KNCCI Calls on Kenya’s Scientific Community Transform Research and Innovation into Commercially Viable Solutions

KNCCI has said it is committed to helping Kenya’s scientific community transform research and innovation into commercially viable solutions by providing market linkages, business networks, investment connections, and advocacy support that can accelerate the adoption of homegrown technologies.

It is against this backdrop that KNCCI President Dr. Erick Rutto today presided over the KALRO Scientific Conference and Innovation Expo 2026 as Chief Guest. The conference was held under the theme “Innovations for Sustainable Agri-food Systems, Climate Change Resilience and Improved Livelihoods.”

In his remarks, Dr. Rutto underscored the critical role of automation and innovation in transforming agriculture, noting that technology is key to increasing productivity, improving yields, and developing better crop and livestock varieties capable of withstanding climate-related challenges.

He challenged Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) researchers to broaden their focus beyond crops and livestock and invest more in developing locally appropriate agricultural machinery and technologies that address the everyday challenges faced by Kenyan farmers. According to Dr. Rutto, locally driven innovation will be instrumental in improving efficiency, reducing production costs, and enhancing competitiveness across the agricultural value chain.

The KNCCI President further called on the scientific community to play a more active role in informing policy and advocacy efforts, observing that despite agriculture’s immense contribution to the economy, there remains a disconnect between policy formulation and the actions required to unlock the sector’s full potential.

Dr. Rutto also highlighted KNCCI’s efforts to drive technology adoption and skills development among farmers, particularly youth, through initiatives such as the Jiinue Growth Programme and the Climate Smart Dairy Farming Project.

He concluded by challenging researchers to continue developing innovative solutions for the sector (such as Aflasafe; KALRO’s  innovative solution  to aflatoxin), while pledging KNCCI’s support in helping commercialize research outputs through enhanced market access, strategic partnerships, and the Chamber’s extensive local and international business networks.

Thereafter he was taken round ro the KALRO data center which houses the Kenya Agriculture Observatory Platform (KAOP) by KALRO Chairman Dr Thuo Mathenge and Director General Dr. Patrick K. Ketiem, a real-time monitoring and digital advisory system. It provides farmers and policymakers with hyper-local weather forecasts, soil health data, and market information down to the specific ward level