Agriculture & Environment
Mak-CAES, UNBS Launch Edible Insect Products & Standards
Edible insects have the potential to fill the nutrition and income gaps in Uganda and Kenya. They are rich in protein and cheaper to manage. However, edible insect value chains are under-developed yet the demand is high. Business enterprises for rearing and processing quality insect food products do not exist and the business potential has not been evaluated.
Through a project titled INSBIZ – “INSect-based agriBIZiness for Sustainable grasshopper and cricket production and processing for food in Kenya in Uganda” researchers from the Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University in collaboration with partners from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) set out to improve the profitability and nutritional benefits of edible insects.
Objectives of the project
The development objective of the project was to contribute to improved food and nutritional security, job creation and income generation, and reduction of the gender gap for the most vulnerable groups in East Africa in general and specifically in Kenya and Uganda through edible insects production and processing. Specific objectives included; (1) assessing the market size and testing the market performance of insect-based foods; (2) adapting and piloting of mass rearing protocols for crickets and grasshoppers; (3) developing, characterizing and commercializing insect-enriched food products; and (4) creating a favourable enabling environment for insect-based food through policy/standards, advocacy and awareness creation.
The three-year project funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) through the BioInnovate Africa Programme Phase II was headed by Dr Dorothy Nakimbugwe, an Associate Professor in the Department of Food Technology and Nutrition at CAES. Other members on the project included Dr. Geoffrey Ssepuuya from the same department, and Dr. Jackline Bonabana-Wabbi from the Department of Agribusiness and Natural Resource Economics.
Project closing meeting
During the project closing meeting held in the School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bio-Engineering Conference Hall on 28th March 2022, Makerere University together with Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) launched edible insect products and standards for the enterprise. The event was presided over by Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and Uganda National Bureau of Standards Executive Director, Mr. David Livingstone Ebiru. It was witnessed by the Principal of CAES, Dr Gorettie N. Nabanoga; the Commissioner in charge of Entomology at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Mr. Gidudu Masaba Ambrose; and representatives from icipe led by Dr. Chrysantus Mbi Tanga.
The products launched included shelf-stable, safe and well packaged grasshopper products, cricket enriched flours, snacks, and cookies enriched with crickets.
Project outcomes
Addressing participants, Dr Nakimbugwe said the products would largely reduce nutritional challenges. “The majority of our people are not able to improve their diets because the foods that are high in protein, vitamins and minerals like chicken, beef and fish are expensive. We turned to insects because they address some of those problems. They are more nutritious than the conventional animal proteins like chicken, beef and fish. In addition, they take a shorter time to grow. Crickets grow in a matter of weeks compared to the other livestock. They can be harvested within 4 to 7 weeks. They also have a high feed conversion. The amount of feed you need to produce 1kg of insect is only about one and half kilogrammes. When it comes to the producing 1 kg of chicken, the amount of feed increases to about 5 kgs. If you are to produce 1 kg of beef, the amount of feed you need is 50kgs. The insects convert feed rapidly and efficiently and produce protein faster and of the same quality. They also require less space for rearing and present an opportunity to close the food and nutrition gap especially around proteins, vitamins and minerals,” she explained.
According to Dr Nakimbugwe, the project also sought to formalize the sector to make it more profitable. “For a long time, we have not had a certified product on the market because the Uganda National Bureau of Standards did not have a standard. The sector has been very informal. Insects are sold on streets and not controlled. In this project, we wanted to improve that situation. Together with the UNBS, we developed a standard for Uganda which was approved and is now available for use. For the first time you will be able to find certified insect products on the Ugandan market,” she noted.
The project also aimed mitigate the effects of climate change and greenhouse emissions that are high for animals and much lower for insects.
Other contributions included building capacity for research in this field. “The research in insects for food and feed is fairly new compared to other fields so we needed a lot of capacity development. The project was able to train the farmers and harvesters on handling of insects. We also trained students from PhDs, to MAs, undergraduates, fellows and technicians. This was necessary to sustain the research and development of this fairly noble field.”
Under the project, the researchers developed a compound feed to sustain large scale production of the insects. “If you are going to do commercial production, it is important that you have a standardized feed. In this development, we were very careful to exclude input that are also human food like silver fish and soy. Most of the feed in Uganda is in competition with the human food chain. In the project we were careful to avoid that. We formulated feed using the Black soldier fly larvae,” she explained.
Other outputs included strengthened edible insect value chains – cricket farmers linked to markets; large scale production, processing and marketing of cricket and grasshopper products; approved insect based food standards in Kenya and Uganda; improved grasshopper trapping method (cost-effective, sustainable and safer); more sustainable cricket rearing – using developed feed and container prototypes; and improved food and nutritional security through increased diversity of available nutritious and safe edible insect foods. All the products developed have shelf-life of over 6 months. For the grasshopper product, this implies all-year availability to consumers.
The project also contributed to the improvement of consumer health and safety through consumption of UNBS (and KEBS)-certified insect food products; increased incomes as a result of lower post-harvest losses for cricket farmers and grasshopper harvesters through use of improved post-harvesting techniques to maintain quality and safety; increased jobs creation and job security through improved capacity of young researchers, technicians and actors along the edible insects’ value chains; higher profile of and support for insect foods due to increased public awareness of their nutritional and commercial importance through various programmes.
During the event, a cricket farmer from Masaka shared her experience with the enterprise. She noted that with support from the project, cricket rearing had greatly transformed her life and is now able to pay fees for her children. The project supports over 50 cricket farmers in Masaka.
Remarks by the Vice Chancellor
In his remarks, Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe applauded the researchers noting that the project would largely address challenges of food insecurity in the country. “Makerere University researchers are taking the issue of food security seriously. In Africa, the biggest challenge we have is feeding the growing population. The traditional foods are not expanding in volume and some are actually disappearing yet we have this abundancy of what you can call the animal world. There are insects that we have traditionally eaten but these are seasonal. There are also insects which we assume we should not eat but are highly nutritious and eaten by people all over the world. Researching into ways of making their products more attractive will largely increase their consumption and boost food security,” he explained. He acknowledged the efforts of the researchers towards transforming Makerere into a research-led University as per the 2020-2030 Strategic Plan.
Speaking on the need to move the country to middle income status, the Vice Chancellor urged the researchers to transform the innovations into business enterprises. “We need to move towards setting up companies that will address challenges of unemployment but also boost our economy. With these great ideas, you can become billionaires and less dependent on salary,” he advised. He cautioned researchers to work towards patenting their products.
The Vice Chancellor appreciated SIDA and BioInnovate Africa for the support extended to the project. He also thanked the Government of Uganda for supporting research activities at the University. He urged researchers to continue engaging the government and private sector in projects, noting that research is more impactful when they work together.
Remarks from CAES Leadership
The Principal of CAES, Dr Gorettie N. Nabanoga applauded the project team for what she described as cutting-edge research that will greatly address challenges of food insecurity, malnutrition and improve food safety. “You have made CAES and Makerere proud with this level of success registered from the project,” she said.
Dr Nabanoga appreciated the development partners and the Government of Uganda for the continued support towards research at Makerere. She also appreciated the Vice Chancellor for the untiring support towards CAES activities.
In their remarks, the Dean of the School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bio-Engineering, Dr Abel Atukwase and the Head Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, Dr Ivan Muzira Mukisa congratulated the research team upon the successes registered. They also appreciated the project partners and funders for the support extended to various programmes at CAES.
The Executive Director of Ugandan National Bureau of Standards, Mr. David Livingstone Ebiru urged the research team to extensively disseminate and rollout the project to other parts of the country. He called for innovative measures of ensuring sustainability of the projects when donor funding stops.
Please see below for presentations from the workshop.
Agriculture & Environment
Makerere University, Uganda Red Cross Society Sign MoU to Advance Research, Training & Humanitarian Action
Makerere University and Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening collaboration in research, training, innovation, and humanitarian service delivery.
The agreement, signed on 19th May 2026, establishes a strategic framework through which the two institutions will jointly address pressing national and global challenges by combining academic research with practical humanitarian action.
The MoU was endorsed by Prof. Henry Alinaitwe Mwanaki, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), on behalf of Makerere University, and Mr. Robert Kwesiga, Secretary General of the Uganda Red Cross Society.
Purpose of the Partnership
The partnership brings together Makerere University’s expertise in research and higher education with the Uganda Red Cross Society’s experience in disaster response, emergency health services, and community outreach, to strengthen efforts in addressing humanitarian and public health challenges. Under the agreement, the institutions will collaborate on joint research projects, academic programmes, staff and student exchanges, and grant applications.
Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing
Building on this foundation, the two institutions will also work together to strengthen humanitarian assistance, volunteerism, health, and disaster risk management in Uganda through joint capacity-building initiatives. These will include short courses, training programmes, workshops, seminars, conferences, and other professional learning events, as well as the exchange and dissemination of case studies, best practices, and research findings.
Institutional Collaboration and Resource Mobilization
In addition, the partnership will deepen institutional collaboration through the development of strategic alliances, support for advocacy on capacity development action plans, and the promotion of stakeholder participation in each other’s programmes. It will further provide for joint resource mobilization- including co-development of funding proposals, and mutual access to institutional platforms that enhance skills development, methodological expertise, and knowledge transfer.
Student Engagement and Experiential Learning
The collaboration will also provide opportunities for Makerere University students to participate in humanitarian initiatives such as blood donation campaigns, volunteer services, and disaster response activities. In addition, students and staff will benefit from field-based training, internships, and experiential learning opportunities through the Uganda Red Cross Society.
Remarks from Makerere University
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Prof. Alinaitwe commended the Uganda Red Cross Society for its long-standing humanitarian service and strong international reputation. He explained that Makerere University, as a leading research institution, has a responsibility to strengthen humanitarian efforts through evidence-based research, innovation, and professional expertise. “This partnership demonstrates the university’s commitment to applying academic knowledge to real-world humanitarian challenges affecting communities across Uganda and beyond.”
Prof. Alinaitwe highlighted the role of young people in advancing humanitarian action, saying Makerere University’s large student population presents an opportunity to strengthen volunteerism, disaster preparedness, and community engagement initiatives. “Empowering students and young professionals through such partnerships not only contributes to national development but also nurtures a culture of compassion, civic responsibility, and leadership among the next generation,” he noted.
Highlighting potential areas of collaboration between the two institutions, including health services, emergency response, disaster risk management, research, training, and capacity building, Prof. Alinaitwe reaffirmed Makerere University’s strong commitment to humanitarian work. He expressed confidence that the partnership would foster meaningful opportunities for knowledge exchange, innovation, and joint initiatives aimed at improving the wellbeing and resilience of vulnerable communities across the country.
Remarks from Uganda Red Cross Society
Reflecting on the long-standing collaboration between the two institutions, URCS Secretary General, Mr. Robert Kwesiga, expressed gratitude to Makerere University for its continued support toward the organization’s humanitarian work. “The signing of the MoU marks a significant milestone in our partnership and serves as a renewed commitment to deepen collaboration in areas that directly advance public health, disaster preparedness, and community resilience, while enhancing the overall impact of humanitarian service delivery across the country.”
Mr. Kwesiga explained that the formal agreement will provide a structured framework for joint initiatives such as research, student engagement in humanitarian fieldwork, capacity building for staff and volunteers, and knowledge sharing in emergency response systems. According to him, this alignment between academic expertise and humanitarian practice is essential in addressing Uganda’s evolving social and health challenges.
“Makerere University’s role as a leading academic institution brings valuable technical and scientific capacity to the partnership, while the Uganda Red Cross Society contributes practical, field-based experience in disaster response and community support. Together, the two institutions are better positioned to design evidence-based interventions that save lives and strengthen vulnerable communities. The MoU will not remain a symbolic document, but will translate into tangible outcomes that benefit students, researchers, and the wider public through impactful programmes and sustained collaboration,” he noted.
Implementation and Duration
The agreement will run for an initial period of five years and is expected to strengthen Uganda’s capacity in research-driven humanitarian response and sustainable community development. At Makerere University, implementation of the MoU will be coordinated by Prof. Yazidhi Bamutaze, Deputy Principal of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and member of staff in the Department of Geography, Geo-Informatics and Climatic Sciences, while Dr. Harriet Rachel Kagoya Kibuule will coordinate on behalf of the URCS.
Pictorial of the MoU signing ceremony: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCUigt
Agriculture & Environment
CAES Engagement with Mak Senior Management: VC Calls for Expansion of PhD Training to Accelerate Development in Africa
Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, has called for a renewed focus on graduate training, research excellence, and innovation-driven scholarship as key pillars for Africa’s socio-economic transformation.
During a strategic engagement with staff at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) on 11 May 2026, Prof. Nawangwe, accompanied by members of the University’s senior management, commended the College for its significant contributions to research, innovation, and postgraduate training. “CAES is one of the most productive colleges at the University and continues to play a pivotal role in generating scientific knowledge and innovations that directly respond to societal and development challenges facing Uganda and the wider African continent,” he noted.
The meeting formed part of the University Leadership’s ongoing college-based consultation series aimed at strengthening collaboration across academic units and accelerating the institution’s research-led transformation agenda.
Call for Expansion of PhD Training in Africa
Prof. Nawangwe emphasized the central role of universities in addressing Africa’s development challenges through advanced research and human capital development, urging a significant expansion of doctoral training across the continent.
“In Africa, we have a duty to produce at least 1,000 PhDs annually if we are to meaningfully contribute to lifting our people out of poverty,” he said, calling on universities to become “engines of transformation through research, innovation, and the production of highly trained human capital.”
He challenged academic staff to prioritize multidisciplinary, high-impact research targeting critical issues such as food security, climate change, environmental sustainability, agricultural productivity, public health, and youth unemployment.
Research Funding and Institutional Capacity
Reaffirming Makerere University’s research standing, the Vice Chancellor noted that the institution has substantial capacity and funding to support large-scale research initiatives.
“As a one of the best universities in Africa, we must take the lead in research and graduate training. Makerere is not short of research funding. Our research portfolio exceeds 250 million US dollars,” he said.
He, however, stressed the need for stronger coordination and strategic planning to ensure research outputs translate into tangible societal impact.
Innovation, Patents, and Commercialization
On matters of innovation, patents, and commercialization of research outputs, Prof. Nawangwe informed staff that the University had established a dedicated office to support researchers in managing intellectual property rights and patent processes. He encouraged academic staff and researchers to fully utilize the facility in order to safeguard innovations emerging from the University and enhance their potential for commercialization and societal application.
The Vice Chancellor reaffirmed the University’s commitment to supporting colleges in improving graduate completion rates, strengthening research systems, and enhancing the quality and impact of higher education at Makerere University.
Industry Collaboration
In her remarks, the First Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Sarah Ssali, emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration between the University and industry to enhance practical training opportunities and ensure the relevance of graduate education. She encouraged academic staff to develop strategic niche areas of expertise, noting that deliberate specialization would sharpen research identities while significantly enhancing the College’s visibility, competitiveness, and influence at regional and international levels.
Prof. Ssali further stressed the importance of deliberate planning, accountability, and prudent management of research resources. She noted that effective management of research funds is central to sustaining innovation ecosystems, attracting future funding, and ensuring that research outputs translate into tangible benefits for communities, and the broader economy.
The engagement also provided an opportunity for staff to raise concerns affecting graduate training and research productivity, while proposing practical recommendations aimed at strengthening supervision, improving research infrastructure, enhancing funding accessibility, and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration.
Graduate Training and Innovation
Briefing the team on graduate training and research activities at the College, the Principal Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga emphasized the central role of graduate training in shaping innovators and problem solvers capable of responding to Uganda’s development challenges, including climate change, food insecurity, environmental degradation, low agricultural productivity, and unemployment.
She commended the Vice Chancellor for initiating college-based engagements, describing them as timely, strategic, and essential for strengthening institutional performance.
“These engagements demonstrate leadership that is not confined to management offices, but leadership that walks into the engine room of the University to understand what is working, what is struggling, and what must urgently improve,” she said.
In her presentation, Prof. Nabanoga emphasized the College’s strategic role in Uganda’s transformation agenda. She highlighted major strides made by the College in expanding graduate programmes in climate-smart agriculture, food systems, environmental management, renewable energy, agribusiness, and biodiversity conservation, with students increasingly contributing to scientific innovations, policy development, and community transformation.
CAES Transformation Initiatives
She also updated the team on the progress made in the implementation of the “CAES Transformation Pact,” unveiled in 2022, which prioritizes excellence in teaching, learning, research, innovation, and practical-based education. The initiative seeks to reposition the College to better respond to evolving national and global demands in higher education and sustainable development.
As part of these reforms, the College has revitalized practical training through enhanced field-based learning, internships, laboratory work, and research activities. With support from the Mastercard Foundation, CAES has also established a state-of-the-art digital studio laboratory to strengthen blended and digital learning.
The College is also promoting practical and field-based research through stronger utilization of the Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK), which is envisaged to become a world-class hub for applied research, climate-smart agriculture, and innovation incubation.
Partnerships and Graduate Training Systems
Prof. Nabanoga noted that strategic partnerships with organizations such as RUFORUM, Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa, Mastercard Foundation, and MakRIF have expanded opportunities for scholarships, research funding, international exposure, and innovation support.
She said CAES had adopted deliberate strategies to improve graduate training, including the rollout of the CAES GradCARE digital management system to streamline supervision, student tracking, and examination processes, alongside reforms aimed at strengthening graduate mentorship, interdisciplinary research, and innovation-driven learning.
Despite the progress, she cited growing pressure on supervision capacity, laboratory infrastructure, ICT systems, and graduate examination processes due to rising enrolment and limited staffing.
She called for stronger institutional investment, faster administrative systems, and enhanced infrastructure to support high-quality graduate education and research.
“The future of this University will be determined by the researchers, innovators, and leaders we nurture,” Prof. Nabanoga said, reaffirming the College’s commitment to advancing Makerere University’s vision as a globally respected research-led institution.
Alignment of Research to National Development Priorities
Highlighting the key challenges in graduate training and research, the Deputy Principal, Prof. Yazidhi Bamutaze, emphasized the need to better align research activities with community priorities as well as national and global development agendas. He further underscored the importance of strengthening graduate research output by increasing enrolment by 30% and improving completion rates to 70%. In addition, he called for improved staff efficiency to ensure more effective supervision, training, and mentorship, ultimately boosting overall research productivity and academic output.
Increasing Graduate Training
The Director of Graduate Training at Makerere University, Prof. Julius Kikooma reiterated the importance of expanding postgraduate education, in line with the University’s Strategic Plan, which targets raising graduate students to 40 percent of total enrolment.
Agriculture & Environment
MakCAES Develops Agroecology Curriculum to Drive Food Systems Transformation in East Africa
By Damali Mukhaye
Makerere University College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) is developing an agroecology curriculum to address mounting pressures on agri-food systems in sub-Saharan Africa, including poverty, food insecurity, biodiversity loss, and climate change.
Curriclum development is part of the requirements under the Regional Multi-Actor Research Network for Agroecology in East Africa (RMRN-EA) Project led by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, in collaboration with three African universities, including the University of Nairobi (UoN, Kenya), Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA, Tanzania), and Makerere University (MAK, Uganda).
CAES hosted a two-day Stakeholder Validation Workshop for the Agroecology Curriculum in East Africa at Protea Hotel between 5th and 6th May 2026. The workshop brought together researchers, scientists, policymakers, and educators from Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania to critically review and validate a landmark baseline study on agroecology in Uganda.
At the heart of the workshop was a presentation by Dr. Kenneth Balikoowa, Programme Assistant on a comprehensive assessment of agroecological integration across 28 CAES curricula 14 undergraduate, 13 postgraduate, and one PhD programme, alongside other presentations delivered by regional experts and academics.
Dr. Balikoowa noted that agroecology, as defined by FAO through 10 elements and 13 principles, provides a proven pathway for smallholder farming transformation by applying ecological and social principles to food systems design.
He emphasised that higher education is central to scaling agroecology, as embedding it in curricula builds a critical mass of change agents equipped to drive Uganda’s agri-food transformation, with establishing a curricular baseline at CAES as the first step under RMRN-EA interventions.
Using a rigorous six-stage mixed-methods approach, the assessment carried out by CAES, scored each programme against FAO’s 13 agroecological principles and 8 agroecological elements, conducted contextual analysis of 11 key agroecology-related terms, and benchmarked findings against international standards, including FAO and High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) frameworks.
The findings revealed that while CAES has solid technical, practical, and scientific foundations, agroecological integration remains partial, fragmented, and mostly implicit across 26 of the 28 programmes reviewed.
Two standout programmes including the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Extension and Rural Innovation (BARI) at undergraduate level, and the Master of Science in Agricultural and Community Development (MACD) at postgraduate level demonstrated that comprehensive agroecological integration is entirely achievable within CAES and should serve as design templates for broader curriculum redesign.
Among undergraduate programmes, BARI emerged as the top performer with an average score of 3.8, recognised for comprehensive participation and co-creation approaches, while BAGR, BEVS, and BHOR performed strongly, with solid soil health and biodiversity coverage. At postgraduate level, MACD led with an average score of 4.1, with agroecology woven centrally across its curriculum.
Across both levels, the assessment found that programmes consistently score higher on agroecological elements than on principles, indicating that operational concepts such as efficiency, diversity, and resilience are more readily absorbed than value-laden principles such as fairness, social values, and farmer participation.
Soil health emerged as the most integrated principle, present as a core component in nine programmes, while animal health, input reduction, and land and resource governance were the least integrated.
Critically, the assessment identified people-centred dimensions as the most consistently underrepresented areas across all programmes. Farmer agency, social equity, indigenous and traditional knowledge (ITK), and participatory methodologies,all central to FAO’s agroecological framework were largely absent.
Uganda’s rich indigenous agricultural knowledge was found to be almost entirely invisible in the curricula reviewed, representing both a significant gap and a major opportunity for culturally relevant curriculum development.
Going forward, the assessment recommends a foundational agroecology course common to all programmes as the single highest-impact, lowest-complexity action, deliverable within the next academic year. Full curriculum transformation is envisioned as a five-year commitment requiring sustained investment in faculty development, infrastructure, and community partnerships, but a phased roadmap makes it achievable.
Designing Curricula That Create Value
Assoc. Prof. Anthony Egeru, Principal Investigator, Makerere University (Uganda), underscored that the PhD programme in Agroecology goes beyond traditional notions of soil health and yield, placing sustainability at its very centre.
“The centrepiece is really sustainability. The conversation has now shifted from isolated discussions about soil or animal health to an integrated agroecological approach that ensures nature remains healthy while sustaining agricultural production and productivity,” Prof. Egeru said.
Prof. Egeru emphasised that productivity must be understood broadly encompassing income, animal health, circular economy, and value creation and directly linked to Uganda’s ambition of building a $500 billion economy (ten-fold).
He noted that Makerere is currently at stage three of the curriculum development process, with stakeholder validation now underway to refine and strengthen the programme. He anticipated that once the internal process of submitting the programme to the School, College, and the University Senate is complete, it will be submitted to the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), with the first set of students expected between the 2027 and 2028 academic years.
Tanzania’s Experience
Prof. Japhet Kashaigili, Principal Investigator for Tanzania and Director of Postgraduate Studies at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), shared that Tanzania is ahead in the curriculum development journey.
According to him, Sokoine already runs a PhD programme in agroecology that has been active for seven years. He added that a newly developed Master’s programme has been submitted to the Tanzania Commission for Universities for accreditation, with enrolment expected in the next academic year. Programmes targeting extensionists and tertiary-level winter schools are also in the pipeline.
However, Prof. Kashaigili sounded a strong warning on job market absorption.
“We don’t see government hiring agroecology experts, or other institutions like big NGOs hiring agroecology experts,” he cautioned, calling it a critical gap that must be urgently addressed.
He called on governments across East Africa to actively buy into agroecology programmes and create deliberate employment pathways for trained graduates, warning that training without absorption is an investment without a return.
Kenya’s Journey
Prof. Richard Onwonga, Principal Investigator from the University of Nairobi and Professor in the Department of Land Resource Management and Agricultural Technology, noted that Kenya is making steady progress, with several universities, including Murang’a, Chuka, and the University of Nairobi, at advanced stages of developing agroecology programmes.
He noted that the University of Nairobi had completed desktop reviews, needs analysis, surveys, and stakeholder validation, and is now developing content for identified course units.
Prof. Onwonga argued that agroecology is fundamentally a return to farming systems that existed before the Green Revolution introduced chemicals that degraded soils, the environment, and human health.
He emphasised that training agroecology-equipped extension agents will be transformative for smallholder farmers across East Africa.
He also highlighted agroecology’s potential for youth employment through circular economy enterprises from composting crop residues to engaging at every node of agricultural value chains.
“These are money-minting enterprises that the youth can get involved in,” he said.
Resolutions from the Workshop
While giving the project overview on day one, Dr. Frank Chidawanyika, Principal Investigator of the RMRN-EA Project, noted that the key outcomes from the Agroecology Validation Workshop include the development of an agroecology curriculum, a regional curriculum framework, defined competencies, and an action plan for implementation.
He also indicated that the workshop was slated to evaluate the status of the curriculum and competencies for teaching agroecology in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, noting that the outputs would guide training, research, and policy engagement across East Africa.
At the end of the workshop, stakeholders agreed that the PhD in Agroecology and Agri-food Systems will be anchored in four thematic areas, including Science of Agroecology, Practice of Agroecology, Knowledge Co-creation and Management, and Social Movement.
Project Summary
Agri-food systems in Africa have long been plagued by a multitude of challenges, including poverty, social exclusion, food insecurity, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Agroecology offers sustainable pathways for transforming these agri-food systems using locally and context-specific solutions, following participatory approaches that foster co-creation of solutions.
Through funding from the EU DG-INTPA, the establishment and operationalisation of the Regional Multi-Actor Research Network for Agroecology in East Africa (RMRN-EA) Project strengthens the practice, education, knowledge generation, and data management of agroecology through a multi-pronged approach involving curricula development (universities), data management (NARES), bottom-up participatory living labs (multi-stakeholders), and an Agroecology Policy Working Group (APWG).
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