By Anastacia Wanjiru, Warren Arinaitwe, Jean Claude Rubyogo, Sunday Ekesi, Dennis Ongor, Sevgan Subramanian, Samira Faris, Beatrice Nganso, Ndlela Shepard, Margret Kababu, Tanga Chrysantus, Liz Ng’ang’a
At the Duduville Campus in Nairobi, a remarkable convergence of science, partnership, and entrepreneurship unfolded as Hon Randeep Sarai, Canada’s Secretary of State for International Development visited alongside H.E. Joshua Tabah, Canadian High Commissioner to Kenya, and Sophie Price, Head of Cooperation.
Hosted by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT / the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA), the visit revealed a system in motion, one that is actively reshaping livelihoods.
The visit brought together leadership from icipe, The Alliance and PABRA, and the Director General of the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) as well as bean, fruit tree and beneficial research partners, private sector partners and farmers in these value chains, reflecting the breadth of collaboration underpinning this work.
The engagement offered a rare, grounded view into how agricultural research, when connected to real-world systems, can drive transformation at scale. For Hon Sarai and the Canadian delegation, it was an opportunity to witness the quiet, sustained work of researchers who develop solutions which spur private sector businesses and farmers that rarely makes headlines yet holds transformative power for millions.