Background

The BAORULA network initiated back in 2021 in the form of conversations among academics who wished to see multipurpose indigenous trees having a more acknowledged role in the African ecosystems and value chains. From the very beginning, we represented different disciplines and, likewise from the very beginning we put Baobab and Marula in the spotlight. A then-topical Horizon Europe Call gave the BAORULA discussions a skeleton, pushing us to organize our thoughts and to formulate our visions and objectives. During the subsequent months we invited more members, both from the academic world and outside of it, to complement the expertise of the consortium. The Horizon Europe proposal was the first big rehearsal for the BAORULA network and, despite not reaching funding, it laid a significant foundation for future initiatives. The BAORULA network has continued to be active throughout the years and continues to welcome new members.