CABI’s regional centre for Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, welcomed a senior delegation of Chinese officials to further strengthen partnerships for greater South-South collaboration and efforts towards sustainable food security and development.
Dr Daniel Elger, CABI CEO, Dr Dennis Rangi, Director General, Development, Phyllis Ombonyo, Director of Strategy and Engagement, International Development, and other CABI staff met with their colleagues from China led by Professor Sun Tan, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS).
Those who also attended in person included Dr Gbemenou Joselin Benoit Gnonlonfin, Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS), Global Program Lead at CABI, and Dr Joseph Mulema, Senior Scientist, Research.
Dr Morris Akiri, Senior Regional Director, Africa, Dr Natasha Mwila, Regional Director, Southern Africa, Dr Feng Zhang, Regional Director, East & South-East Asia, and Dr Qiaoqiao Zhang, Memberships Director, attended the meeting remotely.
Catalyst for future research and development exchanges
Both parties recognized the need to deepen South-South collaboration – especially in regards to Africa and Asia – with the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA)-CABI Joint Laboratory for Biosafety seen, for example, as a catalyst for future research and development exchanges.
Professor Tan was part of the annual Steering Committee meeting of the Joint Lab last month (March 2025) in China where the work of the facility and its subcentres was reviewed and plans set for future activities and longer-term strategies.
During this year’s meetings, a particular focus was put on invasive species management, the promotion of biopesticide and biological control products for large-scale application and technology transfer, pesticide risk reduction, and grassland ecological restoration and carbon sequestration.
Other areas of mutual interest which were highlighted at the meeting in Nairobi, as part of the talks, included invasives species, digital development and digital tools, value chains and trade, the sharing of scientific knowledge and safer-to-use and more environmentally friendly biological solutions for crop pest and disease control.
Members of the Chinese delegation at the meeting in Nairobi.
One area of successful South-South collaboration which was highlighted, for example, was the use of beneficial nematodes to fight the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in Rwanda as part of Integrated Pest Management.
The work with the Rwandan Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) was a part of a triangular North-South-South cooperation among CABI Member Countries, supported by key partners including CAAS, Guangdong Entomological Institute, and CABI centers in China, the UK, Kenya, and Switzerland.
Foster greater sustainable food security and development
Similarly, CABI worked with CAAS as part of a tripartite south-south cooperation and technical exchange to support Botswana develop a digital knowledge hub to foster greater sustainable food security.
A comprehensive needs assessment is being carried – at the request of Botswana’s National Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NARDI) to support the government’s commitment to establishing a knowledge-based economy.
The work involved CABI and CAAS working with NARDI to see how digital knowledge products and services can help Botswana’s smallholder farmers grow healthier, higher yielding and more profitable crops free from pests and diseases.
The CABI and CAAS talks also reflected on the China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan 2025-2027 – part of which seeks to establish a China-Africa agricultural science and technology innovation alliance to assist Africa’s development.
China as a valued Member Country
Dr Rangi said, “CABI is pleased that the visit enabled us to build upon the strong relationship we have with China as a valued Member Country – particularly in the exchange of scientific knowledge and expertise from the Joint Lab and innovation in the field for the benefit of greater livelihoods and sustainable food security.
“We look forward to building upon our discussions and identifying further collaborations which will make staple and cash crops in Africa – including maize, wheat, rice, bean, millet, mango and other fruits – more resilient to the pressures of pests and diseases exacerbated by climate change.”
One of the benefits China enjoys as a Member Country is to help CABI shape and develop its Medium-Term Strategy which sets out ways in which it aims to help tackle some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. These include hunger, poverty, gender inequality, climate change and the loss of biodiversity.
The recent Regional Consultation of Asia-Pacific Member Countries, for instance, focused on collaboration to tackle these challenges with a specific emphasis on pesticide risk reduction and the promotion of biological solutions for pest control.
Furthermore, at the CGIAR Science Week – held between 7-12 April 2025 – CAAS were in discussion to strengthen ties between CGIAR and the China-Africa Agricultural Science, Technology and Innovation Alliance (CASTIA). It is also hoped CABI can be part of this collaboration.
Additional information
Main image: The CABI and CAAS colleagues who met at CABI’s regional centre for Africa to discuss areas for future collaboration.
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