The Chair Group of Agricultural Production and Resource Economics (PuR) fully embraces the Technical University of Munich international orientation. As part of its efforts to build a strong network of international partners and collaborators in the Global South, Prof. Johannes Sauer and Carlos Böke Pascual recently visited new and existing partners in Zambia and South Africa. Both countries are endowed with vast natural resources, yet smallholder farming households struggle to keep up with the intensifying challenges posed by climate change. Local universities, research institutes and farmers shared insights from current research projects and services offered to local smallholders, highlighting the essential role of research in addressing the most pressing issues of rural societies. The TUM PuR delegation is pleased to report that productive discussions were held on potential joint research collaboration, with concrete next steps agreed upon.