The AGRECOFARM project (Project No. 101128399, "AGRoECOlogical FARMing master programme for a sustainable agriculture in West Africa"), funded under Erasmus+ Key Action 2 – Capacity Building in Higher Education (Strand 2: Partnerships for Transformation in Higher Education), runs from 1 December 2023 to 30 November 2026 and brings together 10 partner institutions from Italy, France, Austria, Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, coordinated by the University of Basilicata (Italy). The project aims to promote a transition toward sustainable agricultural systems in sub-Saharan Africa by strengthening higher education, research, and the practical implementation of agroecological approaches.
It focuses on developing innovative curricula and a new MSc programme that integrate scientific knowledge with real-world agricultural practice, equipping academic staff, students, and stakeholders with the competences needed for resilient, inclusive, and economically viable farming systems. At the same time, the project identifies and promotes optimal combinations of agroecological practices that enhance climate change mitigation and adaptation across diverse agroecological zones, while supporting biodiversity, food and nutrition security, and rural livelihoods.
By fostering the adoption of these practices among farmers and strengthening transdisciplinary collaboration between science, policy, and practice, AGRECOFARM contributes to key EU–Africa priorities, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, and the European Green Deal, while reinforcing the role of African universities as regional hubs for sustainable agricultural transformation.
