Bean breeders unite to cultivate solutions for Africa’s bean production

In Johannesburg, South Africa, from November 11 to 15, 2024, bean breeders from 31 countries across the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA-Africa) came together for the 2024 Bean Breeders Workshop. Organized by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT through PABRA, the event brought together experts from universities, seed companies, research institutions and the private sector to collaborate on strategies aimed at advancing bean farming across the continent.

While common beans are a staple food for millions of smallholder farmers in Africa – contributing to both nutrition and incomes – their cultivation faces significant challenges such as low yields, pests and diseases and climate variability. For breeders, the workshop offered an opportunity to exchange knowledge, share experiences and collaborate on solutions to these persistent challenges. The event also provided a platform to review current bean market segmentation and product profiling, while covering topics like climate-smart agriculture, disease-resistant varieties and advanced genetic research to improve bean cultivars.