The Center for Resilient Agri-Food Systems

Project details

A University of Malawi research hub dedicated to resilient agri-food systems, grounded in science and technology, through collaborative applied research, and postgraduate teaching and learning. The Center for Resilient Agri-Food Systems (CRAFS) brings together researchers and expertise from a variety of disciplines across the University of Malawi and a wide range of stakeholders, from industry, and private and public institutions, to drive research in important themes within agri-food systems. CRAFS is funded by the World Bank, through the Government of Malawi, under the Eastern and Southern Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence Additional Financing (ACE II AF) project. Our interdisciplinary research center aims to strengthen research capacity and capabilities in Malawi to carry out impactful research that leads to resilient agri-food systems grounded in science and technology We promote, coordinate, and disseminate interdisciplinary research generated within the University and stimulate and support partnerships with external partners to find holistic solutions for a resilient agri-food system. smart-agri Sustainable food systems are at the centre of the Sustainable Development Goals (especially SDGs1, 2, 3, 4,13) which call for significant transformations in agri-food systems to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition for all by 2030. Attaining food security is a national priority in Malawi (MW 2063; Pillars 1 and 2) and is a pillar of development in the African Union' Agenda 2063 strategic framework. The reasons for insufficient progress in attaining food and nutrition security and ending hunger are complex but include the role of Climate variability and associated floods and droughts in agri-food systems, Weak information systems; Lack of information on farm scale water availability, food production and soil nutrition; Lack of water resources management and development & Low community resilience and adaptation options to flood and drought hazards. Progress on addressing these gaps requires a multidisciplinary and multi-scale approach to unravel the complex intersecting social-environmental economic systems that contribute to the gaps.