The Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has been appointed as Africa’s regional research hub for food value chains under the newly launched Africa–Japan Initiative for Science, Technology and Innovation Partnership (AJ-INSPIRE). The designation positions JKUAT at the forefront of cutting-edge research aimed at boosting agricultural productivity, sustainability, and food security across the continent.

The announcement was made on October 29, 2025, by Dr Okano Takasei, Senior Advisor at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), during the 5th Joint Coordination Committee meeting of the AFRICA-ai-JAPAN Project hosted at JKUAT.

AJ-INSPIRE is a strategic program designed to strengthen research collaboration, student mobility, and industrial partnerships between African and Japanese universities. The initiative promotes “international brain circulation,” facilitating a two-way flow of knowledge, talent, and innovation between the two regions.

Under the new framework, JKUAT will spearhead research on food value chains, developing technologies and systems to enhance agricultural efficiency and regional food security. Other thematic hubs include the Egypt–Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), focusing on energy research, and Stellenbosch University in South Africa, which will lead climate change and water systems studies.

JKUAT Council Chair Dr James Micah Onsando described the recognition as a milestone for Kenya’s higher education and innovation landscape. “Our researchers are shaping Africa’s science-driven development,” he said, emphasising the need to translate research into community impact, livelihoods, and equitable benefits for all stakeholders.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi said the designation reflects JKUAT’s long-term commitment to research excellence and international collaboration. “This partnership aligns perfectly with our vision of driving innovation for sustainable development,” she said, highlighting the confidence in African universities to lead frontier research.

The €25 million AJ-INSPIRE programme, funded under the NDICI–Global Europe framework, builds on over a decade of Japan’s scientific engagement in Africa through JICA’s education and technology cooperation projects. It aims to address shared global challenges, including food security, climate adaptation, and sustainable industrialisation, by fostering a connected and innovation-driven scientific ecosystem across the continent.

 

Article by Jed Mwangi

Photo/Google

https://www.jkuat.ac.ke/jkuat-to-drive-japan-africa-science-and-innovation-partnership/