At the 2025 AGRINATURA General Assembly held in Ghent, Belgium in May, KIT Institute was formally accepted into the Agrinatura EEIG – a group of ten leading European universities and research institutes that directly advise the European Union (DG-INTPA) on tropical food systems, with a strong focus on Africa.

Representing KIT Institute at the General Assembly were Advisors Nicola Francesconi and Caitlin Herrington, who joined peers from across the continent for three days of strategic discussions on research, innovation, and education for sustainable food systems transformation.

AGRINATURA is the largest European network dedicated to global food and nutrition security, bringing together 35 institutions committed to transforming food systems in the Global South. The EEIG (European Economic Interest Grouping) is the network’s operational arm – a select group with a formal framework agreement with the European Commission to carry out non-competitive assignments that inform international cooperation policy and investment.

KIT Institute’s accession to the EEIG was unanimously approved by the existing nine members: CIRAD, Wageningen University & Research, Ghent University, University of Liège, University of Lisbon, SLU, ICRA, ISTOM, and the Natural Resources Institute (NRI). With this, KIT Institute becomes one of only ten European institutions entrusted by the EU to help shape its approach to food systems in tropical regions – particularly in Africa. It also marks a recognition of KIT Institute’s track record and thought leadership in inclusive, evidence-based development.

AGRINATURA’s network plays a key strategic role in re-distributing funding from the European Commission (particularly DG-INTPA), to produce research, promote education and foster innovation that can strengthen EU policymaking for international cooperation and investment purposes. KIT Institute has been a member of the association since 2021.