AU and EU Will Strengthen Global Food Security Research
African and European partners will adopt new multi-year strategic roadmaps in late 2026 to address climate and nutrition.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Nutrition
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Do you believe international research partnerships are an effective way to improve food and energy security?
The African Union and European Union are advancing long-term research partnerships to tackle food security and climate change. These collaborative efforts, which focus on sustainable development and resilience, are set to scale up through new roadmaps and funding cycles starting in late 2026.
Why it matters
These partnerships aim to enhance access to safe food, raise incomes, and strengthen rural development across two continents. By focusing on climate adaptation and mitigation, the collaboration helps build more resilient food systems against environmental instability.
A comprehensive review of 267 FNSSA projects totaled nearly EUR 1 billion in funding, with EUR 575 million dedicated specifically to sustainable intensification. These figures represent a multi-year effort that has involved over 70 African entities across 23 countries in climate projects.
The players
African Union
A continental body working to accelerate Africa's integration and improve public health and food security.
European Union
An international organization managing regional development programs and cross-border research funding.
Horizon Europe
The EU's key funding program for research and innovation that addresses global health and climate challenges.
The details
The AU-EU International Research Consortium facilitates this coordination by operationalizing a strategic research roadmap across the two regions. Funding agencies employ joint calls to solicit and vet research proposals from diverse African and European organizations. This structure supports ongoing initiatives like the LEAP-RE and LEAP-SE programs, which focus on energy efficiency and sustainable systems, while preparing for a major Horizon Europe pan-African climate co-fund.
Timeline
2017: The CCSE partnership began funding research projects.
2021: The LEAP-RE program initiated its first joint research calls.
2025: The LEAP-SE call launched 16 new projects alongside the CS4RRA transnational call.
October 2026: The second AU-EU R&I Ministerial Meeting will convene and launch the LEAP Energy+ startup studio.
Early 2028: The Horizon Europe pan-African climate co-fund is scheduled to begin.
Health Landscape
This development aligns with the established framework of the AU-EU Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA) partnership. It marks an expansion of cross-continental research models that address nutrition and climate resilience as interdependent health priorities.
These partnerships focus on long-term systemic improvements to food access and climate-resilient agriculture that support international nutrition standards. While these high-level policies do not provide immediate individual medical advice, the research results will eventually inform global recommendations on food safety and agricultural sustainability.
The takeaway
Large-scale international research partnerships are critical to ensuring future food stability and climate resilience. Readers can stay informed by following updates from regional health and development agencies regarding changes to agricultural policies and food supply security.
What happens next
The second AU-EU R&I Ministerial Meeting will take place in October 2026, followed by the launch of the LEAP Energy+ startup studio.
Further reading
Learn more about global research initiatives at the Nutrition section.
More information
View the complete list of initiatives via the Africa-EU research project database.
Live Poll
Do you believe international research partnerships are an effective way to improve food and energy security?
