Closure of FOSC ERA-NET Cofund on Food Systems and Climate

FOSC (Food Systems and Climate) is an ERA-NET Cofund supported by the Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change (FACCE-JPI) and the European Commission’s DG Research.

What makes FOSC unique is its bicontinental collaboration between Europe and Africa. Together, partners have carried out joint research and innovation projects, training activities, and exchanges, while sharing resources such as equipment, research platforms, and best practices.

Launched as a continuation of the LEAP-Agri initiative, FOSC builds on this legacy with a new thematic and programmatic focus, yet the same overarching goal: to help feed a growing global population by 2050 while keeping global warming within 1.5–2°C.

Over its six-year duration — including an extension to address COVID-19 disruptions — FOSC has achieved remarkable results:

• 17 co-funded and 5 nationally funded projects, ranging from TRL 1 to 7
• 141 research teams across 29 partner organisations in 20 countries, including two from South America
• €23 million invested in research and innovation
• A rich portfolio of training sessions, covering topics from science diplomacy and research capitalisation to bilateral exchanges and multi-project valorisation

Beyond the numbers, FOSC has become a platform for harmonising R&I funding practices and advancing international research standards. It has fostered dialogue and cooperation on issues of shared European–African interest — from strengthening food systems against climate change to improving food security, reducing losses and waste, and ensuring fair value distribution across agricultural value chains.

FOSC demonstrates that sovereignty is not isolation, but open cooperation — enabling each region to strengthen its food systems while addressing the FAO’s 2024 points of vigilance across diverse contexts, from protracted crises to industrial systems.

In the medium term, FOSC has helped build strong human networks that harmonise funding approaches, drive research progress, and ensure knowledge sharing. Many project outcomes have already informed policy recommendations or been adopted by small businesses and local associations.

While the conclusion of FOSC marks the end of this dynamic collaboration, it also underscores the importance of continued European support for bicontinental partnerships. Sustained investment in joint research is vital to harness this human capital and deliver innovative solutions that make food systems more productive, healthy, and climate-resilient.