The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA) in Brazil. The MoU will open up new opportunities for collaborative research and policy impact across sustainable agriculture and food equity, building on IDS’ existing work on this theme with Brazilian partners. This three-year agreement marks the beginning of our partnership, and we look forward co-developing activities.
Alex Shankland, lead fellow of the Brazil IDS Initiative said:
“We are delighted to be formalising our partnership with the Federal University of Lavras, which has long been one of the most important centres of research and teaching in the field of agricultural innovation, where Brazil is a world leader.
Our collaboration will combine IDS strengths in social science research for inclusive rural development with UFLA’s strengths in agronomy and agribusiness. Given the longstanding IDS focus on sustainability and its importance in our new Strategy, this is an exciting opportunity for us to learn from the experience of pioneering Brazilian initiatives like the Rural Environmental Registry system in whose development UFLA has played a key role.
We look forward to supporting UFLA’s efforts to guide its government and private-sector partners onto more sustainable and inclusive agricultural development pathways, building national prosperity while tackling issues of biodiversity and climate change that are critical both for Brazil and for the planet as a whole.”
Antonio Chalfun Júnior, Director of International Relations at UFLA said:
“UFLA is quite delighted about having this opportunity to enhance its boundaries with IDS in terms of the new MOU that will be established in the areas of mutual interest. Moreover, it will allow exchanging of each other’s know-how to help improve and develop the knowledge of sustainability research in the world”
The agreement will enable our two institutes to explore opportunities for joint courses, lectures and events under the themes of agriculture and food equity. We aim to co-design research projects, facilitate opportunities for student and staff exchange and visiting fellowships, and co-author publications. Our partnership will build on IDS’ work on inclusive value chains, and sustainable rural development, in Brazil and beyond.
Brazil IDS Initiative
UFLA are a new partner for the Brazil IDS Initiative. The Brazil IDS Initiative provides focus in a country at the leading edge of development thinking and practice due to accelerating environmental, economic, political, and social change. It recognises that tackling challenges such as climate change, poverty and injustice requires knowledge sharing, mutual learning and collaboration inclusive of diverse perspectives within Brazil and globally. The Brazil IDS Initiative creates space where Brazilian researchers from within and outside of the country can share, learn and work with global researchers, governments, civil society and the private sector. Our partnership with UFLA is central to our aim of collaboratively strengthening development thinking and practice through policy engagement and the generation of actionable solutions.
The Brazil IDS Initiative includes a network of mutual partnerships with research, learning, teaching and policy work underway. It is part of an evolving network of IDS International Initiatives that includes China, Europe, Ghana and Pakistan. For more information please visit our Brazil IDS Initiative webpage, or contact Alex Shankland.
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