Our colleague Nicola Francesconi was at Michigan State University (MSU) from 23 to 26 June for the CANR-Europe Partnership Forum, which brought together researchers and institutional partners from across Europe and the US. He sent us his dispatch from East Lansing, home to MSU.

Earlier this summer, I had the pleasure of participating in the CANR-Europe Partnership Forum at Michigan State University (MSU), a four-day gathering designed to strengthen ties between MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) and European institutions. Representing KIT Institute, I joined colleagues from eight European countries, including Austria, Belgium, England, Finland, France, Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, and Sweden, to explore opportunities for collaborative research, education, and outreach with MSU counterparts. MSU is one of the top universities in the US and is renowned worldwide for research and education on global food systems transformation.

The forum brought together university leaders, department chairs, researchers, Extension educators, and graduate students, creating a lively space for open dialogue, new connections, and concrete planning. The event was well-timed and well-received, reflecting the growing appetite on both sides of the Atlantic for more strategic and sustainable partnerships. With Europe’s long-standing academic and scientific ties to the US, and the region’s increasing relevance for global development agendas, the forum felt like an important step toward building a stronger, more integrated CANR-Europe platform.

Participants on tour visiting a new dairy farm and biogas facilities at MSU. Photo: © MSU.

On the final day, a participatory session generated a series of practical recommendations, which I believe will guide us well in the months ahead. In the short term, we aim to consolidate the network by sharing contacts and presentations, following up on draft MOUs and Letters of Intent, and drafting a strategic framework for collaboration. Planning has already begun for the 2026 forum, which will be hosted by Leeds University in England, in partnership with other European institutions and MSU.

Looking further ahead, we discussed the potential for a joint centre or alliance that would act as an umbrella for thematic sub-groups—whether focused on sustainable agriculture, climate-smart innovations, or rural livelihoods. There was a clear consensus on the importance of securing funding for collaborative projects, and several ideas emerged around student and faculty exchanges, as well as expanding study abroad programmes.

For KIT Institute, this forum reaffirmed the value of investing in transatlantic partnerships as it laid the groundwork for a more formalised coordination mechanism. As we move forward, I look forward to deepening these collaborations and to co-developing initiatives that support joint research, learning, and innovation.