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In September 2017, the main key questions resulting in an analytical framework were formulated for the collaborative learning trajectory “Agribusiness-based Advisory Services”. In the second phase, the team selected 29 cases for the eplorative study and discussed the draft findings with core group partners on March 15, 2018. »

The Office of the Food & Business Knowledge Platform (F&BKP) has formulated answers to the nine questions of the consultation of Minister Kaag on the upcoming for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation policy. »

The Dutch agrofood sector needs to change its mindset if it is to capitalize on one of the biggest opportunities of the 21st century: feeding the growing cities of emerging economies. This was one of the main conclusions of an expert roundtable organized as part of the Innovation Network Feeding Cities. »

The study “Critical Capital for African Agrifood SMEs” evaluates the access of risk capital by agrifood small and medium enterprises. SMEs are key for establishing sustainable food systems, while at the same time face difficulties to access capital. The report was published end of February 2018 by Rabobank Foundation, AgriProFocus and ICCO Cooperation, and supported by the F&BKP. »

The third international workshop of the Food & Business Applied Research Fund (ARF) took place from February 13 to 16, 2018, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The workshop focused on on co-creation and research uptake and was organized by NWO-WOTRO and the F&BKP, in collaboration with AgriProFocus and IFPRI Ethiopia. The public seminar on the third day was entitled “The potential for nutrition-sensitive value chains”. »

Increased recognition of the role that food can play in responding to various urban sustainability concerns provides new market and engagement opportunities for the private sector. RUAF Foundation published a policy brief that reports on a recent study, implemented by RUAF and supported by the F&BKP and the CGIAR Water Land and Ecosystems Programme, on the role of the private sector in building more sustainable and resilient city region food systems. »

The F&BKP, together with NWO-WOTRO, has published a special edition of the F&BKP newsletter, dedicated to the research projects funded within the first call of the Applied Research Fund (ARF-1). The newsletter features the ARF Brochure in which the programme is presented, ARF factsheets from eight ARF-1 projects and one finalized ARF-2 project, and other outputs from the research projects. »

“We need to stretch ourselves and our outcomes, such that our Climate Smart Agriculture research has an  outreach to 7 million farmers, rather than the 350 per project that we are focusing on initially”, commented Bruce Campbell, director of CCAFS. In GCP-4, eight research projects were funded on scaling of Climate Smart Agricultural practices. The call is a first stepping stone towards the Netherlands’ partnership with the CGIAR. »

On February 1, 2018, The Broker, supported by the F&BKP, organized a workshop to conclude its project on conflict sensitive Food and Nutrition Security programming in fragile settings. Bringing together policymakers, researchers and practitioners working on food security in fragile settings, this workshop served to share the lessons learned, present the tool for conflict sensitivity, and discuss ways forward for integrating conflict sensitivity and stability into FNS programming. »