Research plays a critical role in shaping the trajectory of nations, with innovation being key to addressing fundamental societal challenges. 

One of the most pressing issues facing the African continent is the nexus between a changing climate, vulnerable and dwindling ecosystem services, a growing population and ensuring food security through sustainable agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries. Drawing on the expertise of researchers, policymakers, industry leaders and innovators, the National Research Fund of Kenya hosted its second National Research Festival in partnership with the Egerton University and the County Government of Nakuru.

Under the theme Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security: Empowering Communities through Research, Science, Technology and Innovation, the festival highlighted transformative solutions to enhance food production, resilience and sustainability.

The long-standing relationship between the National Research Fund of Kenya and the National Research Foundation of South Africa has been sustained by numerous multilateral programmes that have forged a platform to enhance scientific capacity, promote joint research and advance shared development priorities. It is through such collaborations that a delegation from the NRF-SA was invited to participate at this year’s festival. The delegation included representatives from Business Advancement, Research Innovation, Impact Support and Advancement (RIISA), the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) and the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON).

A very warm and humid Nairobi greeted us upon arrival, and we set off on our journey to Nakuru, northwest of the city. The four-hour drive was eventful. Night time traffic tested the patience of motorists as boda boda and matatu drivers improvised new routes to escape the gridlock. This restless weaving through congested traffic reflected not only the ingenuity of people in the face of obstacles but also the limits of uncoordinated action. Just as traffic eases only when movement is guided by rules and shared direction, addressing the region’s most pressing challenges requires more than individual creativity, it demands coordinated collaboration among stakeholders, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, Africa’s Agenda 2063 and Vision 2030.

The festival, which kicked off with a tree-planting ceremony, provided platforms for in-depth discussions led by keynote addresses, followed by panel discussions and open questions from the attendees. Exhibitions were set up to showcase research and innovation from Kenyan universities and partners.

Professor Albert Chakona (managing director, SAIAB) and Dr Amukelani Maluleke (instrument technician, Expanded Freshwater and Terrestrial Environmental Observation Network) participated in a panel discussion on Promoting Natural Resource Conservation for Ecosystem Services. The panellists shared perspectives relating to the most pressing threats to natural resources and ecosystem services, with further emphasis on how local communities and indigenous knowledge can be better integrated into natural resource conservation efforts. Insights on how the long-term environmental observation platforms and research infrastructure run by the NRF can support the alignment of conservation initiatives with economic development goals, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, energy and tourism were discussed, with perspectives drawn from both Kenya and South Africa.

Another critical aspect was a discussion on the importance of investing in modern, end-to-end infrastructure platforms and building capacity to respond to and address complex issues such as antimicrobial drug resistance, which is increasingly threatening global health security, or emerging challenges posed by microplastic pollution. In addition, the importance of long-term environmental observations in evaluating, and when necessary, challenging large-scale ecosystem restoration initiatives that are primarily driven by financial incentives, yet completely misaligned with science-based ecological understanding, was also brought to the attention of the audience.

Dr Zanele Ntshidi (manager, SAEON Arid Lands Node) participated in the session Accelerating Agricultural Technologies and Digital Innovations for Sustainable Agriculture. The main aim of the session was to highlight transformative solutions to enhance food production, resilience and sustainability through the promotion of innovative technologies that have the potential of advancing the agricultural sector.

The keynote address in this session highlighted how efforts of accelerating technologies and innovations could never be achieved by one sector, emphasising the critical role played by public-private partnerships (PPP). The panel consisted of scientists, software engineers, data scientists, information technology specialists and agricultural engineers.