Neglected and underutilized species (NUS) are important for nutrition, food security, climate resilience, and cultural heritage. They offer diverse, locally adapted food sources that respond well to changing environments and support healthier diets, especially for vulnerable communities. By bringing these species into the centre of teaching and innovation, universities help strengthen value chains and policies that recognise their role in sustainable agri food systems.

Today, NUS receive limited attention in university programmes and teaching materials, which weakens the pipeline of graduates, innovators, and entrepreneurs who focus on these crops and products. Many students complete their studies without exposure to NUS as opportunities for research, enterprise, and policy engagement. This gap in curriculum and teaching practice slows down innovation, narrows career pathways for young people, and keeps NUS on the margins of agri food transformation efforts.

1.2 Network for NUS Education and Curriculum Development

The Network for NUS Education and Curriculum Development links universities in Africa, India, Latin America, and the Caribbean, together with research and innovation partners that work on NUS. Its purpose is to co-design and pilot a systems-based curriculum that connects production, environment, health, consumption, and innovation, and to promote entrepreneurial, practice-oriented teaching that helps students engage directly with NUS value chains, trade, technology, and enterprise development.

1.3 Overall Objectives of the Network

Co-design and pilot a systems-based curriculum framework and prototype module that link NUS education with production, environment, health, consumption, innovation, trade, and technology.
Equip educators with tools, examples, and approaches for entrepreneurial and systems-based teaching on NUS.
Strengthen collaboration among universities, CGIAR centres, research networks, and private sector actors involved in NUS innovation ecosystems. [

1.4 Purpose of the Workshop

This workshop marks the formal launch of the Network by bringing the core group of universities and partners together to agree on a shared vision, curriculum focus, and way of working. Over the two days, participants will shape the initial curriculum framework, identify prototype teaching modules and pilots, and agree on priority themes and partnerships. These outputs form the backbone of a 12 month workplan, which will guide pilot implementation in universities, joint learning activities, and regular exchanges within a community of practice that tracks progress and refines the teaching models.

1.5 Expected Outcomes

Stronger collaboration among universities, CGIAR centers, research networks, and civil society partners to advance NUS innovation and education.
Better alignment between academia, incubators, accelerators, and enterprise partners to support NUS based entrepreneurship and innovation among students.
A committed core group of educators, researchers, and innovation partners prepared to co develop and pilot NUS related teaching modules in their institutions.
A 12 month community of practice that brings together universities, CGIAR centers, and implementation partners to share lessons, track pilots, and refine teaching models for NUS integration.

1.6 Participants Profile

Participants include university lecturers, curriculum developers, and researchers, alongside representatives from CGIAR centres, research projects, civil society organisations, education partners, incubators, accelerators, MSMEs, and funders. They come from Africa, India, Latin America, and the Caribbean, bringing experience from teaching, research, policy, and enterprise linked to NUS value chains.

1.7 Methodology

The workshop will use a participatory, co-design approach that combines short plenary inputs, case examples, and structured group work. Participants will work in thematic clusters on sustainable production, value addition and agribusiness, and nutrition and health, using breakout sessions to identify learning outcomes, priority NUS themes, and suitable teaching methods.

On the second day, mixed groups will be formed into 3 broad value chain roles including Sustainable Production, Value Addition / Agribusiness, and Nutrition/ Health. These will further be disaggregated to , to design prototype modules and student assignments that integrate contributions from universities, CGIAR centres, civil society, incubators, accelerators, and MSMEs. Facilitated plenaries then bring together the insights from all groups to shape pilots, partnerships, and a shared 12 month curriculum design workplan.

2. Programme at a Glance

Day 1 - Building the foundation for NUS integration into teaching and curricula

Time	Session	Key Content and Focus	Responsible
08:30–09:00	Arrival and Registration		Jackie and Judith
09:00–09:30	Welcome and Introductions	Opening remarks by GFAiR and RUFORUM. Overview of the Network and expected workshop outputs.	Florence and Francois
09:30–10:20	Keynote Session 1	Five 10-minute presentations on global and regional perspectives on NUS: - Carlo Rega, EC Joint Research Centre -Prof. Agnes W. Mwang’ombe, UoN - Prof. Pravat Kumar Roul, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), India. -Dr. Sonia Peter, BERP, Barbados -Prof. Christopher Chiedozie Eze, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Nigeria	Facilitator - Patrick Byakagaba
10:20–10:40	Plenary Reflections	Initial reactions from participants on keynote perspectives.	Patrick Byakagaba
10:40–11:00	Health Break and Networking
11:00–12:30	Session 1: Where NUS Feature in Teaching	Presentations of baseline findings by universities (based on abstracts). Joint reflections from CGIAR centres, research projects, and education partners. Group discussion on practices, gaps, and opportunities.	Patrick Byakagaba
12:30–13:30	Lunch
13:30–15:00	Co-Design Lab 1: NUS in Teaching & Curricula	Breakouts by thematic cluster: 1. Sustainable Production 2. Value Addition/Processing & Agribusiness 3. Nutrition & Health Each group defines: - Sub-themes - Key learning outcomes - Teaching methods	Patrick with Maria and Unity
15:00–15:30	Health Break
15:30–17:00	Plenary 2: Synthesis of Day 1	Reports from breakout groups. Shared learning outcomes, key content areas, and draft module ideas. Reflections from research networks and enabling partners.	Patrick Byakagaba
17:00–17:15	Wrap-Up of Day 1	Summary of key messages. Preview of Day 2.	Christine and Emmanuel
18:00–21:00	NUS Cuisine Dinner - Luo Edition	Hosted dinner and exhibition featuring traditional neglected and underutilised foods from Kenya’s Luo community. Venue: Loresho, Nairobi Departure from hotel: 18:00	Jackie and Francois

Day 2 - Connecting NUS learning with innovation ecosystems

Time	Session	Key Content and Focus	Responsible
08:30–09:00	Arrival and Informal Networking
09:00–09:30	Recap and Framing for Day 2	Review of Day 1 outcomes. Framing Day 2 to connect to innovation ecosystems. Input from CGIAR and civil society.	Facilitator and all participants
09:30–10:45	Plenary 3: NUS Innovation Ecosystems	Fireside chat with: - Chinhoyi University of Technology Accelerator - Egerton University Business Innovation Centre - Nakuru Tubers - Nelia Foods CGIAR, MSMEs, and education partners share innovations and incubation experiences.	Unity
10:45–11:15	Health Break
11:15–11:45	Experiences from Curriculum Innovators	Short inputs on teaching innovations, competencies, pedagogy, and assessment approaches. (Max 30 minutes)	Named presenters
11:45–12:45	Co-Design Lab 2: Teaching for Innovation	Thematic group discussions on: - Competences - Pedagogical methods - Competency assessment	Maria and Unity
12:45–13:45	Lunch
13:45–15:00	Session 2: Pilots and Partnership Planning	Regional and country groups propose pilots. Joint input from CGIAR, civil society, and funders. Identify student outputs, partners, timelines.
15:00–15:30	Health Break
15:30–16:30	Plenary 4: 12-Month Workplan & Commitments	Present pilot ideas. Identify participating universities. Agree on course structure, delivery, assessment. Develop roadmap and KPIs for the NUS network.	Facilitator
16:30–17:00	Closing Session	Review of agreed actions. Focal point designations. Closing remarks.	Francois and Florence

3.Participant Profiles

To better reflect the diversity of actors supporting NUS transformation, participants are first grouped by Partner Type, i.e Academic Institutions, CGIAR centres, civil society organizations, MSMEs, and independent experts. Within each group, participants are further sub-grouped by their primary Thematic Cluster, based on their expertise and contributions to the NUS value chain.

3.1 Academic Institutions (Universities, Technical Universities, and Colleges)

Participants affiliated with formal higher education institutions.

Dr Oral O. Daley

Crop Scientist and Lecturer, Department of Food Production, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

Country and partner type - Trinidad and Tobago, university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Thematic presenter and participant
Day 1 cluster: Value addition and agribusiness
Day 2 value chain group: Production

NUS and thematic focus

Tropical root and tree crops, including breadfruit, sweet potato, hill rice, topi tambo, cassava and yam
Links genetic diversity, propagation and sustainable production with value chain development, entrepreneurship and community engagement in the Caribbean.

Short bio
Dr Daley works at the interface of NUS research, curriculum innovation and regional development. He focuses on genetic diversity and propagation of tropical root and tree crops and on translating this knowledge into teaching, value chain development and entrepreneurship support. He designs experiential learning activities that connect students with farmers, communities and agri food enterprises, using NUS as entry points for sustainable agriculture and climate resilience. His experience is relevant for co designing NUS teaching modules and pilots on production and value addition.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Regional resource person for Caribbean pilots on NUS production, curriculum innovation and student engagement with enterprises.

Prof Achille Ephrem Assogbadjo

Professor of Conservation Genetics, Forest Ecology and Ethnobotany, University of Abomey Calavi, Benin

Country and partner type - Benin, university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Thematic presenter and resource person
Day 1 cluster: Sustainable production
Day 2 value chain group: Production

NUS and thematic focus
-African baobab, orphan crops, non timber forest products, and tree and crop species used in agroforestry systems.

-Connects biodiversity conservation, conservation genetics and agroforestry with community management, food and nutrition security, and climate resilient production systems.

Short bio
Professor Assogbadjo is an agronomist and forester and Full Professor at the University of Abomey Calavi in Benin. He works on biodiversity conservation, agroforestry and non timber forest products, with a strong focus on orphan crops and their role in food security and climate resilience. His contributions on African baobab and other tree and crop species link genetic diversity, ecology and economic use. He has extensive experience supervising BSc, MSc and PhD students and collaborating with partners in Africa, Europe, the Americas and Asia, which he brings into teaching and curriculum innovation.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Lead contributor on NUS agroforestry module design and support to pilots on climate resilient tree crop systems and NUS enriched agroforestry teaching in West Africa.

Dr Kolawolé Valère Salako

Senior Lecturer in Forestry and Biometry, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey Calavi, Benin

Country and partner type - Benin, university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Thematic presenter and resource person
Day 1 cluster: Sustainable production
Day 2 value chain group: Production

NUS and thematic focus
- Neglected and underutilized tree species in tropical agroforestry systems, including parklands, homegardens and peri urban agroforestry.
- Connects tree diversity, domestication and carbon sequestration with climate resilient production systems, sustainable rural livelihoods and student led agri entrepreneurship.

Short bio
Dr Salako is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher in Forestry and Biometry at the Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey Calavi, where he serves as scientific coordinator of the Laboratory of Biomathematics and Forest Estimations. His work covers forest estimations, conservation, agroforestry, tree domestication and adaptation, with a strong interest in neglected and underutilized tree species in both natural and human modified ecosystems. He mentors undergraduate and postgraduate students on agroforestry, tree domestication and agri entrepreneurship projects, and has co authored more than 150 scientific outputs and received several national and international awards.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Contributor on pilots that embed NUS rich agroforestry and peri urban tree systems in teaching and student projects, and mentor on linking biometry, NUS and climate resilience in curriculum and field activities.

Prof Flora Josiane Chadare

Full Professor of Food Science and Nutrition and Dean, School of Science and Techniques for Processing and Preservation of Agricultural Products, National University of Agriculture (UNA), Benin

Country and partner type - Benin, university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Thematic presenter and resource person
Day 1 cluster: Nutrition and health
Day 2 value chain group: Processing

NUS and thematic focus
-Neglected and underutilized species and endogenous non timber forest products used as local food resources for food and nutrition security.
- Links food product development, fortification, food safety and environmentally friendly processing with NUS based diets and resilient food systems, with a strong focus on women, startups and community organisations.

Short bio
Prof Chadare is Full Professor of Food Science and Nutrition at UNA in Benin and Dean of the School of Science and Techniques for Processing and Preservation of Agricultural Products. Trained at Wageningen University, she works on food security, product development, food fortification, food safety and valorisation of local food resources, especially neglected and underutilized species and non timber forest products. She has supervised many PhD, Master’s and Bachelor’s students, published widely and contributed to national and international programmes with organisations such as GAIN and WFP, with strong attention to gender and inclusion.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Lead for NUS and nutrition focused teaching pilots and mentor for student innovation projects on NUS based food products and value chains in West Africa, including links to incubation and support for women led and youth led enterprises.

Ms Milcah Mlazamirwa Kalinga

Research Assistant, African Centre of Excellence in Neglected and Underutilised Biodiversity (ACENUB), Mzuzu University, Malawi

Country and partner type - Malawi, university / research centre

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Thematic presenter and resource person
Day 1 cluster: Value addition and agribusiness
Day 2 value chain group: Enterprise support

NUS and thematic focus
-Focus on Pupwe (Zanthoxylum chalybeum) and other neglected and underutilized species with potential for value addition and MSME development.
- Links NUS research with product ideas, processing options, business models and entrepreneurship training for students, MSMEs and community groups in Malawi.

Short bio
Ms Kalinga is a Research Assistant at ACENUB, Mzuzu University, where she works on the innovation and enterprise potential of neglected and underutilized species. She has led and supported work on Pupwe, Zanthoxylum chalybeum, exploring its uses, processing, and business opportunities with local communities and small enterprises. At ACENUB she contributes to research, data collection, training and outreach that connect students and community groups to NUS based enterprise opportunities. Her interests include entrepreneurship training, community engagement and building NUS value chains that strengthen incomes and resilience.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Contributor on NUS and MSME focused pilots, especially Pupwe based enterprise cases, and on student and community entrepreneurship components linked to NUS value chains in Southern Africa.

Dr Abdelhak Kabbabi

Senior agriculture and fertilizer industry professional; PhD student, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Benguerir, Morocco

Country and partner type - Morocco, university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Thematic presenter and resource person
Day 1 cluster: Sustainable production
Day 2 value chain group: Production

NUS and thematic focus
-Focus on einkorn cereal (Petit Epeautre) and other forgotten or underutilized healthy cereals.
-Links crop nutrition, fertilizer use, healthy crop production and value chain development, with a focus on bringing underutilized cereals into teaching, research and commercial value chains through university, farmer and private sector collaboration.

Short bio
Dr Kabbabi is a senior professional in agriculture and the fertilizer industry with a strong interest in neglected and underutilized crops. He holds a PhD in Chemistry from Institut National Polytechnique in France, a MSc in Crop Nutrition from UM6P in Morocco, and a MSc in Geoeconomy and Geopolitics in Africa from HEC Paris, and is currently a PhD student at UM6P. Over three decades he has worked across research and development, environment, water, policy, sales and development. He is active in agronomy and health related social programmes that promote healthy crops, including einkorn, and the transfer of scientific knowledge to farmers and communities.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Contributor on pilots and teaching cases on underutilized cereals and healthy crop production, including examples on einkorn, and on university, farmer and industry linkages for NUS based value chains in North Africa.

Prof John H. Muyonga

Professor of Food Science and Technology, Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, Makerere University, Uganda

Country and partner type - Uganda, university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Keynote speaker and resource person on NUS focused curriculum innovation
Day 1 cluster: Nutrition and health
Day 2 value chain group: Processing

NUS and thematic focus
-Traditional and neglected foods including jackfruit, grain amaranth, pumpkins, Solanum species, indigenous vegetables, forest foods and yam bean.
-Connects food processing, postharvest technologies and nutrition with curriculum innovation, incubation, and enterprise development based on traditional and neglected foods.

Short bio
Prof Muyonga is Professor of Food Science and Technology at Makerere University with over 25 years of experience in teaching, research and academic leadership. His work brings together food processing, nutrition, postharvest technologies and development focused research on traditional and neglected foods such as jackfruit, grain amaranth, pumpkins, Solanum species, indigenous vegetables and forest foods. He has supervised many graduate students and led major research grants on traditional foods and nutrition improvement. He led the establishment of the Food Technology and Business Incubation Centre at Makerere University, which supports small and medium enterprises to develop and commercialise products from traditional African foods.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Lead contributor on NUS focused teaching modules and short courses at Makerere University and mentor for pilots on processing, value addition and incubation of NUS based products in East Africa.

Prof Christopher Chiedozie Eze

Professor of Agribusiness and Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES), Umuagwo, Nigeria

Country and partner type - Nigeria, university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Keynote speaker and senior resource person on NUS and agribusiness education
Day 1 cluster: Value addition and agribusiness
Day 2 value chain group: Enterprise support

NUS and thematic focus
- Neglected and underutilized crops in Nigeria and across Africa, including roots, tubers, cereals, legumes, leafy vegetables, tree crops and wild edible species.
-Links agribusiness education, curriculum reform and youth enterprise with NUS based value chains, including work on new courses and technologies such as hybrid solar dryers for NUS processing.

Short bio
Prof Eze is Professor of Agribusiness and Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo. He has written on agribusiness, agricultural innovation and entrepreneurship and is known for his work on education reform and youth focused enterprise development. At UAES he has championed curriculum changes that bring Neglected and Underutilized Species into teaching and research, including an MSc course on neglected and endangered species conservation. His leadership connects universities, governments, farmers and private sector partners around agribusiness models that link biodiversity, markets and skills development for young people.

Role in pilots / community of practice
High level champion and adviser on NUS focused agribusiness education pilots, curriculum reform and enterprise components, and mentor for universities that plan to introduce NUS and biodiversity led agribusiness courses.

Prof Agnes W. Mwang’ombe

Professor of Plant Pathology, Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection and Coordinator, Seed Enterprise Management Institute (SEMIs), University of Nairobi, Kenya

Country and partner type - Kenya, university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Senior resource person on NUS in agricultural curricula, seed systems and plant health
Day 1 cluster: Sustainable production
Day 2 value chain group: Production and seed systems

NUS and thematic focus
- Integration of neglected and underutilized species into agricultural curricula, with a focus on seed systems, disease free planting material, climate resilient varieties and value chain oriented training.
- Connecting plant health, seed enterprise development and professional training, including work with SEMIs and seed sector partners across Sub Saharan Africa.

Short bio
Prof Mwang’ombe is Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Nairobi and former Principal of the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences and Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture. She founded and coordinates the Seed Enterprise Management Institute, which has trained more than 1,500 seed sector professionals from over 20 African countries. Her experience includes cassava value chain hubs, tissue culture seed laboratories and review of seed technology courses with partners such as AGRA, MasterCard Foundation and One Acre Fund. She links curriculum reform, seed systems and plant health to support resilient agri food systems.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Adviser on curriculum modules that embed NUS in agricultural training, co leader on pilots linked to seed systems and disease free planting material, and mentor for regional training of trainers on NUS focused courses.

Dr Juliana Jepkemoi Cheboi

Lecturer and researcher in Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi, Kenya

Country and partner type - Kenya, university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Case presenter on systems based curriculum and NUS, and contributor to curriculum co design groups
Day 1 cluster: Value addition and agribusiness
Day 2 value chain group: Production

NUS and thematic focus
- Drought resilient legumes and cereals such as pigeonpea, sorghum, millet and indigenous vegetables.
-Links plant breeding, climate resilient varieties and systems based teaching with food system resilience, agribusiness and smallholder outreach.

Short bio
Dr Cheboi is a lecturer and researcher in Plant Breeding and Biotechnology at the University of Nairobi. She teaches and supervises undergraduate and postgraduate students in plant breeding and related agricultural subjects. Her work focuses on breeding and evaluation of drought resilient crops with strong potential for improved nutrition and food security in Sub Saharan Africa. She participates in programmes such as FAR LeaF II, VACS, the Food Systems Research Network for Africa and the African Plant Breeding Academy. Through these platforms she strengthens links between research, curriculum change and farmer focused innovation.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Lead or co lead for piloting systems based NUS modules at the University of Nairobi, linking VACS and other grants to teaching. Mentor for student projects on NUS based innovation and for outreach activities with smallholder farmers in Kenya and the region.

Prof Peter Baguma

Professor of Psychology, School of Psychology, Makerere University, Uganda

Country and partner type - Uganda, university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Session resource person and contributor to teaching and behaviour change discussions
Day 1 cluster: Nutrition and health
Day 2 value chain group: Marketing

NUS and thematic focus
-Indigenous foods, food crops and food trees in Uganda, and how people perceive and value them.
-Links behavioural science, attitudes and social norms with efforts to increase demand for indigenous crops among youth and urban consumers and to integrate these foods into teaching and food security strategies.

Short bio
Prof Baguma is a psychologist with more than four decades of teaching and research experience at Makerere University, where he has also served as Dean of the School of Psychology. His work covers health psychology, psychosocial intervention, organisational psychology and attitudes toward indigenous foods. He has supervised large numbers of postgraduate students, led multidisciplinary research and consultancy assignments, and serves as an external examiner and journal reviewer across Africa and beyond. As a Fellow of the Uganda National Academy of Sciences, he brings strong experience in linking behavioural insights with public policy and development practice.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Contributor on behaviour change and attitude measurement in Network pilots. Adviser on integrating social and behavioural content into NUS related curricula and student projects, with a focus on youth and urban consumers and on strategies to increase acceptance and demand for indigenous foods.

Prof Henriëtte (Riette) de Kock

Professor, Department of Consumer and Food Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Country and partner type - South Africa, university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Session resource person on sensory science, consumer acceptance and NUS food product development
Day 1 cluster: Value

addition and agribusiness
Day 2 value chain group: Processing

NUS and thematic focus
African indigenous crops and plant based foods used for product development.
Focus on sensory properties, consumer liking and market acceptance of NUS based products for urban and rural consumers, with attention to nutrition and local value chains.

Short bio
Prof de Kock is a food scientist and sensory researcher in the Department of Consumer and Food Sciences at the University of Pretoria. Her work focuses on sensory properties and consumer responses to foods that support better nutrition and wellbeing in sub Saharan Africa, including NUS based products. She leads and contributes to African and international sensory networks, including ANSWER. Experience includes collaboration with industry and public agencies on product development where African biodiversity, health and consumer appeal are central.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Adviser on inclusion of sensory and consumer science in NUS teaching modules, student projects and innovation labs. Support for pilots on NUS product development with students and local processors, and for building links between universities, sensory networks and food businesses.

Prof Mady Cisse

Full Professor of Food Processing and Science, High Polytechnic School, Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar (UCAD), Senegal

Country and partner type - Senegal, university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Session resource person on food systems, nutrition and NUS
Day 1 cluster: Nutrition and health
Day 2 value chain group: Processing

NUS and thematic focus
-Local African food resources with high nutritional potential, including neglected and underutilized crops and ingredients used in African diets.
-Focus on food processing, nutrition, food safety and consumer responses to NUS based and other local African foods, and how these support food and nutrition security.

Short bio
Dr Cisse is a Full Professor of Food Processing and Science at the High Polytechnic School of Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar. His work covers food systems, food security and safety, and improving nutritional status through wider use of local African products, supported by sensory and consumer tests. He serves as President of the African Nutrition Society, heads the continuing education laboratory for the food industry at ESP, and is an expert to the National Codex Alimentarius Committee of Senegal. He has supervised many graduate students and authored over 100 publications on local foods, nutrition and African food systems.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Expected contributor on pilots and training activities that promote NUS in African food systems, including links to professional development for the food industry. Potential adviser on integrating NUS and local African foods into teaching, codes and standards, and practice oriented nutrition and food processing modules.

Prof Pravat Kumar Roul

Vice Chancellor, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar, India

Country and partner type - India, university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Keynote speaker
Day 1 cluster: Sustainable production
Day 2 value chain group: Enterprise support

NUS and thematic focus
-Agricultural higher education that supports agrifood system transformation through teaching, research, extension, and agri enterprise development in Odisha and Eastern India.
-Focus on local crops and agri enterprises for smallholder and tribal farmers, and how universities link curriculum, outreach, and policy to more resilient and inclusive food systems.

Short bio
Prof Roul is Vice Chancellor of OUAT and an agronomist with long experience in teaching, research, extension, and university leadership. He has held roles including Associate Director of Research, Director Agro polytechnic, Director Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Dean Extension Education, Dean College of Agriculture, and Dean College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry. From 2020 he served as Managing Director of APICOL, where he promoted agri entrepreneurship and food processing in Odisha. He has more than 95 peer reviewed publications, over 25 books and book chapters, and has led several nationally and internationally funded research projects.

Role in pilots / community of practice
High level champion and adviser on aligning agricultural universities and curriculum pilots with agrifood system transformation in Asia, with specific pilot role to be confirmed with organisers.

Prof Kebede Woldetsadik

Professor of Horticulture, Haramaya University, Ethiopia

Country and partner type - Ethiopia, university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Session resource person
Day 1 cluster: Sustainable production
Day 2 value chain group: Production

NUS and thematic focus
-Horticultural neglected and underutilized species for nutrition, climate adaptation and cultural preservation in eastern Ethiopia.
-Links improved fruit and vegetable varieties, NUS based horticulture, student research and community engagement in smallholder farming systems.

Short bio
Prof Woldetsadik is Professor of Horticulture at Haramaya University. He has served the university since 1982 in roles such as horticulture section head, research field and farm manager, coordinator of fruit and vegetable research programmes, dean of the Faculty of Continuing and Distance Education and Vice President for Community Engagement and Enterprise Development. He has taught courses at PhD, MSc and undergraduate level and supervised more than 150 postgraduate students. His publication record includes around 140 peer reviewed articles. His recent work increasingly focuses on NUS for nutrition, climate resilience and local food traditions in eastern Ethiopia.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Participant in production focused working groups and potential supervisor and mentor for NUS related student research, field pilots and community engagement activities at Haramaya University and in surrounding farming communities.

Prof Edmore Gasura

Professor of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology and Deputy Dean, Faculty of Agriculture Environment and Food Systems, University of Zimbabwe

Country and partner type - Zimbabwe, university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Session resource person
Day 1 cluster: Sustainable production
Day 2 value chain group: Production and enterprise support

NUS and thematic focus
- Traditional grains and legumes, including sorghum, finger millet, other millets, tepary beans, cowpea and indigenous vegetables
- Links breeding, seed systems, agronomy, mechanisation, curriculum development and value chain innovation, with a strong focus on youth and women seed entrepreneurs

Short bio
Prof Gasura is Professor of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology and Deputy Dean in the Faculty of Agriculture Environment and Food Systems at the University of Zimbabwe. He leads work on traditional grains from genetic diversity and breeding through to seed systems, agronomy and product development. As programme leader for Future Grains for Africa and lead breeder for VN Seeds Pvt Ltd, he has developed and released varieties such as sorghum VNS401, finger millet VNF401 and maize VN501. He has supervised many MSc and PhD students and grown a portfolio of projects funded by RUFORUM, the EU, USAID, Mastercard Foundation and other partners that link traditional crops with nutrition, markets and rural enterprise.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Resource person on traditional grains curriculum, breeding and seed systems, and mentor for student projects on NUS. Potential partner for pilots on seed multiplication, product development and youth and women led seed and grain enterprises connected to the Network.

Professor Chrispen Murungweni

Executive Dean, School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Chinhoyi University of Technology

Country and partner type - Zimbabwe, university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Session resource person in plenaries and co design discussions
Day 1 cluster: Sustainable production
Day 2 value chain group: Enterprise support and livestock systems

NUS and thematic focus
- Indigenous plants and browse species used for medicinal feeds and ethnoveterinary products
- Links livestock value chains, climate resilience, indigenous forages, student enterprises and agro industrialisation through the CUT Agro industrial Park and related projects

Short bio
Prof Murungweni is Executive Dean of the School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at Chinhoyi University of Technology in Zimbabwe. An animal scientist by training, he holds a PhD from Wageningen University on vulnerability and resilience in agricultural systems in south eastern Zimbabwe and degrees in agriculture from the University of Zimbabwe. He has served as Acting Pro Vice Chancellor for Innovation, Enterprise Development and Industrialisation, Deputy Dean and Director of Livestock Research. He led the vision and roll out of the CUT Agro industrial Park, including the Dairy Production and Milk Value Addition Centre of Excellence, medicinal feed factory and industrial pen fattening facilities. His work links research, rural innovation and industrialisation with a focus on climate resilience, livestock health and value chains.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Mentor and co designer for pilots on NUS based medicinal feeds and ethnoveterinary products, curriculum modules that connect NUS with livestock systems and agro industrialisation, and community linked climate smart village models that bring students, farmers and local processors together.

Dr Mary M. Waiganjo

Agricultural education specialist, Egerton University

Country and partner type - Kenya, university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Participant and resource person on curriculum and pedagogy
Day 1 cluster: Sustainable production
Day 2 value chain group: Education, training and extension

NUS and thematic focus
Integration of neglected and underutilized species into competency based agriculture curricula from Grades 4-12 and university level.
Focus on teaching methods, assessment and school based practice that use NUS as concrete learning contexts.

Short bio
Dr Waiganjo is an agricultural education expert with 32 years of teaching experience across secondary schools and higher education in Kenya. She holds a doctorate in Agricultural Education and has served for 12 years at Egerton University after 20 years in secondary education. She helped develop the national Competency Based Education agriculture curriculum for Grades 4–12 and supports review of university programmes. As part of Egerton’s pedagogical training team she trains staff on CBE aligned teaching and supervises school attachments that link classroom learning with practice.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Co designer of CBE aligned modules and teaching guides that feature NUS.
Mentor on assessment and teaching practice for NUS focused courses.
Contributor to a community of practice on training teacher educators and supervisors to integrate NUS into school and university agriculture.

Dr. Gloria Ladjeh Essilfie

Food Scientist and Senior Lecturer, Department of Crop Science and Postharvest Innovation Hub, University of Ghana

Country and partner type - Ghana, university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Session resource person
Day 1 cluster: Value addition and agribusiness
Day 2 value chain group: Processing

NUS and thematic focus
-Neglected and underutilised vegetables and African indigenous fruits and vegetables.
-Focus on postharvest management, loss reduction, value addition and agro processing, with hands on youth training through the Postharvest Innovation Hub.

Short bio
Prof Essilfie is a Food Scientist and Postharvest Technology Specialist with more than 20 years of experience in research, development and academia. She teaches at the University of Ghana and leads work on postharvest technology, food safety and quality assurance. Her work targets inefficiencies and losses along horticultural value chains in Ghana and the region. She founded the Postharvest Innovation Hub, which supports youth led value addition and agro processing. She has worked with organisations such as FARA, FAO, CTA, AGRA and the Government of Ghana, and holds a PhD in Food Science from the University of Georgia.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Co lead work on youth skills, value addition and NUS, with potential to host a pilot innovation module at the Postharvest Innovation Hub and mentor student and early career teams working on NUS based products in Ghana.

Dr Silke Maria Stöber

Senior Scientist and Team Lead, Centre for Rural Development (SLE), Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, AfriNutriForest project

Country and partner type - Germany, research network and university centre

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Session resource person
Day 1 cluster: Sustainable production
Day 2 value chain group: Production

NUS and thematic focus
-Often overlooked and forgotten food species, indigenous and traditional vegetables, climate resilient crops such as sorghum and rice in stress environments, and trees and agroforestry species linked to nutrition and resilience.
-Focus on co research models that connect farmers, students and scientists to generate practical knowledge on NUS and integrate it into teaching, field practice and policy discussions.

Short bio
Dr Stöber is an agricultural economist and senior scientist at the Centre for Rural Development, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, where she leads the research team. Her work focuses on climate change adaptation, agroecology and food security, with a strong emphasis on co research with smallholder farmers and rural women. She designs and implements participatory, solution oriented research using mixed methods, and has led or co led multi country projects across Africa and Asia with partners such as GIZ, IFAD, WFP, Helvetas and CARE. She teaches and supervises postgraduate students at SLE, with current work including AfriNutriForest and related projects on climate resilient food systems.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Co design and support pilot co research and field based learning modules that link universities and farmer groups, and contributes methods and mentorship to a community of practice on participatory teaching and learning around NUS and climate resilient production systems.

Prof Nelson K. Olang’o Ojijo

Associate Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya

Country and partner type - Kenya, university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Session resource person
Day 1 cluster: Value addition or processing and agribusiness
Day 2 value chain group: Processing

NUS and thematic focus
- Indigenous African fruits such as Vitex payos, African leafy vegetables, and other forgotten and underutilized food crops and value chains.
- Uses evidence on nutritional composition, value addition and processing of indigenous African foods to link forgotten foods with curriculum innovation, entrepreneurship and systems based teaching in African universities.

Short bio
Prof Ojijo is an Associate Professor in Food Science and Technology at JKUAT with more than three decades of experience in agricultural research, education and development. He holds a PhD in Agricultural Science (Food Process Engineering) from the University of Tsukuba, Japan. His work focuses on value addition, postharvest processing and nutrition sensitive agriculture, including research on indigenous African foods such as Vitex payos and African leafy vegetables. He is a co author of the FAO publications “Compendium of forgotten foods in Africa” and “Integrating Africa’s forgotten foods for better nutrition” and works at the interface of research, teaching and innovation.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Brings experience in value addition, indigenous foods and continental work on forgotten foods, plus prior leadership roles at Access Agriculture and FARA that link university teaching, farmer centred learning and regional initiatives.

Dr Gurmeet Singh

The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology (TDU)

Country and partner type - India, university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Session resource person
Day 1 cluster: Nutrition and health
Day 2 value chain group: Processing

NUS and thematic focus
- Forgotten foods, wild edibles, coarse grains, millets and pulses used as food based solutions for anemia, protein sufficiency, brain health, metabolic health and gut health.
- Connects local biodiversity and traditional knowledge with food innovation, teaching and entrepreneurship through the Food Futures programme at TDU.

Short bio
Dr Singh works with the Food Futures programme at TDU on food first solutions for individual, community and planetary health. His work starts from local ecosystem resources and traditional knowledge and develops them into food innovations using systems, design and wellness thinking. He helps create functional food concepts based on forgotten foods, wild edibles, coarse grains, millets and pulses that support nutrition and metabolic health. At TDU he links research, outreach and translation with education programmes for schools, colleges, communities, rural health workers and professionals, connecting curriculum, practice based training and entrepreneurship pathways.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Potential contributor on Food Futures inspired pilot modules and co designed training materials on food based health solutions and entrepreneurship using forgotten foods, millets and other NUS, working with universities and community partners.

Dr Francis Padi Lamptey

Lecturer in Food Science and Postharvest Technology, Cape Coast Technical University

Country and partner type - Ghana, university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Session resource person
Day 1 cluster: Value addition or processing and agribusiness
Day 2 value chain group: Processing and marketing

NUS and thematic focus
- Underutilized crops such as sweet potato, tamarind, turkey berry, sorghum, soybean, sesame, bambara groundnut and other local species in Ghana.
- Uses postharvest technology and product development to create fortified flours, breakfast mixes and nutrient dense products linked to rural enterprises and community nutrition.

Short bio
Dr Lamptey focuses on food science and postharvest technology with emphasis on underutilized crops in Ghana. His work covers use and fortification of sweet potato, tamarind, turkey berry, sorghum, soybean, sesame and bambara groundnut to support food and nutrition security. He has led projects developing fortified flours and breakfast products aimed at rural households, especially women and youth. Through teaching and mentoring at Cape Coast Technical University he links classroom learning with practical value addition, small scale processing and local enterprise, giving students experience in product formulation, quality improvement and market oriented innovation.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Contributor to pilots on NUS based value added products in technical universities, with a focus on student led and community processing projects in Ghana that use underutilized crops for nutrition and income.

Mr. Fahad Juma

Business Development Specialist, Egerton University Business Incubation Centre

Country and partner type - Kenya, university

Workshop role and clustering
• Role: Value chain contributor and incubation specialist
• Day 1 cluster: Value Addition / Agribusiness
• Day 2 value chain group: Processing and Enterprise Support

NUS and thematic focus
• Leads enterprise development initiatives involving underutilized species, including water hyacinth
• Designs and facilitates student-industry innovation programmes focused on agripreneurship

Short bio
Mr. Fahad Juma is a business development and agrifood systems practitioner with over five years of experience supporting youth livelihoods, enterprise development, and curriculum transformation in higher education. He has contributed to multiple Erasmus+ CBHE initiatives focused on quality assurance, student-centred pedagogy, and open learning. He has worked with incubation hubs such as TAGDEV 2.0 and AGLEAD, coordinating business development services and mentoring youth-led agri-enterprises. His work bridges education, innovation, and community engagement to foster entrepreneurship and sustainability in African food systems.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Fahad brings strong capacity in youth-focused incubation and curriculum transformation. He is well-placed to contribute to pilots targeting market-driven training systems and NUS-based agri-enterprise models. His experience with university–industry linkages and open innovation challenges makes him a valuable contributor to the NUS community of practice and future capacity building initiatives.

Prof. Elizabeth Balyejusa Kizito

Associate Professor and Director for Research, Partnerships and Innovation, Uganda Christian University

Country and partner type - Uganda, university

Workshop role and clustering
• Role: Plant breeding expert and research leader
• Day 1 cluster: Sustainable Production
• Day 2 value chain group: Production

NUS and thematic focus
• Leads breeding, varietal development, and biotechnology research on African Indigenous Vegetables
• Focus on Solanum aethiopicum (Nakati) cultivars for food security and climate resilience

Short bio
Prof. Elizabeth Balyejusa Kizito is an accomplished plant breeder and research leader. She holds a PhD in Plant Breeding and Biotechnology from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and currently serves as Director for Research, Partnerships and Innovation at Uganda Christian University. She is President of the All Africa Horticultural Congress and a recipient of multiple fellowships and awards, including the Borlaug Fellowship and the CIAT Outstanding Research Publication Award. Her work has contributed to the release of Africa’s first-ever improved varieties of Solanum aethiopicum (Nakati), including drought-tolerant cultivars adapted for dryland agroecologies. Her research bridges scientific innovation with practical solutions for food security in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Elizabeth offers deep technical leadership in varietal development and NUS improvement, making her a valuable contributor to research-focused pilot initiatives. She is well-positioned to support production-level curriculum and training reforms, and to guide breeding collaborations across the NUS community of practice.

Prof. Jwan Ibbini

Associate Professor and Head of Department, Land Management and Environment, Hashemite University

Country and partner type - Jordan, university

Workshop role and clustering
• Role: Resource person on environmental microbiology and curriculum innovation
• Day 1 cluster: Sustainable Production
• Day 2 value chain group: Production

NUS and thematic focus
• Works on environmental microbiology, biorisk management, and antimicrobial agents from natural systems such as clay minerals
• Advocates innovative pedagogy in environmental sciences, linking sustainability, remediation, and biosecurity to teaching

Short bio
Prof. Jwan Ibbini is an environmental microbiologist with over 15 years of experience in research, teaching, and academic leadership. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry from Kansas State University and is currently Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Land Management and Environment at Hashemite University. Her research spans bioremediation, biorisk management, and the discovery of antimicrobial compounds from natural resources. She has contributed to multiple EU and national research projects, developed training programs on environmental and biosecurity topics, and introduced experiential teaching models within Jordan’s higher education system. Her academic work is backed by a prolific publication record and multiple awards for teaching and research.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Prof. Ibbini is well-positioned to contribute to pilot modules that integrate microbiological approaches, sustainable land use, and biosecurity education. She brings experience in curriculum transformation, student-centered teaching, and community outreach, and will be a valuable mentor on science education, environmental remediation, and applied NUS-focused field learning. She is particularly suited to support interdisciplinary curriculum co-design linking NUS to environmental systems and health resilience.

Prof Joyce Lepetu

Dean, Faculty of Natural Resources, Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN)

Country and partner type - Botswana, national university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Session resource person
Day 1 cluster: Sustainable production
Day 2 value chain group: Production and seed systems

NUS and thematic focus

Agroforestry systems, indigenous tree species and community-managed natural resources
Climate-resilient production models that integrate neglected and underutilized tree species (NUTS) into farming systems
Forestry and agriculture linkages and community stewardship in semi-arid ecosystems

Short bio
Prof Joyce Lepetu is an Associate Professor of Forest Sciences and Dean of the Faculty of Natural Resources at BUAN. She has over three decades of experience in forest ecology, agroforestry and community-based natural resource management. Her academic and policy work bridges forest-based climate adaptation, indigenous species conservation and sustainable land management. She has led national and regional programmes on livelihoods, ecosystem services and agroecological transitions. She works extensively with government, communities and development partners. She has contributed to higher education reforms in forestry, biodiversity and climate change through African Forest Forum, ANAFE and BUAN. She holds a PhD in Forest Sciences from the University of Florida, an MSc in Forestry from the University of Edinburgh and a BSc from the University of Wales.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Prof Lepetu will contribute to the co-design of pilot modules on sustainable agroforestry and climate-resilient NUS production. She will support curriculum integration of NUS and NUTS in forestry and environmental science programmes. She will also advise on training tools for rural outreach and offer technical input on forestry and agriculture linkages, community engagement models and adaptation of teaching content to semi-arid production systems.

Dr Dennis Maina Gatahi

Lecturer and Dean, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Karatina University

Country and partner type - Kenya, national university

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Session resource person
Day 1 cluster: Sustainable production
Day 2 value chain group: Production and seed systems

NUS and thematic focus

Indigenous vegetable crops, including their agronomy, conservation and promotion
Organic farming, nanopolymers and biological agents for sustainable production
Conservation agriculture and climate-resilient farming practices
Integration of biodiversity and food safety in horticultural systems

Short bio
Dr Dennis Maina Gatahi is Dean of the School of Agriculture and Biotechnology at Karatina University. He is a horticulturist and conservation agriculturist with wide experience in teaching, research, curriculum development and farmer outreach. His work focuses on indigenous vegetable crops and sustainable agricultural practices, including the use of organic nanopolymers and biological agents to improve food quality and environmental outcomes. Dr Gatahi has led capacity-building programs across Kenya, training farmers, students and professionals in areas such as IPM, organic farming, food safety, greenhouse production and conservation agriculture. He is a published researcher and an active member of the Horticulture Association of Kenya. He holds a PhD in Horticulture and is committed to advancing biodiversity, food security and environmental stewardship.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Dr Gatahi will support the co-design and delivery of pilot modules on indigenous vegetable production, climate-resilient horticulture and conservation agriculture. He brings expertise in farmer training, food safety, and sustainable crop technologies. He will contribute to curriculum reform, field demonstration planning and institutional partnerships to integrate NUS in teaching, extension and applied research across universities and farming communities.

3.2 Research Organizations / CGIAR / Regional and International Research Bodies

Participants from applied research institutions and global research networks.

Dr Oluwole Abiodun Fatunbi

Acting Director of Research and Innovation, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Ghana

Country and partner type - Ghana, research network and continental policy body

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Session resource person
Day 1 cluster: Sustainable production
Day 2 value chain group: Enterprise support

NUS and thematic focus
-Forgotten and underutilized African foods, indigenous crops and food biodiversity, and soil health.
-Links adapted crops, regenerative agriculture, and continental policy processes so indigenous foods sit at the centre of African food systems and nutrition agendas.

Short bio
Dr Fatunbi is Acting Director of Research and Innovation at FARA and holds a PhD in Farming Systems Agronomy and Soil Fertility from the University of Ibadan. He has over two decades of experience in agricultural research, innovation systems, and development practice across Africa. He designed and led the Sub Saharan Africa Challenge Programme, which validated the Innovation Platform model now used widely on the continent. He co leads the African Union Technical Working Group for the Soil Initiative for Africa and the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan, endorsed by African Heads of State in 2024. He has authored more than 120 peer reviewed publications.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Continental adviser on forgotten and underutilized foods, policy, and enabling environment, with a likely role in a working group on policy, soil health, and adapted crops to support Network pilots and regional scaling.

Dr Carlo Rega

Coordinator, Knowledge Centre for Global Food and Nutrition Security, European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy

Country and partner type - Italy, funder and enabling partner

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Keynote speaker
Day 1 cluster: Sustainable production
Day 2 value chain group: Enterprise support

NUS and thematic focus
Carlo's current work focuses on generating and synthesizing evidence to support sustainable food systems, food security, and agroecological transformation. Through the JRC’s Knowledge Centre for Global Food and Nutrition Security, he recently led the development of a commissioned knowledge review on the potential benefits of Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) for food system resilience and development cooperation. His work supports cross-cutting evidence on agroecology, gender equality in food systems, and rural development.

Short bio
Dr. Carlo Rega holds a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and a PhD in Spatial Planning and Local Development. His areas of expertise include environmental assessment, ecological modelling, agri-environmental indicators, and rural development. From 2008 to 2013, he worked as a research fellow at the Polytechnic University of Turin. Between 2013 and 2022, he served as a researcher at the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) in the Agri-Environment team of the Food Security Unit. From 2022 to 2024, he was an analyst at the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI). In October 2024, he rejoined the JRC to coordinate the Knowledge Centre for Global Food and Nutrition Security (KC-FNS), which provides evidence and policy-relevant knowledge on sustainable food systems, food security, gender, agroecology, and development. He has authored recent reviews on NUS, agroforestry in Africa, and the impacts of development aid cuts on food security.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Carlo will contribute to the sustainable production cluster by sharing policy-relevant knowledge and analytical tools that can support national and institutional decision-making on NUS. He will present learnings from the KC-FNS review of NUS evidence and explore how similar knowledge products can be co-developed with local institutions. He will also support the piloting and documentation of evidence-based teaching and research materials for integration into curricula, including through collaboration with policy and research stakeholders. He will contribute to the community of practice by providing guidance on knowledge synthesis, use of agri-environmental indicators, and links to global policy dialogues.

Ms Francesca Grazioli

Economist, Alliance Bioversity-CIAT

Country and partner type - Kenya, CGIAR centre

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Participant and resource person on agrobiodiversity, NUS and resilient food systems
Day 1 cluster: Sustainable production
Day 2 value chain group: Production and seed systems

NUS and thematic focus
- Neglected and underutilized crops, community seed systems and farmer managed tree resources in sub Saharan Africa.
- Links agrobiodiversity, value chains and local decision making to food security and resilience, with attention to how evidence on NUS informs policy and practice.

Short bio
Francesca is an economist who focuses on food security, agrobiodiversity and resilient food systems. She designs and evaluates programmes from project level to national policy frameworks, with particular attention to neglected and underutilized crops, community seed systems and farmer managed tree resources. Her work uses participatory approaches and strong monitoring and evaluation to strengthen value chains and local decision making. Based in sub Saharan Africa, she collaborates with governments, research institutions and civil society to improve biodiversity resilience and support inclusive food systems. She is interested in how teaching and training connect evidence on NUS and agrobiodiversity with practical tools for students.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Advisor and co designer on pilots related to NUS focused seed systems, farmer managed tree resources and monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
Supports universities and partners to translate agrobiodiversity evidence into teaching modules, student assignments and 12 month pilots, and to track outcomes for the community of practice.

Dr Yosef Gebrehawaryat Kidane

Senior Scientist, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, Nairobi

Country and partner type - Kenya, CGIAR centre

Workshop role and clustering
Role: To be confirmed with organisers
Day 1 cluster: To be confirmed
Day 2 value chain group: To be confirmed

NUS and thematic focus

-Agricultural biodiversity and Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) for resilient, nutritious and sustainable food systems.
-Integration of NUS into farming practices and value chains, with work on crop improvement, genomics and nutrition sensitive interventions that support smallholder adaptation to climate change, improved diets and better incomes.

Short bio
Dr Yosef Gebrehawaryat Kidane is a Senior Scientist at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT in Nairobi, Kenya. He works on agricultural biodiversity with a focus on Neglected and Underutilized Species to make food systems more resilient, nutritious and sustainable. His research and development work supports the integration of NUS into farming practices and value chains so smallholder farmers adapt to climate change while improving diets and incomes. He collaborates with farmers, policy makers and partners to turn biodiversity into practical solutions for food security and climate adaptation. Through projects on crop improvement, genomics and nutrition sensitive interventions, he advances the role of NUS in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, especially zero hunger and biodiversity conservation.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Focus on pilots and working groups that link NUS based farming systems, crop improvement, genomics and nutrition sensitive value chains to teaching modules and student projects.

Prof Julia Sibiya

Capacity Lead, Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS), CIMMYT-Kenya

Country and partner type- Kenya, CGIAR centre

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Session resource person
Day 1 cluster: Sustainable production
Day 2 value chain group: Production and seed systems

NUS and thematic focus

-Climate resilient, nutritious opportunity crops (neglected and underutilized), including Bambara groundnut and other VACS priority species.
-Focus on African scientific and institutional capacity for breeding, seed systems and agrifood system resilience through a continent wide cohort of Fellows and partner universities.

Short bio
Prof Julia Sibiya is Capacity Lead for the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils at CIMMYT, where she leads work to strengthen African scientific and institutional capacity for climate resilient, nutritious opportunity crops. She coordinates a continent wide cohort of MSc, PhD, early and mid career Fellows who are trained and mentored by universities, CGIAR centres, advanced research institutes and global partners. Prof Sibiya holds a BSc in Agriculture from the University of Zimbabwe, an MS in Plant Pathology from The Ohio State University and a PhD in Plant Breeding from the University of KwaZulu Natal. An alumna of the African Centre for Crop Improvement and the UC Davis African Plant Breeding Academy, she has over 30 years of experience as a university professor, has supervised more than 80 MSc and PhD students and co authored over 150 scientific publications. She also leads Bambara groundnut breeding projects and is a founding member and outgoing President of the African Plant Breeders Association and an Advocate of the Borlaug Training Foundation.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Provide leadership on capacity development for NUS focused breeding and seed systems across Africa. Support design of pilot training modules and fellowships that connect VACS crops and other NUS to university curricula, field research and seed sector partners. Offer mentorship for student and early career teams, and helps align Network pilots with continental efforts on adapted crops, plant breeding capacity and resilient agrifood systems.

Ms Irene Mughi

Vice President - Programs, Seed Systems Group

Country and partner type - Kenya, regional seed systems support organization

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Resource person
Day 1 cluster: Production systems and seed
Day 2 value chain group: Seed systems, production and farm practices

NUS and thematic focus
- Leads seed systems development in 15 countries across Eastern and Southern Africa, with a focus on climate-resilient and underutilized crops.
-Promotes farmer access to improved varieties and seed delivery systems adapted to smallholder needs in marginal environments.

Short bio
Irene Mughi is a seed systems and plant breeding specialist committed to transforming smallholder agriculture through better access to quality seed. Her career spans KALRO, the Alliance for Bioversity/CIAT, and the IFDC 2SCALE project, where she contributed to breeding, agribusiness development, and farmer outreach. She joined Seed Systems Group in 2019 and now serves as Vice President – Programs for East and Southern Africa, supporting national seed sectors in 15 countries. Irene holds a BSc in Agriculture (University of Nairobi), an MSc in Plant Breeding and Seed Systems (Makerere University), and is currently pursuing a PhD in Plant Breeding and Genetics.

Role in pilots / community of practice
-Technical contributor on seed systems development and policy linkages for NUS-based value chains.
-Will support pilots through case studies and mentoring focused on seed access, farmer adoption, and national seed sector engagement.

3.3 NGOs / Civil Society / Development Partners

Participants from non-profit, civil society, or development organizations.

Mr Anshuman Das

Welthungerhilfe India

Country and partner type - India, civil society or NGO

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Session resource person
Day 1 cluster: Nutrition and health
Day 2 value chain group: Production

NUS and thematic focus
- Uncultivated forest foods, indigenous vegetables, wild foods, and traditional cereals within tribal and indigenous food systems.
- Focus on how uncultivated and indigenous foods support nutrition, resilience, and cultural identity, and why food and agriculture policies need to recognise and protect these systems.

Short bio
Mr Das has over twenty years of experience working on agroecology, local food systems, and nutrition across South Asia and Africa. At Welthungerhilfe India he works at the interface of science, politics, and community knowledge, with a strong focus on food systems rooted in place, ecology, and culture. He has documented traditional food systems and supported communities to build local food networks that link producers, small businesses, and consumers. He designed participatory tools and curricula such as Sustainable Integrated Farming System and Linking Agriculture and Natural Resources with Nutrition, and coordinated the first mainstream agroecology course with the University of Calcutta.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Potential contributor on community based food system pilots and practice oriented learning materials on uncultivated and indigenous foods, including methods for reading local food environments and integrating NUS into teaching, extension, and student fieldwork.

Dr Sonia Peter

Founder and Executive Director, Biocultural Education and Research Programme (BERP), Barbados

Country and partner type - Barbados, civil society or NGO

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Session resource person
Day 1 cluster: Nutrition and health
Day 2 value chain group: Enterprise support

NUS and thematic focus
- Medicinal plants of Barbados, wild and underused food and tea species, and Caribbean plants of biocultural importance.
- Links plant biodiversity, traditional knowledge, citizen science, and small scale value addition through products such as herbal teas and biocultural learning tools.

Short bio
Dr Peter leads the Biocultural Education and Research Programme, a non profit in Barbados focused on conservation and sustainable use of plant biodiversity through education and research. Her work spans medicinal plants, traditional knowledge, and biocultural heritage, with outputs such as the “Healing Roots” documentary, the book Yabisi Guada, and an ethnobotanical garden developed with Andromeda Botanic Gardens. A chemist by training, she has published on flavonoids from Caribbean species and previously coordinated Chemistry and Environmental Science programmes at Barbados Community College. Through Heritage Teas Barbados she demonstrates practical value addition from local plant resources.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Contributor to pilots on biocultural education, citizen science, and NUS based value addition in the Caribbean, including school and community outreach tools, civil society engagement, and case examples on herbal teas and other plant based products.

Dr Rachel Isabel Mkandawire

Agricultural Policy and Research Specialist, Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN), Malawi

Country and partner type - Malawi, civil society and policy research network

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Participant and resource person on policy and enabling environment for NUS
Day 1 cluster: Nutrition and health
Day 2 value chain group: Enterprise support

NUS and thematic focus
Indigenous foods and NUS in food and nutrition security policy, including seed systems, access to planting material, and climate resilient food system planning in SADC and EAC.
Focus on translating NUS and indigenous foods research into policy, investment, and regional platforms that support curriculum uptake, enterprise development, and better nutrition outcomes.

Short bio
Dr Mkandawire is an agricultural policy and research specialist with over 15 years of experience in agricultural development, food security, and climate change adaptation in Eastern and Southern Africa. At FANRPAN she manages EU funded projects such as FOSTA Health and CEA FIRST, focusing on policy analysis, research translation, and institutional capacity strengthening. Her work covers indigenous foods policy, seed systems research, and regional agricultural investment planning through SADC and EAC processes. She holds a PhD in Plant Pathology from the University of Pretoria and is committed to linking evidence, policy, and practice for resilient food systems and improved nutrition.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Likely member of a working group on policy and regional platforms supporting the NUS Education Network. Acts as a bridge between university and CGIAR innovations on NUS and regional policy spaces, seed systems initiatives, and investment frameworks in SADC and EAC.

Ms Maureen Duru

Founder and Director, The Food Bridge vzw

Country and partner type - Belgium, diaspora led civil society organisation

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Session resource person
Day 1 cluster: Curriculum transformation and pedagogy for NUS
Day 2 value chain group: Enterprise support

NUS and thematic focus

-Indigenous and forgotten African foods, agrofood entrepreneurship, diaspora led agrifood enterprises, cultural food heritage and food sovereignty.

-Focus on links between academic research, community based knowledge, diaspora networks and entrepreneurial practice in order to place forgotten foods at the centre of higher education curricula and sustainable food systems.

Short bio
Ms Maureen Duru is founder of The Food Bridge vzw, a Belgian non profit dedicated to indigenous food cultures, agrofood entrepreneurship, food security, and research and education on African food systems. Over more than a decade she has positioned The Food Bridge as a leading advocate for African diaspora entrepreneurship in the agrofood sector. Ms Duru holds a PhD in Social History from Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where she serves as a researcher with FOST, the interdisciplinary historical food studies group, with work on diasporas, food and identity. She also sits on the board of Shedidit, an incubator for female entrepreneurs from migrant backgrounds, and serves as Vice President of Sankaa, a Flemish government funded federation that represents over eighty associations in Belgium.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Brings a diaspora based perspective on forgotten foods, curriculum and entrepreneurship. Supports design of pilot modules and case studies on African diaspora agrofood enterprises and food heritage, and links universities with community organisations and diaspora networks. Offers mentorship on community grounded teaching approaches, student projects and policy dialogues that connect forgotten foods, food sovereignty and sustainable business models

Samira Hotobah-During

Executive Secretary and Board Director, Alliance for Local Food and Nutrition Supply Chains in Africa

(Alliance Africa)

Country and partner type – United Kingdom / Africa‑wide, continental food systems alliance

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Participant / Policy & Governance Resource Person
Day 1 cluster: Nutrition and Health
Day 2 value chain group: Local food systems, governance & value‑chain integration

NUS and thematic focus
-Strengthening local and indigenous food & nutrition supply chains across Africa, including NUS and traditional crops/fish/livestock.
-Rights-based, inclusive food systems; food sovereignty; empowerment of smallholder farmers, youth and marginalized communities.

Short bio
Samira Hotobah-During is Executive Secretary and a Board Director of the Alliance for Local Food and Nutrition Supply Chains in Africa (Alliance Africa), a pan‑African initiative aimed at building resilient, inclusive, and locally oriented food and nutrition value chains across the continent. She leads the Alliance’s Secretariat and oversees its advocacy, partnership-building, and coordination among member countries, civil society, SMEs, smallholder farmers and regional institutions. Through Alliance Africa, Samira has worked on promoting climate‑resilient local foods, inclusive governance of food systems, and equitable access to nutritious, culturally relevant food. Her role places her at the interface of policy, grassroots action, and regional collaboration — with a focus on food sovereignty, local production for local consumption, and strengthening underutilized and indigenous food species across African food systems. She brings strong experience in multi-stakeholder coordination, policy advocacy, and operational leadership in food systems transformation platforms.

Role in pilots / community of practice
-Lead advisor on policy and institutional frameworks for integrating NUS and local foods into national and regional food systems.
-Contribute to pilot design and advocacy pathways for local‑food‑based value chains, inclusive supply systems, and NUS-based nutrition and livelihood initiatives.

3.4 Private Sector / Entrepreneurs

Participants running or representing food businesses and SMEs.

Ms Cornelia Ganaa Kanyiri

Founder and Team Lead, Nelia’s Foods Limited

Country and partner type - Ghana, youth led agrifood enterprise

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Entrepreneur speaker and participant
Day 1 cluster: Value addition and agribusiness
Day 2 value chain group: Processing, value addition and markets

NUS and thematic focus
-Processing locally grown vegetables and spices such as okra, pepper, ginger and locust beans into safe, shelf stable powdered products.
-Works with women smallholder farmers in Northern and Upper West Ghana on climate smart production, fair income and food safety along NUS based value chains.

Short bio
Cornelia is a Public Health Nursing professional and agribusiness entrepreneur who founded and leads Nelia’s Foods Limited, a youth led food processing company in Ghana. The enterprise produces natural powdered spices from locally grown crops, with strong attention to food safety and product quality. She works directly with women smallholder farmers in Northern and Upper West Ghana, strengthening incomes, climate smart practices and healthier diets. As a trainer and coach she has mentored more than 1,000 women and young people in agribusiness and entrepreneurship. Partnerships include the University of Ghana, the Postharvest Innovation Hub, USAID, GIZ, GTI and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Role in pilots / community of practice
-Peer mentor on youth led NUS processing enterprises and women focused supply chains.
- Case study provider on practical training models that link NUS based and local food products to markets while improving food safety and household incomes.

Winnie Wambugu

Co-Founder and CEO, Nakuru Tubers

Country and partner type - Kenya, Agritech Enterprise

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Resource person - Entrepreneur panel
Day 1 cluster: Value addition and agribusiness
Day 2 value chain group: Inputs, production systems, and farmer delivery models

NUS and thematic focus
-Indigenous vegetables and postharvest systems
-Climate-smart seed systems and rural entrepreneurship

Short bio
Winnie Wambugu is the Co-Founder and CEO of Nakuru Tubers, a youth- and women-led agritech enterprise translating agricultural research into scalable, climate-smart seed systems for smallholder farmers in Kenya. She holds an MSc in Horticulture from Egerton University and brings deep experience in seed systems, farmer productivity, and rural market ecosystems. Her work increasingly focuses on neglected and underutilized species (NUS), particularly indigenous vegetables, to reduce postharvest losses and strengthen local food systems. Through applied research and enterprise design, she champions last-mile models that link scientific innovation to real-world adoption, with a strong emphasis on women and youth inclusion.

Role in pilots / community of practice
-Share enterprise case study on NUS-focused seed and market delivery
- Contribute to peer learning on youth- and women-led models for local NUS value chains.

3.5 Independent Experts / Consultants

Participants not directly affiliated with institutions

Rev. Dr Nelson Kiama Mwaniki

Medicinal Plants Practitioner and Health Specialist, Botswana

Country and partner type - Botswana, independent expert

Workshop role and clustering
Role: Participant and contributor
Day 1 cluster: Sustainable production
Day 2 value chain group: Medicinal and aromatic plants

NUS and thematic focus

Cultivation and use of traditional medicinal plants including safflower
Promotion of indigenous knowledge and phytotherapy in community health
Research and training in occupational health, safety and herbal medicine
Integration of biodiversity and public health for sustainable livelihoods

Short bio
Rev. Dr Nelson Kiama Mwaniki is a Kenyan-born physician, academic and ordained priest based in Botswana. He holds degrees in Medicine and Occupational Health from the University of Nairobi and the National University of Singapore, alongside qualifications in theology and teaching. His professional background spans over 30 years of service in public health in Kenya and Botswana. In recent years, he has focused on the cultivation and use of indigenous medicinal plants, especially safflower, for health, nutrition and income generation. He has worked with farmers to promote herbal medicine and is developing a safflower cultivar adapted for African conditions. He has also contributed to academic programs and accreditation efforts for health training institutions in Southern Africa and has published widely on occupational health and safety.

Role in pilots / community of practice
Dr Mwaniki will support pilot work on integrating medicinal plants into curricula and farming systems. He brings hands-on experience in farmer training, plant-based health interventions and indigenous knowledge systems. He will contribute to the community of practice through technical advice on medicinal NUS, facilitation of linkages between agriculture and public health, and promotion of locally adapted cultivars for smallholder use.

4. Participant Directory

4.1 Participant List

No.	Name	Institution	Country	Email	Cluster Group
1	Dr Oral O. Daley	The University of the West Indies	Trinidad and Tobago	Oral.Daley@uwi.edu; oral.daley@sta.uwi.edu	Value Addition and Agribusiness
2	Prof Achille Ephrem Assogbadjo	University of Abomey Calavi	Benin	assogbadjo@gmail.com; assogbadjo@yahoo.fr	Sustainable Production
3	Dr Kolawolé Valère Salako	University of Abomey Calavi	Benin	salakovalere@gmail.com; valere.salako@fsa.uac.bj	Sustainable Production
4	Prof Flora Josiane Chadare	National University of Agriculture (UNA)	Benin	fchadare@gmail.com	Nutrition and Health
5	Ms Milcah Mlazamirwa Kalinga	Mzuzu University	Malawi	milcahkalinga1@gmail.com	Value Addition and Agribusiness
6	Dr Abdelhak Kabbabi	Mohammed VI Polytechnic University	Morocco	Abdelhak.kabbabi@um6p.ma	Sustainable Production
7	Prof John H. Muyonga	Makerere University	Uganda	hmuyonga@yahoo.com	Nutrition and Health
8	Prof Christopher Chiedozie Eze	UAES	Nigeria	vc@uaes.edu.ng	Value Addition and Agribusiness
9	Prof Agnes W. Mwang’ombe	University of Nairobi	Kenya	mwangombe@uonbi.ac.ke	Sustainable Production
10	Dr Juliana Jepkemoi Cheboi	University of Nairobi	Kenya	juliana.cheboi@uonbi.ac.ke	Sustainable Production
11	Prof Peter Baguma	Makerere University	Uganda	peter.baguma@mak.ac.ug	Nutrition and Health
12	Prof Henriette de Kock	University of Pretoria	South Africa	Riette.dekock@up.ac.za	Value Addition and Agribusiness
13	Dr Mady Cisse	UCAD	Senegal	mady.cisse@ucad.edu.sn	Nutrition and Health
14	Dr Rachel Isabel Mkandawire	FANRPAN	Malawi	rmkandawire@fanrpan.org	Nutrition and Health
15	Prof Pravat Kumar Roul	OUAT	India	vc@ouat.ac.in	Sustainable Production
16	Dr Oluwole Abiodun Fatunbi	FARA	Ghana	ofatunbi@faraafrica.org	Sustainable Production
17	Dr Carlo Rega	EC Joint Research Centre	Italy	Carlo.REGA@ec.europa.eu	Sustainable Production
18	Prof Gloria Ladjeh Essilfie	University of Ghana	Ghana	gessilfie@ug.edu.gh	Value Addition and Agribusiness
19	Dr Silke Maria Stöber	Humboldt University	Germany	silke.stoeber@agrar.hu-berlin.de	Sustainable Production
20	Prof Nelson K. Olang’o Ojijo	JKUAT	Kenya	ojijonko@jkuat.ac.ke	Value Addition and Agribusiness
21	Mr Anshuman Das	Welthungerhilfe India	India	Anshuman.Das@welthungerhilfe.de	Nutrition and Health
22	Dr Gurmeet Singh	TDU India	India	gurmeet.singh@tdu.edu.in	Nutrition and Health
23	Dr Francis Padi Lamptey	Cape Coast Technical University	Ghana	francis.lamptey@cctu.edu.gh	Value Addition and Agribusiness
24	Dr Sonia Peter	BERP	Barbados	berp.speter@gmail.com	Nutrition and Health
25	Prof Kebede Woldetsadik	Haramaya University	Ethiopia	kwolde58@gmail.com	Sustainable Production
26	Prof Edmore Gasura	University of Zimbabwe	Zimbabwe	egasura@agric.uz.ac.zw	Sustainable Production
27	Prof Chrispen Murungweni	CUT	Zimbabwe	Chrispen.Murungweni@gmail.com	Value Addition and Agribusiness
28	Dr Mary M. Waiganjo	Egerton University	Kenya	Mary.waiganjo@egerton.ac.ke	Nutrition and Health
29	Ms Cornelia Ganaa Kanyiri	Nelia’s Foods	Ghana	ganaacornelia@gmail.com	Value Addition and Agribusiness
30	Ms Francesca Grazioli	Alliance Bioversity–CIAT	Kenya	F.Grazioli@cgiar.org	Sustainable Production
31	Ms Maureen Duru	The Food Bridge	Belgium	thefoodbridge@gmail.com	Nutrition and Health
32	Dr Yosef Gebrehawaryat Kidane	Alliance Bioversity–CIAT	Kenya	Y.Gebrehawaryat@cgiar.org	Sustainable Production
33	Prof Julia Sibiya	CIMMYT Kenya	Kenya	J.SIBIYA@cgiar.org	Sustainable Production
34	Mr. Fahad Juma	Egerton University Business Incubation Centre	Kenya	jumafahad9@gmail.com	Value Addition / Agribusiness
35	Prof. Elizabeth Balyejusa Kizito	Uganda Christian University	Uganda	lkizito08@gmail.com	Sustainable Production
36	Prof. Jwan Ibbini	Hashemite University	Jordan	jhibbini@hu.edu.jo	Sustainable Production
37	Prof. Joyce Lepetu	Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN)	Botswana	jlepetu@buan.ac.bw	Sustainable Production
38	Dr. Dennis Maina Gatahi	Karatina University	Kenya	dgatahi@karu.ac.ke / denmagkenya@gmail.com	Sustainable Production
39	Rev. Dr. Nelson Kiama Mwaniki	Independent	Botswana	nelsonkmwaniki@gmail.com	Sustainable Production
40	Irene Mughi	Seed Systems Group	Kenya	irene.mughi@gmail.com	Production systems and seed
41	Winnie Wambugu	Nakuru Tubers	Kenya	chebetwambugu@gmail.com	Value addition and agribusiness
42	Samira Hotobah-During	Alliance Africa	UK	samira.hotobah-during@allianceafrica.org	Nutrition and health
43	Florence Mayega Nakayiwa	RUFORUM	Uganda	f.nakayiwa@ruforum.org	Convenor
44	Francois Stepman	GFAiR	Belgium	francois.stepman@gfair.network	Convenor
45	Christine Gathecha	GFAiR	Kenya	chrisgathecha@gmail.com	Convenor
46	Emmanuel Okalany	RUFORUM	Uganda	e.okalany@ruforum.org	Convenor
47	Joanna Kane-Potaka	GFAiR	Global	joanna.kanepotaka@gfair.network	Convenor
48	Jackie Nnam	Consultant	Nigeria	jackiennam@gmail.com	Convenor
49	Mary Kulabako	RUFORUM	Uganda	m.kulabako@ruforum.org	Convenor
50	Unity Chipunza	RUFORUM	Zimbabwe	u.chipunza@ruforum.org	Convenor

4.2 Thematic Cluster Directory - Participant Distribution

Cluster	Participants
Sustainable Production	Prof Achille Ephrem Assogbadjo, Dr Kolawolé Valère Salako, Dr Abdelhak Kabbabi, Prof Kebede Woldetsadik, Prof Agnes W. Mwang’ombe, Prof Edmore Gasura, Prof Chrispen Murungweni, Dr Mary M. Waiganjo, Dr Carlo Rega, Prof Pravat Kumar Roul, Dr Silke Maria Stöber, Ms Francesca Grazioli, Prof Julia Sibiya, Prof. Elizabeth Balyejusa Kizito, Prof. Jwan Ibbini, Prof. Joyce Lepetu, Dr. Dennis Maina Gatahi, Rev. Dr. Nelson Kiama Mwaniki, Irene Mughi
Value Addition / Agribusiness	Dr Oral O. Daley, Ms Milcah Mlazamirwa Kalinga, Prof Christopher Chiedozie Eze, Dr Juliana Jepkemoi Cheboi, Prof Henriëtte (Riette) de Kock, Dr Francis Padi Lamptey, Prof Gloria Ladjeh Essilfie, Prof Nelson K. Olang’o Ojijo, Ms Cornelia Ganaa Kanyiri, Mr. Fahad Juma, Winnie Wambugu
Nutrition / Health	Prof Flora Josiane Chadare, Prof John H. Muyonga, Prof Peter Baguma, Dr Mady Cisse, Dr Rachel Isabel Mkandawire, Mr Anshuman Das, Dr Gurmeet Singh, Dr Sonia Peter, Ms Maureen Duru, Samira Hotobah-During

4.3 Breakout Roles and Facilitators

Each breakout group will work within one of the three thematic clusters:

Sustainable Production
Value Addition / Agribusiness
Nutrition / Health

Each group will have a defined facilitation team to support active engagement, documentation, and synthesis.

1. Sustainable Production

Facilitator: Prof. Achille Ephrem Assogbadjo
Role: Guide discussion, prompt alignment with curriculum framework, and ensure participation.
Co-Facilitator: Dr. Mary M. Waiganjo
Role: Support group dynamics, encourage input from diverse institutions, link with CGIAR baseline.
Rapporteur: Ms. Francesca Grazioli
Role: Document key learning outcomes, selected NUS themes, and proposed teaching approaches.
Technical Contributor: Dr. Carlo Rega
Role: Link sustainable production outcomes to enabling policy and systems thinking.

2. Value Addition / Agribusiness

Facilitator: Prof. Christopher Chiedozie Eze
Role: Drive discussion on enterprise-relevant teaching and youth inclusion.
Co-Facilitator: Dr. Juliana Jepkemoi Cheboi
Role: Integrate innovation and field-level examples, draw links with curriculum reform efforts.
Rapporteur: Ms. Cornelia Ganaa Kanyiri
Role: Capture key teaching methods and modules tied to processing and agribusiness.
Technical Contributor: Prof. Henriëtte de Kock
Role: Connect discussion to food science and value chain quality aspects.

3. Nutrition / Health

Facilitator: Prof. John H. Muyonga
Role: Guide reflection on how nutrition and public health can frame NUS education.
Co-Facilitator: Dr. Sonia Peter
Role: Bring in applied research insights, student engagement models, and gender perspectives.
Rapporteur: Mr. Anshuman Das
Role: Document emerging themes, priority crops, and teaching tools linked to health outcomes.
Technical Contributor: Dr. Gurmeet Singh
Role: Add policy and research network perspectives from South Asia.

Each facilitator team will receive a worksheet with:

Thematic prompts
Suggested module components
Template for reporting back in plenary

5. Organizing Partners and Supporters

GFAiR (Global Forum on Agricultural Research and Innovation)

GFAiR, operating under the name Global Forum on Agricultural Research and Innovation (GFAR), is a multi-stakeholder platform that brings together farmer organisations, national agricultural research systems, universities, international research centres, civil society, the private sector and development agencies. The Forum works to make agri food research and innovation systems more effective, responsive and equitable, with a focus on supporting smallholder farmers and achieving sustainable development goals. GFAR facilitates collective action, shared agendas and partnerships that align research and innovation with the needs of farmers, rural communities and food system actors.

RUFORUM (Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture)

RUFORUM is a pan African consortium of universities that supports postgraduate training, research and innovation in agriculture and related fields. The network promotes regional collaboration among African universities, strengthens graduate training, and links university programmes to farmer needs, agribusiness and policy processes. RUFORUM’s work responds to continental frameworks on agriculture, education and science, and includes competitive grants, regional doctoral programmes, curriculum reform and support for youth and women in agrifood systems.

IFS (International Foundation for Science)

The International Foundation for Science is an independent non governmental organisation that provides small research grants and tailored capacity strengthening to early career scientists in low and lower middle income countries. IFS supports researchers who work on the sustainable management of biological and water resources, including agriculture, food, biodiversity and environment related topics. The foundation combines individual grants with mentoring, training and networking so that promising scientists develop strong careers, join international research communities and contribute to local and national problem solving.

European Commission (EC) - Joint Research Centre

For this workshop, the European Commission is represented through the Joint Research Centre, the Commission’s internal science and knowledge service. The JRC provides independent scientific evidence and technical support for European Union policies across the whole policy cycle, including areas such as sustainable agriculture, food systems, land use and ecosystem services. Work includes modelling, data analysis, development of indicators and support to policy design and evaluation, carried out in collaboration with partners in Europe and internationally. Through this role, the JRC contributes policy and evidence perspectives that link agrobiodiversity and NUS to wider debates on sustainability, climate action and rural development.