Smart policies and technologies - intended as innovative tools and approaches to improve resilience and sustainability of agri-food systems - are key to achieve the objectives of the AU and EU sustainable agri-food system agendas. In this context, the Pan-African Network for economic Analysis of Policies (PANAP) was established at the end of 2019 under the aegis of the AU-EU partnership. The network brings together academic, research, and institutional partners that develop research on agro-economic and policy issues. PANAP’s objectives include  to build capacity of African researchers to better analyse the impact of policies in the agri-food system,  to bridge the gap between science and policymaking in Africa, to bring together researchers, scientists and policymakers in Africa and to foster scientific communities providing independent, evidence-based scientific support, data and information, and economic analysis to inform sustainable agri-food system policies.

Both continents have recently reaffirmed their commitments to sustainable agri-food systems through strategic policy frameworks. The Kampala Declaration on the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and the EU’s Vision for Agriculture and Food lay clear the direction of each continent’s agri-food policy, including the importance of international partnerships and science & innovation to achieve stated goals. As agri-food systems are increasingly expected to deliver on a broad range of objectives—from food security and climate resilience to economic development—the question arises: how are African and European policy agendas aligned, and how can political and scientific partnerships be further strengthened to deliver shared outcomes?