Green Futures: Capacity and Cooperation for Transforming Agriculture

The main objective of the "Green Futures" project is to strengthen and support marginalized groups in the agricultural sector in southern Africa through knowledge transfer and capacity development. The target groups are women, young and smallholder farmers, as well as university students, taking into account gender and role sensitivity. The beneficiary countries of the project in Southern Africa include Zambia and South Africa.

The project goal of strengthening and supporting marginalized groups in the agricultural sector in Southern Africa is to be achieved through various knowledge transfer activities supervised by Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (HSWT) and the University of Stellenbosch (SU) and carried out in cooperation with the University of Zambia (UNZA) in Zambia and South Africa respectively. In addition, experts from Kenya from the Jaramogi Oginga Odina University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) and Senegal from the Université du Sine Saloum El-Hâdji Ibrahima NIASS (USSEIN) will be involved in the knowledge transfer.

The project addresses regional and local challenges and draws on the knowledge of experts from Germany, South Africa, Zambia, Kenya and Senegal. The research expertise of all partners involved lies in the agricultural and food sector.In addition, the entire value chain from food production in agriculture to processing and consumption is covered with specific topics. Instead of choosing only one specific research topic, this project covers different aspects of the food value chain and starts with food production in agriculture.

In particular, the project focuses on food security and gender equality: the empowerment of marginalized groups in the agricultural context. Methodologically, this empowerment is implemented by offering activities and courses aimed specifically at marginalized groups. In "Green Futures", the knowledge and structures of the local African partner universities are to be used and strengthened by the practical experience of the HSWT in industrial partnerships and applied research.