NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 30 – Kenya has launched the World Agriculture Forum (WAF) Country Council in a strategic push to modernize agriculture through artificial intelligence and bioengineering, positioning the country at the center of next-generation farming innovation as it confronts climate shocks, food insecurity and declining productivity.
The new platform, unveiled at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi, is expected to bridge policy, research and investment by connecting global agricultural technologies with local farming systems to boost yields, improve farmer incomes and strengthen resilience.
The initiative comes as Kenya faces mounting pressure to secure food systems against erratic weather, rising population demands and supply chain disruptions, with agriculture remaining a backbone of the economy while employing millions and contributing significantly to GDP.
Speaking during the launch on behalf of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, State Department for Science, Research and Innovation Principal Secretary Shaukat said the country was entering what he termed a “Convergence Decade.”
“As we formally launch the Kenya Country Council of the World Agriculture Forum, we are doing more than inaugurating another institution,” he said.
“The future lies in the synergy between Digital Intelligence and Biological Intelligence. AI can tell a farmer when to plant, but bioengineering gives that farmer the seed that will survive regardless of the season.”
WAF Global Executive Director M.J. Khan said the council would move beyond policy conversations into implementation, leveraging data and innovation to reshape food systems.
“Data is the new fertilizer, and through our global councils, we aim to harness it to drive smarter, more resilient agricultural systems,” he said.
The council’s roadmap includes technical working groups, county-level partnerships and financing frameworks designed to scale digital agriculture, soil health and sustainability solutions by 2028.
WAF Kenya Country Director Oscar EV Magenya said the platform would serve as a practical mechanism to convert global agricultural breakthroughs into local value for farmers.
Its first County Council meeting is scheduled within 30 days, signaling the start of implementation as Kenya seeks to become Africa’s leading hub for agri-tech convergence.
