Science Meets Solidarity: European and Turkish Scientists Combat Hunger in Africa
Both met in the United States. Food engineer Redife Aslıhan Uçar completed her master’s degree at North Carolina State University where molecular biologist and geneticist Dr Seyit Yüzüak earned his PhD.
Their paths crossed again in Türkiye, where they joined forces under the INNOECOFOOD project funded by the EU. The project supports the development of water-based farms providing fish, insects and an edible algae known as spirulina.
Representing Türkiye’s Denizli Governorate and Burdur’s Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKU), the Turkish team collaborates with partners from three European and six African countries to tackle hunger and poverty. The Western Anatolian region is known for its high level of water resources.
The first meeting in Portugal
According to the United Nations, in 2023 about 733 million people in Africa faced food shortages. That equals one in five people living in Africa and one in 10 globally.
“This project is crucial not only for ending hunger in Africa but also for tackling food insecurity globally,” says Redife Aslıhan Uçar, Coordinator of EU and Foreign Relations for Denizli Governorate.
A focus on sustainable food production
MAKU’s Asst. Prof. Dr Seyit Yüzüak emphasises that the project was designed with the EU’s Farm to Fork strategy, which aims to accelerate the transition to sustainable food systems. The initiative aims to establish ECOHUB farms in six African countries: Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Namibia, Tanzania, and Egypt.
Dr Seyit Yüzüak
“Africa’s most significant challenge is the lack of sustainable production of protein-rich foods,” explains Dr Yüzüak. “There are three main sources of protein that can meet the demand: fish, insects, and Spirulina. However, these are currently produced on a small scale, often inefficiently and unsustainably.”
The project will create ECOHUB farms that rely on artificial intelligence, renewable energy and waste recycling systems to ensure sustainable production. These farms will grow these three protein sources and process them into certified, market-ready food products. The project will train local communities to run them independently.
“This way, we aim not only to address hunger but also to create employment opportunities,” adds Yüzüak.
The responsibility of Türkiye is spirulina
The project is divided into three main work packages, with each participating country contributing to specific tasks. Türkiye’s role is focused on spirulina farming. Dr Yüzüak and his team are collecting samples from natural water sources in Africa, analysing them in university laboratories, and preparing Spirulina cultures for the ECOHUB farms.
Sampling locations and the farms visited in Ghana
Once the most adaptable and productive strains have been identified, identified, they will be cultivated in ECOHUB pools across Africa. Meanwhile, Redife Aslıhan Uçar and her team oversee the nutritional content, food safety, and compliance of these products with EU and international standards. “The knowledge we gain here will also benefit future projects in Türkiye,” she notes.
Ramazan Aydoğmuş, a chemical technician, Redife Aslıhan Uçar, food engineer, and their team
The project is also nurturing young talent. As part of the project, MAKU’s postdoctoral researcher Dr Yiğit Küçükçobanoğlu describes spirulina as a vital resource for regions with limited access to food. “This project will not only provide solutions for Africa but also offer alternative approaches to global food shortages,” he says.
MAKU’s master’s student Buse Doğan, who is writing her thesis on spirulina as part of the project, says: “Working on a project that addresses hunger in Africa is incredibly meaningful.”
Ramazan Aydoğmuş, a chemical technician at Denizli Governorate, is equally proud: “It’s an honour to contribute to a project of such global importance.”
The total budget is €7 million, with €500,000 allocated to the Turkish team
Science and solidarity in action
The INNOECOFOOD project, officially titled “Development, Sustainable Production, and Marketing of Agro-Ecological Food Products Using Eco-Innovative Technologies in Africa,” is coordinated by Portugal and funded under the EU’s Horizon Europe programme. Its total budget is €7 million, with €500,000 allocated to the Turkish team. Partners include universities, institutes, and private companies from Europe and Africa.
The Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye, Ambassador Thomas Ossowski
The Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye, Ambassador Thomas Ossowski says: “This project demonstrates the power of science and solidarity. Such initiatives not only address local challenges but also inspire global solutions. The EU is proud to support innovation-driven collaborations like INNOECOFOOD.”
Horizon Europe Programme
Horizon Europe, the European Union’s 9th Framework Programme, aims to support science and innovation activities. The programme has a budget of €95.5 billion for 2021-2027.
Farm-to-Fork Strategy
The Farm to Fork Strategy is at the heart of the European Green Deal, which aims to make food systems fairer, healthier and greener. The aim is to accelerate the transition to sustainable food systems.
