Partnerships hold the key to Africa’s food systems transformation: Insights from the KALRO Scientific Conference
At the KALRO Scientific Conference in Nairobi, researchers, governments, and development partners explored how stronger partnerships can help scale agricultural innovation, improve nutrition, and build more resilient food systems across Africa.
- Agricultural Innovation
- Climate Resilience
- food systems
- Kenya
Partnerships hold the key to Africa’s food systems transformation: Insights from the KALRO Scientific Conference
At the KALRO Scientific Conference in Nairobi, researchers, governments, and development partners explored how stronger partnerships can help scale agricultural innovation, improve nutrition, and build more resilient food systems across Africa.
Africa's food systems are under increasing pressure from climate change, land degradation, biodiversity loss, population growth, and changing consumer demands. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, declining soil fertility, and persistent food insecurity are threatening agricultural productivity and the resilience of farming communities across the continent. Yet despite these challenges, many of the technologies, innovations, and scientific solutions required to transform food systems already exist. The critical challenge lies in scaling proven solutions and strengthening partnerships that can accelerate their adoption.
This was a key focus of discussions during a side event held alongside the Second Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) Scientific Conference and Innovation Expo in Nairobi. Under the theme "Accelerating Sustainable Production, Market Trade and Consumption,” the side event was hosted by The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT (The Alliance), bringing together stakeholders from One Acre Fund, Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF), Cereal Growers Association, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and SNV. Other representatives were drawn from research institutions, development organizations, government agencies, and the private sector to explore pathways for accelerating sustainable production, market development, trade, and consumption.