Kenya launches national agriculture council to deploy AI and bioengineering on farms

Kenya Launches National Agriculture Council to Deploy AI and Bioengineering on Farms

Kenya inaugurated a national agriculture council on April 30 designed to move AI and bioengineering from policy documents into large-scale farm deployment, marking a shift in how the country addresses food security challenges.

The World Agriculture Forum (WAF) Kenya Country Council brings together government officials, researchers, investors, and agribusiness executives. The council operates under the theme "The Convergence of Intelligence: Strategic Investments in AI and Bioengineering for a Resilient Agricultural Future."

Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, Principal Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation, framed the launch as a declaration of intent. "AI can tell a farmer when to plant, but bioengineering gives that farmer the seed that will survive regardless of the season," he said.

Strategic Alignment and Near-Term Goals

The initiative connects to Kenya's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, its national AI Strategy 2025 to 2030, and continental frameworks including the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme and Agenda 2063.

WAF Global Executive Director Dr. M.J. Khan described data as "the new fertilizer" in modern food systems. The council plans its first technical working group meeting within 30 days to align regulations, develop financing models, and create frameworks that make AI tools accessible to smallholder farmers.

By 2028, the council aims to establish a replicable model connecting global investors to local agri-tech innovations and positioning Kenya as a continental hub for agricultural technology.

The work builds on more than a year of collaboration between WAF and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi, focused on translating agricultural science into measurable results for farming communities.

For executives developing strategy around agricultural technology or AI for Executives & Strategy, Kenya's approach demonstrates how national frameworks can bridge the gap between research institutions and commercial deployment at scale.