Jonathan Mueke, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, State Department for Livestock Development lauded CGIAR as a longstanding and strategic partner in agricultural development and innovation.
"Kenya is honoured to co-host this important gathering. CGIAR has been a longstanding and strategic partner in agricultural development and innovation-not only here in Kenya but across the African continent.
The partnership between CGIAR and our national institutions, particularly the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), continues to bear fruit in research, capacity building, and the dissemination of innovations that uplift our farmers and communities," Mueke explains.
Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director, CGIAR explains, Science Week underscores CGIAR and its partners' steadfast commitment to international agricultural research and the critical need for sustained global investment in innovation, technology and science.
"This week marks a pivotal moment in our shared journey towards transforming global agriculture and food systems. CGIAR is unwavering in our commitment to advancing groundbreaking agricultural science that is sustainable, inclusive, and rooted in the belief that research, innovation, and collaboration are the keys to overcoming the complex challenges facing agri-food systems today," Elouafi says.
Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, Former Prime Minister of Mauritius emphasized the critical role women play in agriculture.
"Women feed Africa as they make up a high proportion of smallholder farmers. Yet where are the technology and tools that empower women and girls? When looking at the science to address challenges facing Africa, it is essential to do this through the gender lens to ensure innovations are equitable and inclusive," Ameenah explains.
At a special panel titled Council of the Wise, the Opening Ceremony proved a unique opportunity for global leaders and science experts to share knowledge and insights, alongside farmer community members who offered inside knowledge from the frontline of agricultural challenges.
Delegates joined Science Week from all over the world, with a special focus this year on Africa as a living lab whose diverse ecosystems, mounting agricultural pressures, diminishing natural resources, and fast-expanding populations highlight its relevance to the advancement of global science.
"Science Week is about drawing on deep wells of experience. Delegates have led science institutions and navigated farming through complex and changing challenges. Their insights are invaluable as we work to transform agri-food systems towards resilience," said Lindiwe Sibanda, Chair of the CGIAR Integrated Partnership Board and moderator for the Council of the Wise panel.
A key topic will be the impact of climate change on global agriculture and how mission-driven collaborations, particularly through South-South cooperation, can ensure that agricultural advancements reach the marginalized and underserved farming communities.
"We have made considerable progress over the last decades in science and productivity, but demographic pressures have eroded the gains. We need to do more with less, combining political solutions with scientific solutions," explains Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, African Union Special Envoy for Food Systems and Former Prime Minister of Niger.