By Owen Kimani
On Friday, 31st January 2025, the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA-Africa) engaged with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), in an insightful discussion on capacity building and the expansion of bean value chains in Africa. This visit marked a significant step in reinforcing sustainable agricultural practices across the continent.
During the meeting, Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, the Managing Director for the Africa Region at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, underscored the urgent need to reshape the narrative surrounding agriculture in Africa to secure long-term food security. She emphasized the importance of transforming both perceptions and strategies to make agriculture more resilient and market-driven.
Global Bean Program Leader and PABRA Director, Jean Claude Rubyogo, showcased the PABRA model, illustrating how its market-led research for beans and variety release has driven remarkable achievements. By prioritizing demand-driven innovations and partnerships, PABRA has successfully strengthened the bean value chain, ensuring that improved bean varieties reach farmers and markets efficiently.
ACIAR and Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT/PABRA officials are pictured discussing key topics related to capacity building, market-driven research, and climate-smart agriculture. – Photo by Owen Kimani
As part of the Australia-Africa Partnership for Climate Responsive Agriculture (AAPCRA) design mission, Alinea International has been leading efforts to expand ACIAR’s portfolio to North and West Africa. Following visits to Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, and Ghana, the team concluded their engagements in Kenya with a visit to icipe, where they explored various aspects of the ACIAR-icipe partnership. The visit featured presentations, discussions, and a tour of the BSF facilities, providing valuable insights into ongoing research and innovations.
PABRA was honored to participate in this dialogue, sharing valuable capacity-building initiatives and engaging in discussions to strengthen the bean value chain in Africa. The conversations offered a platform to reflect on lessons learned, pinpoint areas for improvement, and explore future opportunities for collaboration.
The Australia-Africa Partnership for Climate-Responsive Agriculture aims to enhance smallholder farmers’ access to climate-smart innovations as the impacts of climate change intensify. – Photo by Owen Kimani
We extend our sincere appreciation to ACIAR and its dedicated team for their continued support. Their investment in climate-smart agriculture, particularly through the AAPCRA, underscores a strong commitment to helping smallholder farmers adapt to climate change. Announced by Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong in October 2024, AAPCRA’s AUD 76.4 million investments over six years will be instrumental in equipping farmers with the necessary innovations to safeguard food production.
We look forward to building on these discussions and continuing our partnership with ACIAR to drive impactful, climate-responsive agricultural solutions across Africa.