A building at University of DaresalaamThe University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Tanzania, has secured nearly Sh6 billion (approximately €1.98 million) to strengthen research, innovation, and human capital development aimed at transforming Africa’s food systems and improving long-term food security.
The funding will support the African Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Operations in Resource Management and Food Supply, hosted at the UDSM Business School, as it enters a new implementation phase running from 2026 to 2030.
The investment comes at a time when African countries continue to grapple with food insecurity, climate change, supply chain inefficiencies, and rapid population growth, factors that continue to strain agricultural production and distribution systems across the continent.
By focusing on sustainable supply chains, logistics, agribusiness, and food systems innovation, the centre aims to develop practical solutions that reduce post-harvest losses, improve market access for smallholder farmers, and strengthen resilience across food value chains.
Speaking on the development, project leaders at UDSM said the funding will enhance postgraduate training, international collaboration, and applied research targeting real-world challenges in agriculture and logistics.
The centre, established in partnership with Kühne Logistics University in Germany and the University of Nairobi, has grown into a regional platform for capacity building and research collaboration in sustainable operations and food systems.
Over the past five years, it has supported doctoral training, curriculum development, student exchange programmes, and industry-linked internships designed to bridge the gap between academic research and practical implementation.
According to UDSM officials, the initiative has already contributed to the launch of new academic programmes in procurement, supply chain management, and agribusiness, with growing student enrolment and expanded international exposure for both students and staff.
Beyond academic development, the centre has also supported multiple research projects focused on food security, logistics systems, renewable energy, and sustainable resource management, alongside community-based outreach programmes aimed at improving rural livelihoods.
At a broader level, the grant reinforces UDSM’s growing reputation as a leading research institution in East Africa, and highlights the increasing role of universities in shaping solutions to global challenges such as food insecurity and climate resilience.
Photo courtesy: UDSM
Article by Jed Mwangi
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