International Agricultural research at the Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth Summit

11 - 12 May 2026. Nairobi, Kenya. Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth Summit. The summit programme was organized around seven major themes,

1. Energy Transition & Green Industrialisation A joint plenary structured around facilitating trade and investment, promoting bankable projects, and strengthening skills and talent development. 
2. Reform of the International Financial Architecture Reforming the financial architecture to better mobilize private capital (both local and international) for the development of the African continent. 
3. Blue Economy Three axes: strategic priorities in maritime governance and environmental security; creation of blue jobs; and decarbonisation of maritime transport. 
4. Sustainable Agriculture Strengthen multi-stakeholder partnerships to support the transition toward productive, sustainable, and resilient food systems in Africa. 
5. AI & Digital Technologies Investment in digital infrastructure, partnerships for open AI, growth of start-ups and talent training, and financing the high-tech sector. 
6. Resilient Health Systems Health cooperation through partnership and co-construction, strengthened local production of vaccines and medicines, and continental capacity in health. 
   
7. Peace & Security Plenary session on peace and security issues in support of African mediation efforts and the actions of the African Union.
   

Side events on agricultural research

East Africa Workshop on Bridging Science and Entrepreneurship 

8 May 2026. The East Africa Workshop on “Bridging Science and Entrepreneurship” was held on Friday, May 8, 2026, as part of the Africa Forward: Africa–France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. The workshop brought together academic, research, innovation, and entrepreneurship stakeholders from across East Africa to discuss strengthening collaboration between science, innovation, and market-ready agricultural solutions.

It was organized by International Innovation Hub (IIH) within the framework of Africa Forward Summit, bringing together academic and innovation stakeholders from across the region and with the partners Ministère des Affaires étrangères français , and Agropolis International , CIRAD , L'Institut Agro Montpellier and the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Nairobi.

The event laid the foundations for stronger regional collaboration on sustainable food systems and explored how to strengthen the continuum between research, training, innovation, and entrepreneurship. 

Building on the successful establishment of IIH West Africa, the initiative is now exploring the creation
of an East Africa Hub to help bridge the gap between academic excellence and market-ready solutions. 

During the session, Nekesah T. Wafullah presented CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform (A4IP) structured approach to scaling science-based technologies — from proof of concept to commercialization — while also sharing lessons and insights from the #AgriTech4Tanzania consultation workshop and the #AgriTech4Kenya Innovation Challenge. 

These experiences continue to reinforce our commitment to strengthening innovation ecosystems, entrepreneurship, and research-to-market pathways across East Africa. 

FAO High-level Agriculture Roundtable

12 May 2026. This roundtable was led by Abebe Haile-Gabriel Farayi Zimudzi  Hamisi Williams  participated in the high-level Agriculture Roundtable discussions focused on food security, innovation, and sustainable agricultural transformation.

The discussions centered on:

• food security,
• agricultural innovation,
• policy reforms,
• and sustainable agricultural transformation.

GFAiR sparking renewed interest in traditional foods

15 May 2026. At the sideline of the Africa Forward: Africa–France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, KBCchannel1 News interviewed Joanna Kane-Potaka, Executive Secretary of GFAiR.

Traditional food crops are being sidelined by households. GFAiR is sparking renewed interest in traditional foods. GFAiR is supporting research on traditional foods and dissemination of research to smallholder farmers is key.

Extracts of the sessions

Main Stage Inspire

Agro Business leaders Jean-Louis Billon and Hassanein Hiridjee emphasized that Africa is the next global economic frontier, provided that governments and the private sector form strong partnerships to overcome infrastructure and regulatory hurdles. They argued that the continent must shift from discussing potential to executing bold, large-scale investments in energy, technology, and industrialization. Ultimately, they call for a more business-oriented political environment to support local champions and accelerate Africa's development.

Main Stage Inspire

Antoine de Saint-Affrique, CEO of Danone, and Senegalese entrepreneur Bagore Bathily discussed their long-term partnership, which bridges the gap between smallholder farmers and growing urban markets through science, technology, and sustainable practices. By fostering horizontal collaborations, they demonstrate that local value chains can be both socially impactful and commercially successful. Ultimately, they argue that Africa has the potential to become a food superpower if stakeholders prioritize immediate action and inclusive, long-term partnerships.