Senior leaders from CABI recently concluded a high-level visit to Kenya which provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen partnerships and highlight science-driven solutions to agricultural and environmental challenges.
The delegation, led by CABI Board Chair Ms Chileshe Kapwepwe and Chief Executive Officer Dr Daniel Elger, included members of the CABI Board and CABI’s Executive Management Team.
The visit to Nairobi, home to CABI’s Africa Regional Centre, featured engagements with staff, partner institutions, and field researchers working to deliver sustainable agricultural across Kenya – helping also to ensure greater livelihoods for smallholder farmers and regional and national food security.
The visit was also held as part of CABI’s Member Country Consultation in Africa which focused on tackling major challenges through collaboration. The consultation was part of CABI’s continuing engagement with its Member Countries and was designed to help align CABI’s efforts with national and regional needs.
Strengthening partnerships for integrated landscapes management
A key highlight of the visit was a courtesy call to the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI). The two organisations discussed ongoing collaboration in areas such as forest health, biological control, and the management of invasive species.
The team during a tour KEFRI’s lab, where seeds of indigenous and exotic tree species are stored to support national reforestation and biodiversity goals.
Dr Eston Mutitu, KEFRI’s Deputy Director for Forest Productivity, Health, and Tree Improvement, highlighted several areas of fruitful collaboration with CABI. These included joint work on biological control, particularly in the multiplication of Fall armyworm parasitoids shipped from Switzerland. “We worked closely with CABI to multiply these beneficial insects, and the effort was highly successful,” he said.
Dr James Ndufa, who leads KEFRI’s work on forest biodiversity and climate change, addressed the growing threat of invasive species.
He highlighted the ongoing collaboration with CABI in tackling Prosopis juliflora, an invasive species that has spread across more than 2 million hectares in Kenya and is now considered a national security threat. Joint efforts have included the development of a National Prosopis Strategy (NPS) and the clearance of Prosopis within the Lake Bogoria National Reserve.
Another key area of collaboration highlighted was the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) project that aimed to enhance access to international markets for crops such as pawpaw, mango, avocado, and citrus by managing invasive scale insect pests across Eastern Africa, particularly in Kenya, Uganda, and Burundi. It was jointly implemented by CABI, KEPHIS, the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), the National Museums of Kenya, (KEFRI), and the Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEAK).
KEFRI CEO, Dr Jane Njuguna, reaffirmed their commitment to a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CABI, which provides a formal framework for joint efforts in forest conservation, climate adaptation, and community-led land restoration initiatives.
“Our forests are under threat from pests, diseases, and the impacts of climate change. We cannot solve these challenges alone. It requires collective effort, and we are pleased to have CABI as a partner in this journey,” she said.
Spotlight on biocontrol of invasive species
The delegation also visited the Crop Protection Biological Control Laboratory at KALRO’s Muguga campus, where CABI is hosted. The visit showcased research in biological control and invasive species management.
Stacey Odunga, a researcher at CABI, shared updates on the sustainable management of Phthorimaea absoluta (tomato leafminer), an invasive pest affecting tomatoes.
From left: Ms Stacey Odunga, Ms Linda Cospey, Chief Information Officer, and Dr Andy Robinson, Managing Director, Publishing.
In a separate presentation, Dr Selpha Miller, Scientist – Invasive Species Management, outlined progress in the control of papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus) through classical biological control.
Dr Ivan Rwomushana, Global Lead – Pest Preparedness, provided an overview of a collaborative project with KALRO’s Coffee Research Institute (CRI) aimed at managing the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei).
CABI is conducting research on the biological control of CBB in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and KALRO CRI subcentres in Koru and Kisii.
“The bulk of the work is done at KALRO Muguga, where CABI maintains a rearing facility for the parasitoids of coffee berry borer,” said Dr Rwomushana. “It’s from here that CABI transfers the wild parasitoids to Hawaii for the biocontrol of the pest, which is invasive to this region and thus a bigger problem there than in Kenya. The collection of parasitoids and their use in the biological control of coffee berry borer outside of Kenya is well aligned with the Convention of Biological Diversity.”
A stronger future through partnerships
CABI’s CEO, Dr Daniel Elger, said the visit to Nairobi highlighted the power of working together to tackle big challenges like climate change, food security, and protecting natural resources.
He stressed that as CABI grows its work across Africa, partnerships remain at the heart of what CABI does. He said CABI is proud of CABI’s strong relationship with KEFRI and others and that the visit showed just how important these collaborations are in finding practical, science-based solutions that help farmers, protect forests, and improve lives.
Board Chair, Ms Chileshe Kapwepwe, described the visit as a valuable opportunity to witness CABI’s impact on the ground. “It’s one thing to read about success in reports but seeing the work in action, from lab to field, is truly inspiring,” she said.
Additional information
Main image: CABI Board Members and Executive Management Team during a visit to the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI).
Relevant stories
‘CABI and KEFRI partner to boost landscape restoration and climate resilience.’
‘Biocontrol that goes the distance: Acerophagus papayae in Kenya.’
‘Demonstrating biological approaches for sustainable management of tomato leafminer in Kenya.’
Useful links
Related News & Blogs
