New Centre of Excellence on agroecology, aquaculture and agribusiness in the making
20-04-23
As climate change continues to pose a major threat to African countries like Tanzania, the idea behind a new Centre of Excellence at Sokoine University of Agriculture is to develop the science, technology and knowledge needed to create a more sustainable future.
By Vibeke Quaade
Ten years of collaboration between Sokoine University of Agriculture and Danish universities under the Building Stronger Universities programme has ended, but the urge to conduct research and create knowledge that matters persists.
The next step for us is a Centre of Excellence on agroecology, aquaculture and agribusiness. We cannot let the partnership and the knowledge we have created together end here, says Anna Temu. An economist by training, she is presently senior lecturer at Sokoine University of Agriculture with two decades of research experience and numerous projects under her belt. She was involved in the Danish Tanzanian research partnership at Sokoine University of Agriculture from the very beginning.
Today, Anna Temu is one of the driving forces behind the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for agroecology, aquaculture and agribusiness at Sokoine University of Agriculture. As climate change continues to pose a major threat to countries like Tanzania, in her view the need for such a centre is clear,
We are living in a time when not only Tanzania but the entire world is in dire need of sustainable solutions in agriculture, Anna Temu says.
Through agroecology, farmers can optimize their use of resources and this is where her expertise as an economist comes into play. She recognizes the importance of optimizing resource use, but also acknowledges that it must be done sustainably,
The centre will focus on applying science and technology to create solutions that will enable us to live comfortably while also protecting the environment and ecosystem.
As climate change continues to threaten the livelihoods of millions, Anna Temu believes that the private sector and businesses need to consider how their production processes affect the environment. The private sector has a role to play in promoting sustainability according to Anna Temu, especially if it happens in collaboration with academia and is built on evidence based knowledge.
By applying science and technology, businesses and researchers can work together to create a more sustainable future for all.
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