30 years of bean innovation: PABRA celebrates African-led science and charts its next decade
At a milestone gathering in Kigali, partners highlighted results across 31 countries and renewed their commitment to faster, more inclusive food systems innovation.
- agricultural research
- Agrobiodiversity
- breeding
- Climate Action
- crops
- food systems
30 years of bean innovation: PABRA celebrates African-led science and charts its next decade
At a milestone gathering in Kigali, partners highlighted results across 31 countries and renewed their commitment to faster, more inclusive food systems innovation.
KIGALI, RWANDA, 31 August 2026 - The Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) today marked its 30th anniversary at the Kigali Convention Centre, celebrating three decades of African-led science, partnership and market innovation that have strengthened food security, nutrition, incomes and climate resilience across the continent.
Hosted by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT on behalf of PABRA, the celebration brought together governments, national agricultural research systems, development partners, farmer organizations, private-sector actors, researchers and young innovators. Participants reflected on the network's achievements and began shaping its next 10-year strategy for 2027-2037, under the theme "PABRA beyond 30, and beyond beans."
Established in 1996, PABRA has grown from a regional research initiative into a partnership of more than 900 organizations in 31 African countries, connecting breeding, seed systems, markets, nutrition and enterprise development.