Prof Shaukat Abdulrazak Ps Science Research and innovation, France Ambassador to Kenya Arnaud Suquet, Prof Catherine Kunyanga Associate Dean at the University of Nairobi Faculty of Agriculture during the launch./ PHOTO; Courtesy
With over 280 million Africans facing food insecurity and millions of children suffering from malnutrition, a new regional initiative has been launched to fast-track scientific solutions across the continent.
Addressing these urgent challenges requires coordinated action and innovative research across borders.
On Thursday evening, the French Embassy in Nairobi hosted the official launch of the TRACE program, a multi-country partnership aimed at transforming agriculture, strengthening ecosystems, and building resilience across East Africa.
TRACE, which stands for Transformation in Agriculture for Animal, Crop, and Ecosystem Health, brings together institutions from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.
The partnership unites universities, national research bodies, international scientific organisations, and NGOs to address the most urgent challenges affecting food systems in the region, including climate change, soil degradation, livestock health, nutrition, and food sovereignty.
A Partnership Rooted in Science, Collaboration, and Innovation
Speaking at the launch, French Ambassador to Kenya H.E. Arnaud Suquet emphasized that the TRACE initiative comes at a critical time, when African countries are grappling with demographic pressures, climatic changes, and political instability factors that continue to threaten food production and sustainability.
He highlighted the growing influence of French research institutions CIRAD and IRD in Kenya and the Rift Valley region, noting that their long-standing partnerships have significantly strengthened scientific ecosystems.
“TRACE members are committed to advancing the agroecological transition in a world facing demographic, climatic, and political challenges,” said Ambassador Suquet, adding that regional collaboration would “ultimately improve the livelihoods of farming communities across East Africa.”
The Ambassador thanked representatives from ICIPE, various CGIAR organisations, UN agencies, and the private sector for their presence, citing it as proof of a unified commitment to agricultural transformation.
He also acknowledged the contributions of CIRAD’s outgoing Regional Director, Dr. Patrice Grimaud, and welcomed his successor, Dr. Sylvie Lewicki.
No Single Organisation Can Solve These Challenges Alone
Prof. Catherine Kunyanga, Associate Dean at the University of Nairobi’s Faculty of Agriculture, introduced the TRACE partnership on behalf of member institutions.
As a trained food scientist and leader in research, innovation, and partnerships, Prof. Kunyanga underscored the urgency of collaborative action in a region increasingly vulnerable to climate shocks, pest outbreaks, and declining agricultural productivity.
“Agriculture faces numerous threats, including climate change, and no single organisation can tackle all of them alone,” she said.
“TRACE enables us to break silos, share research and innovation, and collectively strengthen the sector so we can feed the future.”
TRACE integrates agroecology and One Health approaches, recognizing that the health of crops, animals, ecosystems, and people is interconnected.
The program brings together universities, research organisations like ICIPE and ILRI, and development partners to share knowledge and co-create solutions.
A Call to Action for Regional Food Security
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, Principal Secretary for Science, Research, and Innovation, formally launched the TRACE program and praised the initiative for its transformative potential.
He described TRACE as “a timely and noble initiative” that aligns with both the African Union Agenda 2063 and Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, where agriculture is a key pillar for national development.
“Millions of Africans continue to face hunger and malnutrition, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated action across our food systems,” Prof. Abdulrazak said.
“This calls for urgent action across the entire agricultural value chain from production and processing to food safety, food sovereignty, and nutrition.”
He highlighted five key strengths of the TRACE partnership:
- Breaking silos between universities, research centres, and international organisations.
- Providing a platform for joint, bankable proposals that can attract funding and enhance scientific impact.
- Enabling shared knowledge and learning across countries that face similar agricultural challenges.
- Enhancing regional capacity to respond to climate shocks, environmental pressures, and food insecurity.
- Leveraging Kenya’s unique position as a regional hub for global research, home to several CGIAR centres, UN agencies, and international institutions.
“No institution has a monopoly on knowledge; collaboration is our greatest strength,” he noted.
“TRACE allows African scientists to work with global partners to generate solutions that will reshape our agricultural future.”
A Transformative Path Forward
The launch of TRACE marks a new chapter for East Africa’s agricultural research landscape one defined by cooperation rather than competition, by shared challenges and shared solutions.
With climate change intensifying and food insecurity rising, the partnership aims to generate scientific innovations that can help communities not only survive but thrive.
For millions of farmers, pastoralists, and households across East Africa, a strengthened research ecosystem offers hope for climate-resilient crops, healthier livestock, improved soils, safer food systems, and better livelihoods.
As the region braces for growing threats, TRACE signals a crucial shift toward unity, innovation, and long-term resilience, bringing East Africa one step closer to a food-secure future.
