Comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Agricultural Research and Extension in Africa
―JIRCAS and SAA Collaboration to Promote the Dissemination of Technology to Smallholder armers in Africa―

JIRCAS and the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on May 18, 2023 (Thursday) at the JIRCAS Headquarters (Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture) to establish a comprehensive collaboration on agricultural research and extension in Africa.

Africa is facing a food security crisis due to a long period of low agricultural productivity. In addition, recent climate change and changing social conditions have made it difficult for smallholder farmers, who make up about 70% of Africa's farmers, to engage in sustainable and stable agricultural activities.

In this context, SAA has been promoting improved agricultural technologies for smallholder farmers for more than 35 years. Through its three pillars of work - regenerative agriculture, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and market-oriented agriculture - SAA contributes to improving food security, nutrition, and incomes for people in Africa.

JIRCAS conducts experimental research to improve technologies related to agriculture, forestry and fisheries in developing regions, and through many years of international collaborative research has developed technologies that contribute to soil fertility management and improved food production on poor soils in Africa, taking into account local climatic, soil and socio-economic conditions. JIRCAS and SAA have a long history of collaboration in Africa.

JIRCAS and SAA co-hosted the "Healthy Soils for Food Security in Africa" side event at the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD8) last year. The two organizations discussed the possibility of future collaboration through discussions on regenerative agriculture that can be implemented by smallholder farmers in Africa. Extensive cooperation between the two organizations based on this MOU is expected to contribute to the efficient dissemination of various scientifically evaluated agricultural technologies to smallholder farmers in Africa and to the resolution of issues related to food security in Africa.

Professor Ruth Oniang’o, Chair of the SAA Board of Directors, also attended the MOU signing ceremony and expressed her congratulations and expectations for future efforts.

JIRCAS President　KOYAMA Osamu

Program Director：

NAKASHIMA Kazuo (Food Program)

Principal Investigator：

NAKAMURA Satoshi (Crop, Livestock and Environment Division) 

Press Coordinator：

OMORI Keisuke (Head, Information and Public Relations Office)
E-mail：koho-jircas@ml.affrc.go.jp

TOKOSUE Sayaki (Corporate Communications Officer, SAA) 
E-mail：tokusue@saa-safe.org