Arusha © University of Greenwich

NATURA is an Association of 28 member institutions from 15 European countries which aims to strengthen the institutional capacity of universities, national agricultural research centres and other organisations in developing countries. The Association, whose full title is 'Network of European Agricultural (Tropically and sub-tropically oriented) Universities and scientific complexes Related with Agricultural development', was established in 1988. NATURA offers professional degree training and supports joint research projects with partners in developing countries. NATURA also works with ECART-EEIG to provide experts to monitor the progress of European Union-funded research projects carried out by research centres of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The Natural Resources Institute-University of Greenwich (NRI) has been a member of NATURA since its inception.

NATURA has supported the development of the initiative led by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) on Building Africa's Scientific and Institutional Capacity for Agriculture and Natural Resources (BASIC). BASIC aims to strengthen the capacity of African Universities to build capacity in Africa for knowledge-based agricultural research and development systems that will lead to sustainable development. NRI is working with NATURA and FARA to support this important initiative.

Further details of NATURA may be found on its website at: http://www.natura-net.eu/