This is a high quality consortium comprising scientists with long and relevant experience in the areas that are involved in this contract. The participating scientists from France (IRD and CIRAD), the United Kingdom (CEH) and Netherlands (Wageningen University) have many years experience of work in tropical countries and are familiar with the problems being addressed.
 
 Both European and African scientists are conversant with work within the European context and scientists from both continents are currently operating in co-ordination roles in EU INCO research contracts.
 
 All DC Partners from 4 sub-Saharan African countries including 2 from West Africa (Senegal/UCAD and ISRA and Niger /Niamey University), 1 from Central Africa (Cameroon/IRAD-PRASAC) and one from East Africa (Kenya /KEFRI-NGARA) have already worked with European organisations and several from both East, Central and West Africa undertook their PhDs in European and north American universities and institutions. They also have substantial publication records and dissemination capabilities.