While decades of innovation have driven remarkable progress, the global nutrition crisis persists, underscoring the need for more collaborative and bold action. One in three people suffers from some form of malnutrition—whether it's hunger, micronutrient deficiencies, or obesity. According to the World Health Organization, 149 million children under five are stunted, and 45 million are wasted. At the same time, only one in ten people in low-income countries consume enough fruits and vegetables. Compounding this crisis are the escalating effects of climate change and biodiversity loss, with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projecting crop yields could decline by up to 30% by 2050.
This sobering backdrop framed CGIAR Science Week 2025, held in Nairobi from April 7 to 12 - a gathering that brought together over 13,000 participants from governments, research institutions, farmer organisations, and the private sector, unified in their mission to build equitable, climate-resilient, and nutrition-smart food systems.
Leadership is at the core of building effective and sustainable food systems. The opening session, aptly titled the "Council of the Wise," emphasised the need to redefine what leadership looks like in this space. Elizabeth Nsimadala, a staunch advocate for farmers and President of the East African Farmers Federation (EAFF), delivered a powerful call to action: to radically shift how expertise is recognised. She urged the global community to view farmers and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) not as passive beneficiaries but as equal partners in innovation. Her message strongly echoed GAIN's long-standing commitment to co-creation and community-led transformation.
On Day 2, CGIAR launched its 2025–2030 Research Portfolio—a groundbreaking $6–12 billion investment framework designed to accelerate impact across poverty reduction, climate resilience, biodiversity, and nutrition. Of particular interest to Nutrition Connect was the commitment to triple the reach of biofortified crops—like iron beans and vitamin A maize—by 2030. These currently reach 100 million people, but with improved targeting, market expansion, and policy integration, that number could grow substantially. The portfolio also highlighted gender-responsive nutrition programmes, which FAO reported in 2024 can increase diet diversity by 30%. As Prof. Lindiwe Sibanda reminded us, "We can't tackle malnutrition without involving women farmers—they grow 70% of Africa's food."
Day 3 was marked by interesting discussions, including the first-panel discussion from the main plenary, which addressed regional targets, specifically the AU/Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and the Kampala commitments. The panel emphasised the pivotal importance of the Kampala Declaration in facilitating Africa's agricultural transformation, particularly in terms of collective commitments to accelerate agricultural development, ensure food security, and promote climate-resilient food systems. African countries, thus, seek to align their developmental frameworks with the CAADP framework, creating objectives to accelerate agricultural productivity, maintain agricultural considerations, and provide nutritious food for their growing populations.
One of the most forward-looking sessions saw GAIN co-convene with the True Price Foundation, Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP), and CGIAR to champion the real cost accounting of food. Today, ultra-processed foods are 40% cheaper than fresh foods in low-income countries—driving unhealthy diets and $3.5 trillion in global economic losses every year (IFPRI, 2024). Therefore, this landmark conversation, led by Julia Boedecker, GAIN's Research Advisor - Consumer-Focused Research, marked a step forward in anchoring the global partnership on the True Price of Food—an initiative designed to help policymakers and businesses identify and act on the hidden social and environmental costs embedded in current food systems. From carbon emissions and land degradation to labour injustice and affordability gaps, this approach promotes a new economic model that prioritises people and the planet. It is a roadmap for healthy, affordable food.
Brought to focus as well was nutrition-sensitive agriculture and how local diets can drive global nutrition solutions. CGIAR, through a session on "Forgotten Foods for Better Nutrition," emphasised the value of indigenous crops like millets, moringa, and amaranth—they are three to five times more nutrient-dense than common cereals. Yet, these remain marginalised, receiving just 5% of global agricultural R&D investment. Challenging the status quo, Elizabeth Nsimandala urged: "Farmers grow what markets demand. Let's make nutrition profitable." Nutrition Connect sees this as a call to action: to help reposition traditional, nutrient-rich crops within national and regional value chains.
Throughout the week, regional innovation was front and centre. From M S Swaminathan Research Foundation's (MSSRF) work with Indigenous women in India to Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa's (AGRA) support for smallholder-centred models in Africa, a clear theme emerged: inclusivity and localisation are essential. Alice Ruhweza of AGRA summed it up: "Smallholder farmers are not just recipients of innovation—they are co-creators." This called for better South-South knowledge exchange and farmer-centred collaboration.
On ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), Professor Alex Awiti from the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) emphasised the role of agroforestry in enhancing climate resilience, biodiversity, and community development. He encouraged the adoption of tree-based systems, soil health, carbon credits, and university-led curriculum reforms.
Sessions also addressed the future of food systems through the lens of digital transformation and innovative financing. Speakers from SunCulture, the Bezos Earth Fund, UNEP, and the African Development Bank emphasised creative funding models and climate-responsive technologies. Dr. Wang Jian's introduction of a bio-intelligence platform capable of digitising over a million seed varieties was a glimpse into the future of breeding science. In the wake of digital technology, tools like the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture's (IITA) Akilimo have featured prominently in discussions, promising to increase healthy food choices by up to 50% in tech-enabled nutrition—AI-driven crop management and financial oversight.
The final day culminated in the unveiling of CGIAR's refreshed science portfolio. With eight coordinated programmes, four accelerators, and a global scaling platform, the portfolio aims to impact 82 million people by 2030. These efforts are grounded in science, but they also require partnerships, predictable funding, and informed investments.
In many ways, Science Week affirmed our current April–May 2025 campaign message: Healthy Plates Need Smart Investments. GAIN's Dr. Lawrence Haddad summed it up with clarity: "For every dollar invested in nutrition, there's a $16 return in economic benefits." With a strategic imperative of the week being how governments can embed science week into national development agendas, Kenya's Prime Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Musalia Mudavadi, legitimised this key focus by affirming Kenya's political will to foster sustainable agriculture and urging investment in climate-smart farming and innovative ideas. Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki, AU Special Envoy for Food Systems, challenged delegates to cultivate a new breed of leadership—bold leaders with scientific mindsets who can translate research into policy and progress.
In her closing remarks, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed reminded delegates of the scale of ambition required: "Science must drive the innovations, investments, and partnerships needed to build food systems that are resilient, inclusive, and sustainable."
For Nutrition Connect, the week reinforced our conviction that solving malnutrition is possible—but only if we scale what works, bridge sectors, and invest wisely. The call to action is clear:
- Prioritise local diets in food and social protection policies.
- Scale nutrition-sensitive agriculture, including biofortification, and support smallholder farmers.
- Make healthy food affordable through incentives and smart subsidies.
- Accelerate public-private partnerships that deliver real results.
As Dr. Ismahane Elouafi concluded: "When science, business, and communities unite, healthy plates become reality."
