Sustainable Agriculture, the Sant'Anna School coordinates ‘CAAM-Produzione’ project, a three-year initiative to promote resilient and inclusive agri-food systems in Mozambique
The project is funded by the Italian Cooperation through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). “CAAM-Produzione demonstrates that international cooperation and cutting-edge research can work together effectively. Our ambition is to develop innovation that truly responds to local needs by leveraging the multidisciplinary expertise of the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies,” says Professor Matteo Dell’Acqua
Promoting resilient, sustainable, and inclusive agri-food systems in Mozambique’s Manica Province through improved agricultural productivity, strengthened food security, and enhanced livelihoods for rural communities. This is the objective of CAAM-Produzione – Sustainable and Inclusive Agricultural Production within the CAAM System (AID 013377), a three-year initiative funded by the Italian Cooperation through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) with a total budget of €5 million and coordinated by the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa.
The project will be implemented in close collaboration with Mozambican institutions and will contribute to strengthening agricultural productivity and climate resilience through sustainable agroecological practices, more efficient water resource management, and capacity building for farmers and local institutions. The initiative is part of the broader Manica Agri-Food Centre (CAAM) system, fostering the integration of smallholder farmers and their organizations into the future network of Agri-Hubs and the Agri-Food Centre.
The project, coordinated by Professor Matteo Dell’Acqua, brings together the multidisciplinary expertise of several Institutes of the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, including the Institute of Plant Sciences, the Institute of Economics, the DIRPOLIS Institute, and the Center for Sustainability and Climate. The project is also part of Africa Connect, the interdisciplinary initiative launched by the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies to strengthen and coordinate the research and training activities that its different groups have been carrying out across Africa for more than a decade.
The partnership includes the International Committee for the Development of Peoples (CISP), the Canale Emiliano Romagnolo (CER), and the National Irrigation Institute (INIR), the project's institutional partner in Mozambique. Implementation will also involve the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries of Mozambique, the Government of Manica Province, district authorities, research and training institutions, and producer organizations operating in the project areas.
Project Kick-off Meeting
During the week of 13 July, representatives of all project partners, together with representatives of AICS and Mozambican institutions, gathered in Chimoio, Manica Province, for the official launch of the project. The mission included the first field visits to the intervention areas of Tsetsera, Mouha, and Munene, where project activities will be carried out over the next three years. It also featured the official launch event of CAAM-Produzione, bringing together representatives of the Government of Mozambique, local authorities, development cooperation partners, research institutions, producer organizations, and civil society organizations to present and discuss the project's objectives, expected results, and implementation strategy.
Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Engagement of Local Farmers
CAAM-Produzione will directly involve more than 5,500 farmers and their families in the districts of Sussundenga and Barue, while also strengthening local extension services, irrigation management systems, producer organizations, and agricultural innovation processes through participatory approaches such as Living Labs. Particular attention will be devoted to the inclusion of women, young people, and the most vulnerable groups, as well as to the sustainable management of natural resources.
The inception mission marks the beginning of an ambitious collaboration between Italian and Mozambican institutions committed to promoting sustainable agricultural development, innovation, and long-term resilience in Manica Province.
“CAAM-Produzione demonstrates that international cooperation and cutting-edge research can go hand in hand,” says Matteo Dell’Acqua, Project Coordinator and Director of the Institute of Plant Sciences at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies. “Our ambition is to develop innovation that truly responds to local needs by leveraging the multidisciplinary expertise of the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies. This project is an alliance between universities, civil society organizations, and public institutions in Italy and Mozambique—a shared effort that reflects the spirit of Africa Connect and reinforces the Sant’Anna School’s role as a reference point for promoting transformative change across the African continent.”
