At the 2025 CGIAR Science Week, held at the United Nations Headquarters in Nairobi, global leaders, scientists, and innovators issued a unified call for a bold shift toward science-driven agricultural transformation. With over 8,000 delegates in attendance, the event marked a significant turning point in global cooperation on food systems, climate resilience, and sustainable development.
Opening the high-level event, Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi urged governments and leaders to embrace cutting-edge science and technology as essential tools in addressing rising threats to global food systems.
“I called on governments and leaders to proactively embrace science and technology to boost food production, tackle agricultural diseases, and counter the impacts of climate change, which continues to cause significant losses,” Mudavadi stated.
CGIAR Science Week, co-hosted with the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), has become a key platform for strengthening partnerships that drive innovation in food and nutritional security, sustainable agriculture, and livelihoods. This year’s event focuses heavily on collaboration in the face of rising global challenges and shrinking public funding for agricultural research.
The conference also underscored Kenya’s active leadership in the global agricultural science space. Mudavadi highlighted the country’s investment in agri-research under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which prioritizes agriculture as a driver of economic growth, job creation, and climate resilience.
“Agriculture is the backbone of Kenya’s economy, providing over 60% of employment. Yet the sector faces a perfect storm of challenges—from climate change to biodiversity loss and population growth,” he said. “The only way forward lies in science-driven solutions generated through robust partnerships among stakeholders.”
Kenya’s commitment to agricultural collaboration was echoed by Jonathan Mueke, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture’s Livestock Development Department. He emphasized the country’s enduring partnership with CGIAR, calling it “a longstanding and strategic partner in agricultural development and innovation.”
“The partnership between CGIAR and our national institutions, particularly KALRO, continues to bear fruit in research, capacity building, and the dissemination of innovations that uplift our farmers and communities,” Mueke said.
From the global stage, UN Nairobi Office Director-General Zainab Hawa welcomed the gathering as a rare convergence of scientific expertise and policy vision.
“Science Week will present unique opportunities to share knowledge to advance and develop the role that agriculture plays in solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges,” she noted.
CGIAR’s Executive Managing Director Ismahane Elouafi framed the event as a milestone for transforming global 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 said.
Throughout the week, participants will explore new investment models, share cross-border innovations, and engage in workshops and exhibitions aimed at scaling solutions that have real-world impact. From seed science to climate-smart agriculture, the event is a showcase of the global agricultural research community’s readiness to deliver under pressure.
