, farmers, banks and the private sector
• self-sustaining “green fertiliser” systems
• addressing ecological and social sustainability together, including biodiversity and climate issues
• strengthening local leadership, education, co-creation and CSOs

A strong takeaway from the discussion: fragmented efforts are no longer enough. Anticipatory research, stronger coordination, local ownership and continuous monitoring of changing contexts are essential to support scalable food systems transformation across Africa and Europe.

Background:

The International Research Consortium (IRC) on Food, Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA) is a bi-continental, AU–EU co-owned platform under the HLPD on STI. It operationalizes the FNSSA 2027–2036 Roadmap through six interdependent Functional Working Groups (FWGs) that act as a “network of networks,” co-led by African and European institutions and anchored by regional implementing partners. The FWGs are the IRC’s operational engine to translate priorities into measurable outcomes, investment alignment, and policy uptake.

The IRC Functional Working Groups Research – knowledge generation and scientific advancement

1. Education – human capital development and skills transfer
2. Advisory Services – knowledge translation and community engagement
3. Policy Think Tank – evidence-informed policy support and foresight
4. Agrofood Enterprises (Industry) – innovation uptake, commercialization, SME growth
5. Funding – resource mobilization and financial sustainability

Who Can Apply

Eligible entities are “networks of actors” across the AU–EU R&I space that are signatories to the AU–EU IRC on FNSSA or part of the CEA-FIRST/IRC community.