B-INOC AFRICA: Bioinoculants for food security in Africa

The project “B-INOC AFRICA: Bioinoculants for food security in Africa” aims to accelerate innovation, technology transfer and deployment of microbial bio-inoculants for the agricultural and food sectors, adapted to the context of African countries. The goal is to support capacity building initiatives, promote entrepreneurship, international collaborations and the implementation of new bottom-up projects.

Thanks to the contribution of the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) under the Mattei Plan for Africa, B-INOC AFRICA supports the following initiatives and offers the following opportunities:

• CSP – Collaborative Strategic Projects: to accelerate the time-to-market and scale up proven innovations that have concrete potential impact in the agricultural and food sectors. Each of these 2-year projects are deployed in collaboration with local implementing partners:
  • CSP1: BioBoost – Bioinoculant Technology Solutions for Sustainable Bioeconomy in Ethiopia. The Project aims at producing standardized commercial quality LAB and Yeast starter cultures for sustainable industrial use by strengthening the national capacities on commercial production and marketing of local starter culture technologies through public private partnership. Implementing partner: Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Project Partners: Bio and Emerging Technology Institute (BETin), Arba Minch University (AMU), Sebeta Agro-Industry PLC, Arba Minch Agricultural Support Service PLC (Ethiopia)
  • CSP2: NBS – Nature-based Microbial Solutions for Sustainable Agricultural Productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. The project aims at improve access to and reduce barriers to the availability of target nature-based solutions in the project locations and to improve knowledge, skills and attitudes on nature-based solutions (as safer alternatives in agrifood systems) amongst agrifood system actors. Implementing partner: CABI Kenya, Project Partners: Embu University and Twiga Chemicals Ltd (Kenya), Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Coop Agro Peace and Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du Benin (INRAB) (Benin), Exotic Green Power Ltd (Zambia).
• CRP Research Grants to support applied research and upgrading of laboratories or field testing for projects on bio-fertilisers, bio-pesticides, bio-inoculants for food production and microbiome-based products and solutions. The projects must show a proven proof-of-concept and significant potential impact for application in the agri-food sector. The first calls will be published in fall 2024 and both research institutions and companies are welcome to apply following this link.

• Meetings and Courses to organise events and to support participation of researchers from eligible countries to participate to ICGEB international scientific meetings. To apply to receive funding for the organisation of meeting and courses on bio-inoculants please visit the application page.

• Two Fellowships schemes to support training and skills enhancement of researchers:
  • SMART Fellowships (south-south mobility fellowships)
  • Short-term Postdoctoral Fellowships

The project has been funded for 2.000.000 Euro for a three-year duration by the Directorate General for Development Cooperation of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International cooperation.

OPEN CALLS

• SMART Fellowships to promote the south-south Scientific Mobility for Advanced Research Training for researchers between eligible countries as a way of enhancing skill development, acquisition of specific hands-on training in new technologies and increasing cooperation in science and technology and should show clear evidence of strong collaboration between the two laboratories and a strong applicative focus. Closing date: September 30th, 2024.
• Short Term Postdoctoral Fellowships to for Postdoctoral research in ICGEB Trieste Laboratories to fund collaborative research on Bioinoculants for food security in Africa between scientists in eligible African countries and research groups at ICGEB laboratories in Trieste, Italy. Closing date: September 30th, 2024.

UPCOMING CALLS

• CRP Research Grants to to support applied research and upgrading of laboratories or field testing for projects on bio-fertilisers, bio-pesticides, bio-inoculants for food production and microbiome-based products and solutions. Opening date: October 1st 2024, Closing date: December 31st, 2024.
• Meeting and Courses Grants to organise and promotes participation in scientific meetings and theoretical and practical events on Bioinoculants in eligible countries. The annual call invites proposals from laboratories or institutes to organise ICGEB events or to receive sponsorship for scientific meetings on topics of relevance for the B-INOC AFRICA programme. Opening date: 1st September 1st 2024, Closing date: ADD.

For any question, please contact: grants@icgeb.org and use “B-INOC AFRICA” in the email subject.

NEWS

ICGEB receives funding for food security in Africa