ASRAFS 2.0 - Advisory services for resilient agri-food systems
Partners
Main goals
The launch of ASRAFS 2.0 comes against a backdrop of worsening global hunger, overlapping crises and institutional changes within the European Union (EU) with EU delegations (EUD) being restructured into regional hubs.
In continuity with Phase 1, the main objective remains to support the EU Delegations by providing a reliable, on-demand service that bridges the gap between EU policy frameworks and operational realities, and strengthens coherence between the thematic initiatives under the ‘Green Deal Knowledge Hub – Farm to Fork’.
A consortium comprising GFA, CREA and Nitidæ has been formed to deliver this project. Nitidæ’s more specific role will be to support DG INTPA F.3 in the development of value chains, compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the integration of smallholders into sustainable and traceable markets, notably via the N’Kalo platform.
Specific objectives
SO1. Policy support – delivering timely advice, studies, and technical expertise to strengthen EU leadership in global food and nutrition security
SO2. Investment – facilitating evidence-based and innovative investments, including Global Gateway corridors, sustainable value chains, and blended finance instruments
SO3. Knowledge – consolidating and disseminating knowledge to improve coordination across facilities and en-hance Delegations’ access to tools and evidence
Beneficiaries
European Union Delegations
Results
R1. Studies & analyses: Demand-driven studies continue to provide evidence for policy dialogues, enhanced by CREA’s science–policy expertise
R2. Programme support: Tailored advice to Delegations and HQ continues, reinforced by Nitidæ’s field-grounded expertise on strategic value chains and alignment with Global Gateway investments
R3. Training & capacity development: Modular training programmes and knowledge products link EU policy frameworks to operational tools, drawing on KE2 and CREA’s strong training expertise
R4. Database & monitoring: Continuation of regular update of the F.3, ensuring institutional reporting and full handover of its use to F.3 to maintain ownership. New services include support on market intelligence through the Nkalo platform
R5. Coordination & Knowledge Hub: Strengthens F.3’s coordination role via the Green Deal Knowledge Hub – Farm to Fork, mapping services, producing a quarterly Knowledge Digest, and reducing fragmentation for Delegations
Related people
Odilon Chambers
As a geographer, specializing in rural development, he has been based in West Africa since 2016. First stationed in Mali on behalf of Luxembourg cooperation, he then joined the team in 2021. Hands-on man, he coordinates agricultural activities in the north of Côte d'Ivoire around cashew-food production systems, forest resources (shea), product labeling as well as environmental conservation around the Comoé National Park. It is also involved in specific studies on value-chain, traceability and marketing
François Griffon
Holder of a Master's degree in "Sustainable Farming and Agri-food Systems in the South", specialised in "Markets, Organization, Quality and Services" from Montpellier SupAgro - Institut des Régions Chaudes (IRC), he brings his expertise in sector and value chain analysis, market studies, quality management and farmers' organisations services and support
See more
Cédric Rabany
Holder of a Master of Science, "Agricultural Engineer and territories development" from the Institut Supérieur d’Agriculture (ISARA Lyon), he brings his expertise in agro-food/agricultural sectors' analysis and development, strengthening of supplychain actors (producers, private/public actors, agro-food industries...), socio-economic analysis of agricultural chains and his great knowledge of companies in these markets
See more
Benjamin Garnier
Agricultural Engineer, specialised in "quality of the environment and resources management", from the French National School of Agricultural Science and Engineering of Toulouse (INP ENSAT). He brings his expertise in feasibility studies for investment funds, agricultural markets studies and analysis of value chains
See more
Noémie Rullier
Holder of an Engineering diploma in Agronomy, specializing in Sustainable agricultural & Agri-Food systems for the South, from Montpellier SupAgro- Institut des Régions Chaudes (IRC), she brings her expertise to support technical changes and development processes in rural area; to support farm advisory, training engineering and plant biology research
See more