​The relationship between Stellenbosch University and the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) has been strengthened through the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding.

CCARDESA is a not-for-profit organisation that was set up by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in 2010. It coordinates the implementation of agricultural research and development in the SADC region. Its goal is to sustainably reduce food insecurity and poverty in Southern Africa, as pronounced in the key strategic and policy documents of SADC.

The signing took place at CCARDESA's headquarters in Gaborone in Botswana. SU's Faculty of AgriSciences was represented by Prof Kennedy Dzama, Vice Dean: Research, Postgraduate studies and Innovation, and CCARDESA by its acting executive director, Dr Baitsi Podisi.

CCARDESA and SU will capitalise on each other's strengths to undertake activities in the following jointly identified key areas of collaboration:

• Joint research and publications on strategic and emerging research topics of mutual interest;
• The exchange of scientific information, knowledge, innovation, and technologies that are ready to take to scale and delivery, as well as development processes and lessons learned; 
• The exchange of research materials, publications and other materials of common interest;
• Consultative meetings and personnel visits between the Parties;
• Placement and/or exchange of students/staff;
• Capacity development and talent growth support services including training and coaching including agricultural incubation ecosystems in identified areas in the SADC region;
• Facilitation of entrepreneurship programmes across the agricultural supply chain; and
• Conducting joint fundraising for research, capacity building, and outreach activities.

According to Prof Dzama, planning is already at an advanced stage for joint innovation and entrepreneurship programmes. It will see to it that potential entrepreneurs and innovators from SADC countries be hosted by the SU Agri-Innovation Hub, where they receive the opportunity to develop their ideas into businesses and start-ups aimed at solving problems in the agricultural sector in Southern Africa.

“One of the biggest benefits of this MoU is that the two institutions can join hands in applying for some of the mega African-wide grant calls which require extensive partnership groups to bolster strategic projects and research efforts on topics such as agricultural production, innovation and entrepreneurship," adds Prof Dzama. “Applicants often struggle to put together strong African partnerships.

“Through this partnership, SU is able to benefit from CCARDESA's vast network in Southern Africa, and in so doing contribute to efforts to improve the agricultural sector in Africa, and to work towards ensuring food security and fighting poverty among the people of our continent," says Prof Dzama. “We will be striving to exchange scientific information, knowledge, innovation, and technologies that are ready to take to scale, and learn from one another in terms of development processes and lessons learned."

Dr Podisi reiterated the value of collaborations in the region, especially given the scarcity of resources – an issue that was further exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“CCARDESA is excited to partner with SU, home to the top ranked Agrisciences faculty on the continent," he said. “We have been working together informally for many years. This MoU formalises and recognises those efforts, and we expect our network to take advantage of it."