Knowledge for Development

EU agricultural S&T dialogue

This dossier is intended as a guide to European S&T and ARD policies and programmes for the ACP community of scientists, policy makers and other stakeholders in the agricultural and related sectors and disciplines.

The Africa-EU High-Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD) on STI commissioned this study to assess existing bi-regional STI cooperation initiatives and to identify successful, best practice models of Africa and Europe cooperation. This study also identified gaps and effective financial mechanisms that could have a positive impact cooperative initiatives. In terms of collaboration, financing, and private sector participation, the report notes that the current funding landscape is rather dependent on European and on international instruments, weakening the potential of genuine co-ownership. Promising co-financing models for common research priorities are being piloted (notably by the ERAfrica consortium, www.erafrica.eu).  The report argues that joint funding, strong leadership and effective governance; clarity and understanding of joint objectives; strong interpersonal relations, equitable resource and benefits sharing, full transparency and open communication all build create mutual trust and foster co-ownership as necessary conditions for optimal efficiency. Other topics addressed by the study include: impact, success criteria, gaps, barriers and challenges.     http://hrst.au.int/en/sites/default/files/STI%20study%20final%20report%20-%20revision%20October%202013.pdf    (via CAAST-Net Plus, 19/12/2013) 28/02/2014
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This working paper examines recent experiences in North–South research partnerships, identifying worst and best practices. It draws on work undertaken by the EADI Sub-Committee on Research Partnerships over the last two years. The paper explains that research partnerships are not immune to the typically unequal, biased donor-recipient relations that have plagued international development cooperation for decades. It argues that despite improvements in recent years, entrenched behaviour and enduring practices still affect the quality and effectiveness of research partnerships. Power relations influence the ability to combine capacity building aspirations with the drive for academic excellence. Mounting pressure to publish research outcomes fast in journals edited in the North, combined with harsh competition for funding, seriously limit the time and scope available to establish equitable partnership frameworks and support institutional capacities. The paper calls for addressing funding, knowledge and power issues in development research partnerships.   (EADI Policy Paper Series, June 2014) 02/09/2014
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This document discusses the definitions, challenges and future prospects of family farming in the EU. It provides: (i) a definition of the concepts of family farming and an overview of the main figures available; (ii) an examination of the current and new challenges in economic, demographic, sociological and territorial terms; and (ii) an analysis of the future prospects for family farming. The authors, Sophia Davidova, University of Kent, UK and Kenneth Thompson of the University of Aberdeen, UK argue that the main economic challenges to family farms are access to farming resources such as land and capital, and access to markets, particularly in terms of bargaining power in the food chain. One of the key economic drivers of future changes within the family farming sector is the differential between farm incomes and incomes in the rest of the economy. Technological progress and structural change will offset certain disadvantages of some but not all family farms in respect to economic efficiency. More knowledge-intensive and innovative management will allow some family farms to grow, capture economies of scale, and maintain and increase their competitiveness in the European and world market. Family farming – often by pluri-active and diversified households – is likely to continue to dominate EU farming structure despite trends towards larger non-family farms.   (European Parliament, 04/2014) 28/07/2014
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