Enviro News Asia, Nairobi — CIRAD will participate in the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, on 11–12 May 2026 to strengthen collaboration with African partners in building sustainable and resilient food systems.
The summit, co-organized by Kenya and France, will bring together governments, businesses, researchers, and civil society to address shared challenges such as food security, energy access, and economic development. CIRAD representatives will attend the Business Forum at the University of Nairobi, followed by scientific meetings and the General Assembly of the TSARA initiative from 13–15 May.
CIRAD will work with African research institutions and private sector partners to promote innovation in agricultural value chains, including dairy, geographical indications, and smart farming. The summit will also feature the signing of framework agreements with regional and international institutions, along with site visits to key research centers such as the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology and the International Livestock Research Institute.
Public-private partnerships will play a central role in advancing agricultural development. CIRAD highlighted the importance of enabling producers to capture more value from local resources through geographical indications. Since 2021, the GI Support Fund, implemented with the Agence Française de Développement, has supported projects across 10 African countries, resulting in registered products such as Senegal’s weda fruit and South Africa’s Karoo lamb.
The organization is also supporting regional dairy development in West Africa under the Economic Community of West African States strategy to double milk production by 2030. Through research and technical assistance, CIRAD collaborates with partners to strengthen value chains and improve productivity.
Innovation remains a key focus, with initiatives such as the International Innovation Hub aimed at fostering startups and strengthening agricultural ecosystems. CIRAD plans to expand this model beyond West Africa to East and North Africa to support job creation and entrepreneurship.
With operations spanning multiple regions and partnerships with research institutions, NGOs, and producer organizations, CIRAD continues to promote solutions addressing climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable agriculture.
Through its involvement in the TSARA initiative, CIRAD supports collaborative research across 14 African countries, focusing on agroecology, One Health, and sustainable food systems. These efforts aim to deliver practical, science-based solutions for transforming agriculture and improving resilience across the continent. (*)
