Sharing Knowledge Agrifood Networks (SKAN) – a Portuguese project to promote technology links between Europe, Africa and Latin America

• Main Authors: Luís Mira da Silva, Duarte Bué Alves
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: ALIES - Associação Lusófona para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação e do Ensino das Ciências da Saúde 2016-05-01
• Series: Journal Biomedical and Biopharmaceutical Research (BBR)
• Subjects: SKAN; Sharing Knowledge; Network; Agrifood; CPLP
• Online Access: http://www.alies.pt/BBR%20Editions/Vol-13-1-2016/artigo9.pdf

Three years ago, in 2013, the SKAN initiative - Sharing Knowledge Agrifood Networks (http://www.skanplatform. org/) was launched in Lisbon. The main objective was to create a "network of networks" to promote an international dialogue between all relevant actors at a political and diplomatic level, as well as the business community, universities and academia, with a focus on three continents: Europe, Africa and Latin America. More specifically, the initial aim was to promote the sharing of knowledge and technology at an international and comprehensive level in the agrifood sector. In only three years the SKAN Platform achieved a prominent place in the development of networks of knowledge sharing in Portuguese speaking countries. The goal for the future is to increase the number of initiatives in the countries where SKAN is established and begin to collaborate and develop new initiatives in other countries. The project has produced significant outcomes and the return on the investment that was initially allocated has been high. We expect this initiative will have an impact on global challenges such as food security, agricultural development, or the transfer of technology, as well as the ability to strengthen the cooperation between Europe, Africa and Latin America in the agrifood sector.