Kenya Launches WAF Country Council to Pioneer AI and Bioengineering in Agriculture

Kenya has officially launched the World Agriculture Forum (WAF) Country Council, a strategic move designed to accelerate the transformation of the nation’s agriculture sector by harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) and bioengineering.

The launch positions Kenya as a potential continental leader in agricultural innovation, aiming to boost productivity, strengthen climate resilience, and link global innovation directly to local farming systems. Speaking at the event held at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Auditorium in Nairobi, Science, Research and Innovation PS Prof. Abdulrazak Shaukat emphasized the urgency of scaling both the quality and quantity of agricultural production. He noted that climate change is disrupting planting seasons, trade barriers are constraining supply chains, and a rapidly growing population is increasing food demand, all of which call for innovative, science-driven solutions.

The WAF Kenya Country Council seeks to bridge the gap between policy ambition and on-farm reality by creating integrated investment pipelines that pair digital intelligence with biological innovation. Prof. Shaukat declared that Kenya is ready to lead what he called the “Convergence Decade,” stating that while AI can tell a farmer when to plant, bioengineering provides the seed that will survive regardless of the season.

This initiative aligns with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), the AI Strategy 2025–2030, and continental frameworks such as CAADP and Agenda 2063. WAF Global Executive Director Dr. M.J. Khan added that the forum will serve as a catalyst for shaping global food systems, committing to thought leadership and action through flagship initiatives like the Global Soil Health Coalition and the Digital Agriculture Council.

ILRI Director General Prof. Appolinaire Djikeng highlighted that over a year of collaboration between WAF and ILRI is now strengthening efforts to translate science into real impact for farmers. WAF Kenya Country Director Oscar Magenya noted that the launch marks a shift from conversation to implementation, turning global best practices into local impact.

Industry leaders like Market Farm Ltd CEO Timothy Wanjohi emphasized that digital platforms and AI-driven advisories are already reducing post-harvest losses and improving profitability, with the need now being to scale these solutions. By 2028, the council aims to establish a scalable model that connects global investors to local innovation, with the first county council meeting set for within 30 days to align regulations and develop financing models, ultimately transforming farming from a gamble into a science.