From August 19 to 21, the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University (SU) had the privilege of hosting a delegation from Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), led by Prof. Rogerio Chiulele. The visit marked a significant step forward in the partnership between the two institutions, which recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on capacity building and research in food systems.

The partnership is already showing promising results, with co-supervised PhD students in agricultural economics. This collaboration is expected to expand into other agricultural disciplines, bolstered by UEM’s World Bank-funded Centre of Excellence and a mutual commitment to exploring areas of synergy.

During the visit, discussions focused on sustainable production systems for grains, small stock, livestock, wildlife, and vegetables in the region. Both institutions also identified areas of interest along the value chain, particularly in non-invasive food safety techniques and post-harvest technologies, which they aim to develop further. Additionally, the group explored opportunities for collaboration on agricultural policy and policy enablers to enhance market access and trade.

From left to right: Dr Williams, Prof Zavale, Prof Tchama, Prof Tivana and Prof Chiulele in the Food Science laboratory.

We extend our gratitude to the Centre for African Collaboration for funding the visit, which made these productive meetings possible. A special thank you also goes to UEM for their time, as well as their sponsorship of staff travel and accommodation, which contributed to a fruitful period of planning for future research and collaboration.

Article supplied by: Mrs Julia Harper
Edited by: Ms Precious Canham