UNU-INWEH and UniMarconi Launch Food Systems Partnership
The new collaboration aims to develop sustainable supply chain expertise to improve food distribution across Africa.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Nutrition
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The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) and UniMarconi have signed a formal agreement to advance education in sustainable food systems. Announced at the 2026 World Food Forum in Rome, the partnership will establish a joint Master's degree focused on logistics and supply chain management.
Why it matters
The initiative seeks to tackle critical food security challenges by reducing post-harvest losses through professional training and improved supply chains. This academic collaboration aims to bolster food availability and distribution efficacy specifically within African nations.
UNU-INWEH celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026 as one of 13 institutions comprising the United Nations University. The new curriculum will integrate coursework from the existing FAO eLearning Academy to support regional capacity building.
The players
UNU-INWEH
The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health is a research organization headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario.
UniMarconi
Guglielmo Marconi University is an academic institution partnering with the UN entity to deliver specialized educational programmes.
Professor Kaveh Madani
He is a prominent academic who signed the partnership agreement on behalf of his organization.
Professor Marco Abate
He represents the academic leadership involved in cementing this international collaboration for food systems education.
The details
The partnership leverages digital learning capabilities, academic expertise, and international networks to train professionals. By focusing on food logistics, the joint programme addresses logistical bottlenecks that currently hinder food distribution and storage in Africa.
Timeline
1996: The Government of Canada began hosting and supporting UNU-INWEH.
2026: UNU-INWEH marks its 30th anniversary.
October 2026: The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the World Food Forum in Rome.
The Big Picture
This partnership follows the educational standards established by the FAO eLearning Academy. The new joint Master's programme will build directly upon existing courses to scale professional expertise in sustainable supply chain management.
This academic development strengthens the professional workforce dedicated to solving food distribution issues that impact global supply chain stability. For students and researchers, it opens new avenues for specialized education in food logistics starting in 2026.
The takeaway
Sustainable food logistics education is increasingly vital for improving global food security outcomes. Organizations can improve distribution efficiency by integrating digital learning tools into professional supply chain training modules.
Further reading
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Source note: This article includes information reported by Themachinemaker.
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