Addressing climate change and protecting the environment are among the greatest challenges of our time, and food loss and waste (FLW) is a major contributor to both issues. A workshop on “Food Loss and Waste Prevention in Sub-Saharan Africa” was held in Nairobi, Kenya from 17-18 April 2024.

The workshop which brought together active food loss and waste stakeholders from across SSA discussed regional context and circumstances for action on food loss and waste prevention, including the challenges and options for action at policy and practice level.

The two-day workshop was jointly organized by the Thünen Institute (Germany), the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (New Zealand), the UN Sustainable Development Solution Network (France) and the University of Nairobi (Kenya).

New Zealand, through the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA) supported the workshop and was represented by Dr Ackim Mwape from the New Zealand Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC).  Dr Mwape delivered a keynote address during the opening of the workshop where he emphasized the need to quantify the magnitude, composition, and geographical location of lost and discarded foods.  He stressed that:

“Enhanced knowledge and awareness of where along the food chain, for which foods, and in which countries, the greatest food losses are produced, is essential to decide where and how to target prevention efforts in the most effective way”.

The outcome of the workshop was a convergence of three overarching challenges and priorities across the region:

• Quantifying and tracking of FLW at all stages of the food supply chain.
• Commitment to report FLW by all actors in the food chain, addressing existing data gaps.
• Awareness and education of the population on FLW prevention

The CFS Network have recently published a policy brief on assessing and improving Nitrogen cycling in agricultural production with examples from Flanders (Belgium) and the Netherlands. Check it out here or by clicking on the image below.

Closing Date: 30 April 2024, 5 pm (NZST)

Location: New Zealand

The New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC), in partnership with New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has launched a multi-year scholarship and fellowship programme. The programme will be open to those working on projects focused on reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

The programme provides funding for up to five PhD students (up to three years) and up to four post-doctoral researchers (up to two years) to contribute to New Zealand-based research programmes targeting a reduction in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

The programme funding covers stipend and tuition fees (PhD), or salary and research costs/overheads (Post-doctoral). For more details including eligibility & funding details please see: https://www.nzagrc.org.nz/domestic/capacity-development/early-career-researcher-funding

Step 1 of the process for awarding the scholarships/fellowships is an open call for New Zealand based research projects that would be suitable for hosting either a PhD student or post-doctoral fellow. The call is open from 8 April to 30 April 2024.

 If you have a project which you think would be a good fit, please complete the application form at https://www.nzagrc.org.nz/domestic/capacity-development/early-career-researcher-funding and submit to [email protected] before 5pm, 30 April 2024.

Once the successful projects have been selected, the NZAGRC will facilitate an applicant selection process, including advertising for applicants, short-listing, and working with host organisations to interview and select preferred applicants.

This third call is open for submission of proposals until 6 June 2024.

On 10 April 2024, the third and final Call under the pilot Joint Research Initiative between Ireland and New Zealand was launched by Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). The pilot Joint Research initiative was launched by DAFM and MPI in 2022, following the signing of a Memorandum of Arrangement between both organizations in May 2022. This provided for the establishment a 3-year pilot Joint Research Initiative (JRI) over the period 2022 to 2024 in recognition of the strong existing research connections and the common challenges facing the agri-food sectors in both Ireland and New Zealand. Over €14 million in joint funding was awarded to eight research projects from 2022 and 2023 Call.

Ireland press release,

New Zealand press release

2024 Ireland – New Zealand Joint Research Call

The 2024 Joint Research Call between Ireland and New Zealand opened on 10 April 2024 and invites eligible Research Performing Organisations (RPOs) from Ireland to submit joint research proposals, with collaborating partners from New Zealand.

There are four research topics in the Call:

• Topic 1: Refinement of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions inventories through the development of emission factors for methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide.
• Topic 2: Development and assessment of technologies, including Methane and Nitrogen inhibitors, for the mitigation of GHGs from ruminant systems.
• Topic 3: Data and digitalisation, including the standardisation of methodologies, to support climate-related action and management practices in agriculture.

Two webinars for applicants will be held jointly by DAFM and MPI for interested Irish and New Zealand researchers to provide an overview about all relevant aspects of the Call and provide time to answer open questions. These will be held on:

• 30th April 2024 at 10:00 NZT (webinar hosted by MPI for New Zealand applicants –  register here )
• 25th April 2024 at 10:00 IST (webinar hosted by DAFM for Irish applicants – register here)

Call Timeline

The Joint Research Call follows a one-stage submission procedure with a deadline for the submission of full proposals on 6th June 2024 . Indicative Research Call timelines are outlined below.

Deadline for applications: 28 April 2024
Organisation: Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola (College of Agricultural Engineering), Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil

In 2018, Law 16.684/2018 was approved in Brazil, establishing the State Policy on Agroecology and Organic Production (Peapo) in the state of São Paulo, followed by the participatory development of the State Plan on Agroecology and Organic Production (Pleapo) in 2022. Through a partnership between researchers, public officials, and representatives of civil society, this project aims to support the implementation of Peapo and Pleapo through participation and the establishment of territorial governance structures. This project has received approval under the FAPESP process number 2023/10150-1 and is supported by the Public Policy Research Program (PPPP) in Brazil.

Title of the project: State Policy on Agroecology and Organic Production (Peapo) and State Plan on Agroecology and Organic Production (Pleapo) of the state of São Paulo: implementation and territorial governance
Principal Investigator: Vanilde Ferreira de Souza Esquerdo
Email for applications: [email protected]
Knowledge area: Agronomy
Deadline for applications: April 28, 2024
Start of the fellowship: May 2024
Area of operation: Rural Extension

To download the call and to see more information please click HERE.

Closing date: 26 April 2024
Location: Ireland

Teagasc has expanded its Research and Knowledge Transfer programmes, committing significant resources to rapidly advance science and implement measures for sustainable agriculture. The Teagasc Climate Centre, supported by substantial capital investment, integrates new staff with existing research teams across the organisation. The Climate Centre Operations Manager post is a new and exciting position offering the successful candidate the opportunity to lead the development and management of the new Teagasc Climate Centre – a multi-location Centre of Excellence for climate and biodiversity research.

Further information and application details can be found HERE.