ABUJA, NIGERIA, 31 JULY 2026 — Southern Africa’s growing contribution to Africa’s agroecological transformation took centre stage at the 9th Africa Agriculture and Science Week (AASW9) and 10th Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) General Assembly, held from 27–31 July 2026 in Abuja, Nigeria.
The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) was represented at the continental gathering by Vice Chairperson of the CCARDESA Board, Dr Dumisani Kutywayo; Acting Executive Director, Mr Dagmore Tawonezvi; and Dr Sedera Norotiana Rasambo, Programme Officer for the Regional Agroecology Network for Southern Africa (RAENS).
Panelists
Held under the theme “Innovation and Partnerships for Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems in Africa,” AASW9 brought together researchers, policymakers, farmers, universities, development partners and the private sector to explore how science and innovation can respond to Africa’s agricultural challenges.
Adding CCARDESA’s voice to the broader AASW9 discussions, CCARDESA Vice Board Chair Dr Dumisani Kutywayo participated in a plenary panel discussion, where he highlighted the critical role of research in driving Africa’s agricultural transformation. Dr Kutywayo emphasised the importance of research that responds to Africa’s agricultural challenges and generates practical solutions for farmers. His contribution underscored the need to strengthen the link between research, innovation, policy and practice to improve productivity, build resilience and support sustainable agrifood systems across the continent.
During a side event on “Advancing Agroecology in Africa: Knowledge Exchange and Emerging Researcher Engagement under the Kampala CAADP Framework,” Dr Rasambo showcased RAENS and its role in strengthening agroecological research, collaboration and knowledge exchange across Southern Africa.
Dr Rasambo
Coordinated by CCARDESA, RAENS is a consortium of eight institutions, including the University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa; Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Malawi; and Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Tanzania. The network connects researchers, policymakers and practitioners to develop and share agroecological knowledge and innovations suited to Southern Africa’s farming systems.
RAENS was presented alongside RMRN-EA in East Africa and RADIUS in West and Central Africa, highlighting a growing continental movement towards stronger cooperation in agroecological research.
The discussions went beyond research institutions to highlight two groups central to Africa’s agricultural future: young people and farmers.
Mr Kofi Kisiedu Acquaye, Africa Regional Coordinator for Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD), shared the work being undertaken to engage young people through RAENS. He emphasised the importance of creating meaningful opportunities for young professionals to contribute to agroecological research, innovation and agricultural development.
Bringing the discussion to farm level, Dr Irene Kadzere (Kadzere-Forichi), Action Research Advisor and Africa Ambassador at the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), presented on support to farmers in the region, highlighting the need for research and innovation to respond to farmers’ realities and translate into practical solutions.
The side event also created space for PhD candidates and early-career researchers to present their agroecology studies, receive expert feedback and build connections with researchers and development partners from across Africa. This engagement is helping nurture a new generation of African scientists equipped to address climate change, land degradation, declining soil health, biodiversity loss and food insecurity.
The discussions were particularly timely as Africa moves forward with the Kampala Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Strategy and Action Plan 2026–2035, strengthening the need to connect scientific evidence with policy and practical action.
The side event brought together FARA, FiBL through the GIZ-supported Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology (KCOA) programme, the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), the European Commission Joint Research Centre (EU-JRC), and Africa’s three Agroecology Regional Multi-Actor Research Networks.
For RAENS, Abuja provided more than an opportunity to showcase its work. It strengthened connections between research, young people, farmers and policy, the actors needed to turn agroecological knowledge into change on the ground.
As RAENS grows, the focus remains clear: take agroecology beyond research and conference halls and translate knowledge into practical solutions for resilient farmers, communities and agrifood systems across Southern Africa.
The participation of CCARDESA Vice Board Chair Dr Kutywayo and Acting Executive Director Mr Tawonezvi further underscored CCARDESA’s strategic commitment to ensuring that Southern Africa has a strong voice in continental agricultural research, innovation and policy processes.
