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The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) was pleased to host Professor Shaukat Abdulrazak, Principal Secretary (PS), State Department for Science, Research, and Innovation, Kenya, on 23 February 2026. With bioeconomy becoming central to Kenya’s and the East African development agenda, the department becomes a key champion in advancing a dedicated bioeconomy strategy for the country.
The PS was accompanied by Dr David Ngigi, Director General, National Commission for Science and Technology (NACOSTI); Prof. James Kahindi, Vice Chancellor, Pwani University; Prof. Mwenda Ntarangwi, Vice Chancellor, United States International University – Africa; and members of the Strategy Working Group of the National Bioeconomy Education and Policy Framework Development (Bio-KE) Project. Prof. Iris Lewandowski and Dr Bastian Winkler from the University of Hohenheim, Germany, were also part of the delegation.
The Bio-KE project is a direct outcome of the Global Bioeconomy Summit 2024 (GBS2024), which icipe/BioInnovate Africa co-hosted in October 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya. The project was also inspired by the East African Regional Bioeconomy Strategy. At GBS2024, the International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy (IACGB) recommended strengthening bioeconomy cooperation, especially with the global south, which includes academic regional integration — an approach reflected in the Bio-KE project, launched in October 2025 and will run until 2029.
Pwani University is leading the implementation of the Bio-KE project, which will develop a bioeconomy curriculum for postgraduate training in collaboration with the University of Hohenheim. The collaboration will also support Kenya’s effort to have a dedicated national bioeconomy strategy that builds on the regional strategy.
The delegation saw bioeconomy in practice at icipe. Some of the work showcased included insect for food, feed, and other uses; bee research and sericulture; biobased solutions and products for human and animal health; and integrated pest management.
Prof. Abdulrazak commended icipe’s model of translating research into practical solutions, and called for stronger partnerships between the government and research institutions. “We must build synergies and collaboration across sectors. Supporting triple or quadruple helix partnerships between government, academia, and industry is essential for creating an enabling environment where innovation can transform society,” said Prof. Abdulrazak.
The Director General of icipe, Dr Abdou Tenkouano, was pleased to note that icipe is emerging as a centre of excellence in bioeconomy, and that Kenya can be a regional leader in bioeconomy. “icipe’s work aligns with global development agendas, with bioeconomy strategies embedded across our activities and programmes, such as BioInnovate Africa, which provides a significant boost to the bioeconomy ecosystem in Kenya and the eastern Africa region,” said Dr Tenkouano.
BioInnovate Africa is a regional innovation-driven bioeconomy initiative that translates biobased discoveries and inventions into sustainable business ventures. It is supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and implemented by icipe .
The PS challenged Pwani University to use this opportunity to establish a Bioeconomy Institute at the university. Such an institute would also support work in the blue bioeconomy at the coastal regions of Kenya.
