Dear Reader,

Welcome to the latest edition of the DIVAGRI newsletter, where we delve into the progress, innovations, and milestones of our project as it approaches the final phase of its development stage. Since June 2021, DIVAGRI has worked tirelessly to integrate Bio-Based Technologies (BBT) and sustainable agricultural practices across Africa. As we prepare to transition into the exploitation phase from January 2025, this newsletter highlights the remarkable strides we’ve made and the exciting opportunities ahead.

DIVAGRI has built a solid foundation through collaborative efforts, addressing regional challenges with tailored solutions. This phase now shifts towards scaling and replicating project outcomes, ensuring they deliver long-term benefits across farming communities and bioeconomy ecosystems.

This edition showcases compelling stories collected by Stellenbosch University, South Africa. These narratives, shared by farmers and researchers, reveal transformative impacts of BBT, such as solar desalination greenhouses, low-energy irrigation systems, and biogas technologies. Through these technologies, DIVAGRI promotes sustainable solutions to tackle challenges like freshwater scarcity, climate resilience, and food security.

The stories also shed light on experiments conducted at our demonstration sites, where iterative processes improve the practicality and scalability of BBTs. These include intercropping systems, biochar applications, and black soldier fly technology for sustainable waste management. These efforts underline DIVAGRI’s commitment to refining and implementing impactful agricultural innovations.

Knowledge Sharing Centres (KSC) remain a cornerstone of DIVAGRI’s approach, supporting the co-creation, dissemination, and adoption of project innovations. Farmers, researchers, and stakeholders collaborate at these centres to test solutions, exchange knowledge, and strengthen value chains, fostering a circular bioeconomy.

This month, we spotlight the outcomes of our workshop at the Global Bioeconomy Summit 2024 in Nairobi, where participants discussed the role of universities in leading an African bioeconomy network. Insights from this workshop emphasised the importance of transdisciplinary collaboration and integrating social justice into bioeconomy strategies.

We invite you to stay connected with DIVAGRI by subscribing to our newsletter or sharing your own experiences through the email address provided. Join us in shaping the future of sustainable agriculture and bio-based innovation across Africa.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we can build a resilient and thriving agricultural ecosystem.

With warm regards,
Sébastien Clerc-Renaud,
Project coordinator, on behalf of DIVAGRI Project Consortium