During the Science Forum 2009 which took place in Wageningen on 16-17 June 2009, the launch was announced of AGRINATURA, the European Alliance on Agricultural Knowledge for Development. AGRINATURA is formed by NATURA, the former association of European universities dealing with agricultural research and education for development, and ECART, the consortium of European institutions working in agricultural research for development, in order to capitalize on their respective strengths and expertise. Wageningen UR, comprising Wageningen University and the DLO Research Centres is an active member of both ECART and Natura.
AGRINATURA’s goal is to make substantial European contributions to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Paris Declaration by:
· Playing a proactive policy advocacy role for agricultural research and education for development in Europe and worldwide
· Developing and strengthening strategic alliances and partnerships with and between the different stakeholders in development, both in the North and in the South
· Encouraging networking and partnerships between institutions, organisations and individuals
· Organising, facilitating and implementing joint participation in European and international research and education programmes and projects, including EU FP7, Erasmus Mundus, EU Food Security and Thematic Programme, EU Edulink