Strengthening data-driven research for climate-resilient beans: Highlights from the BIOBELIEF data analysis workshop
From 11–14 May 2026, researchers from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) convened in Nairobi for an intensive Data Analysis Workshop under the BIOBELIEF Project.
- agricultural research
- Climate Resilience
- Climate-Smart Agriculture
Strengthening data-driven research for climate-resilient beans: Highlights from the BIOBELIEF data analysis workshop
From 11–14 May 2026, researchers from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) convened in Nairobi for an intensive Data Analysis Workshop under the BIOBELIEF Project.
Held at Sportsview Hotel, Kasarani, the training marked a significant step toward strengthening data-driven research for climate-resilient and nutritionally enhanced bean production.
Advancing BIOBELIEF’s vision through data
Drought remains one of the major challenges impacting common bean production in Kenya and Africa as whole leading to reduced yields and food insecurity, noted Boaz Waswa, the BIOBELIEF Project Lead, and Soil Health researcher at Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT.
The BIOBELIEF project (BIOfortification of common Bean to promote heaLthy dIEt and Food security in a context of climatic variation) brings together partners from Kenya, Italy, and South Africa to develop biofortified, drought-resilient bean varieties with improved iron bioavailability.
The BIOBELIEF trials comprised of a greenhouse setup to simulate drought at vegetative, flowering, and podding stages. A total of 18 bean varieties under study included Kenyan lines like Nyota, Angaza, Faida and Waithera, as well as international lines from Italy (Meccano) and South Africa (PAN 148). Control and biofortified low-phytate lines (lpa1-1, lpa2, lpa3) are also included