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Green Futures brings science and practice together in Zambia

Group picture outside in the garden at the symposium.
© Jonoka media

From 9 to 18 July, 2025, a comprehensive series of events took place in Lusaka and sorrounding areas as part of the Green Futures project. With the organizational support of the University of Zambia (UNZA), the programme included several knowledge trasfer activities coordinated by Stellenbosch University (SU) from South Africa and Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (HSWT), with the participation of partner universities from Kenya (JOOUST) and Senegal (USSEIN).


Funded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH), the initiative aims to strengthen the knowledge of students, farmers and marginalised groups in southern Africa through capacity building and practical activities focused on the agricultural sector. The project will run until the end of 2025, with its seven work packages covering the entire agricultural value chain - from water management and biodiversity to circular economy and agro-food innovations.

Diverse formats with international participation


The weeks of events started with a three-day advanced data science course targeting students and academic staff of UNZA. A central highlight was the two-day symposium on “Indigenous and Underutilized Crops” (IUCs) which was organized in different sessions that included several aspects such as agronomic practices, gender dynamics and traditional knowledge systems, food security and value chain processes.
On 16 July, two practice-oriented trainings on circular economy and agrobiodiversity took place at the Kasisi Agricultural Training Center. These were expanded upon the following day with an excursion to the Agricultural Knowledge and Training Center (AKTC), with the demonstration of composting practices and a biodiversity monitoring tool. The series of events concluded on 18 July with a workshop on agro-food innovation at UNZA for students and enterpreneurs.

Broad participation and positive response


The events were not only of high scientific quality, but also very well attended: university members and project partners, numerous farmers from different regions of Zambia, representatives of NGOs, ministries and interested local stakeholders took enthusiastically part to the activities underlining the close connection between research, teaching and practice, and the relevance of the project.

  • A bowl full of maze, corn and other crops with labels on them.
    During the Indigenous and Underutilized Crops (IUCs) symposium (14-15 July), farmers displayed a variety of their agricultural produces.
  • A woman in front of a classroom showing a presentation, people around her in the room sitting on chairs looking at the screen.
    Presentation on Agrobiodiversity at Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre.
  • Group sits in two rows in a classroom facing the camera.
    Group picture of the participants of the Advanced Data Science Course.
  • Woman standing in front of a wall with posters, pointing at one of them.
    Participant at the Design Thinking for Agro-Food Innovation Workshop presenting their project.
  • A woman shaking the hand of a man while receiving her certificate, two people in the back smiling at them.
    HSWT Alumna at AKTC receiving a participation certificate.
  • Two women smiling in the camera.
    Networking at the IUCs symposium. © Jonoka Media
  • A group standing in front of a container, one person explaining and showing the content of the half open container.
    Activities also included field visits and practical demonstrations.
  • Food street market in Lusaka
    Food street market in Lusaka

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