The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization has intensified efforts to bridge the gap between scientific research and commercial agriculture following high-level discussions with a World Bank delegation on strategies to transform research innovations into market-ready solutions for farmers and agribusinesses.
The meeting, hosted by KALRO Director General Patrick Ketiem and Deputy Director General for Crops Alice Murage, brought together World Bank experts including Loraine Ronchi, Agricultural Economist Ghada Elabed, and Agricultural Economist James Musinga.
The discussions centered on strengthening KALRO’s commercialization agenda and positioning the institution as a knowledge hub that converts scientific discoveries into practical technologies capable of improving productivity and livelihoods across Kenya’s agricultural value chains.
Addressing the meeting, Dr. Ketiem said research should extend beyond laboratories and directly benefit farmers by generating innovations that can be adopted, commercialized, and scaled for wider impact.
“We need to nurture and incubate private sector partners who are willing to adopt, commercialize, and scale KALRO technologies and innovations,” said Dr. Ketiem.
He added that KALRO remains committed to developing an effective commercialization model that will accelerate the uptake of research outputs while creating value for farmers, investors, and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
“Our goal is to build a successful commercialization framework that transforms research into practical solutions, creates value for stakeholders, and delivers tangible benefits to farmers and agribusinesses,” he said.
The meeting also explored international experiences in agricultural commercialization through a presentation by Michael Okoti, who shared case studies from the Bio-economy Science Institute in New Zealand. The presentation highlighted approaches to identifying commercialization gaps, improving visibility of innovations, building strategic partnerships, and creating sustainable pathways for scaling research technologies.
Participants noted that although Kenya continues to generate numerous agricultural innovations, many technologies fail to reach farmers or commercial markets due to limited investment, weak partnerships, and inadequate commercialization structures.
The World Bank delegation expressed its willingness to support KALRO through diagnostic assessments and technical recommendations aimed at strengthening commercialization frameworks and improving the institution’s ability to translate research into economic opportunities.
The discussions further emphasized the importance of leveraging private sector partnerships to accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies while creating sustainable business models that benefit both researchers and end users.
Officials observed that stronger collaboration between research institutions, development partners, government agencies, and private investors will be essential in ensuring that scientific innovations contribute meaningfully to national development.
The engagement reflects KALRO’s broader strategy of positioning research and innovation at the center of Kenya’s agricultural transformation by supporting food security, climate resilience, value addition, and sustainable livelihoods.
By strengthening commercialization pathways, the institution hopes to ensure that technologies developed through research move beyond experimental stages and become practical tools that enhance productivity, increase farmer incomes, create employment opportunities, and drive long-term growth within Kenya’s agricultural sector
By: Samuel Mwangi
