ESASI : a new inter-university specialization program in Colombia’s agri-food systems

Scheduled to start in March 2026, the program is a specialized course comprising approximately 1000 hours of coursework. The specialization is led by the University of Nariño (UNINAR) and is designed as a fully inter-university program. It will involve other Colombian universities such as the University of the Andes, which will provide a theoretical perspective to the training, as well as universities from other SASI territories (Montes de Maria, Valle del Cauca and Altiplano Cundiboyacense). European universities from the Agrinatura network, such as SLU (Sweden) and WUR (Netherlands), which work on food systems too, are also expected to participate virtually.

E-SASI features a curriculum that has been reviewed collaboratively with experts from CIRAD, AGROSAVIA and UNINAR. With the ministry's approval, the next steps involve revisiting and delivering the courses accordingly.

Local presence

A key strength of the University of Nariño is its strong local presence, which enables students to undertake extended stays (or internships) in communities to better understand better and address specific challenges of the food system and to overcome them under faculty supervision. The program also encourages participation from universities across SASI territories in Colombia and plans to offer internships that enhance graduate employability in collaboration with leading partners such as ICRA.

Games to engage

UNINAR has demonstrated creativity by developing several serious games that engage rural communities with key messages on the benefits of household gardening, diversification, and small animal husbandry to support food systems transformation.

This initiative exemplifies the collaborative and innovative approach promoted by SASi-SPi to strengthen science-policy interfaces in sustainable agri-food systems, linking local action with international academic and policy engagement.