Cambridge, 27 March 2025 – Beneath the storied spires of the University of Cambridge, a powerful celebration unfolded – one rooted in memory, driven by science, and animated by a vision for Africa’s future. Roots of Resilience: A Decade of Innovation & Impact marked the JR Biotek Foundation’s ten-year milestone with a day-long gathering of researchers, policy experts, business practitioners, artists, and community leaders from around the world. This landmark event not only celebrated a decade of transformative partnerships and agricultural progress across Africa but also launched the Agri-Innovation & Impact Project (AGRIIP), a bold initiative to scale climate-smart, farmer-led solutions continent-wide.
A Decade in the Making: Science in Service of Humanity
Chaired by Dr Lyn Kouadio (University of Oxford), the opening session struck a poignant and purposeful tone. It was a celebration, yes, but also a clarion call for deeper investment in science that serves people and planet.
Welcoming remarks by Professor Julian Hibberd (Head of the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge) and an opening address by Professor John Carr (Head of the Virology & Molecular Plant Pathology Research Group, University of Cambridge) acknowledged the longstanding collaboration between JR Biotek and Cambridge’s Department of Plant Sciences. Both speakers praised the Foundation’s contributions to scientific capacity-building across Africa, highlighting how researchers in Carr’s lab and others have been integral to this journey.
The session’s keynote came from Dr Carol Ibe, JR Biotek’s Founder and a Gates Cambridge alumna, who shared the personal story that catalysed a movement.
Image: Dr Lyn Kouadio chairing the opening sessionThe Soil Beneath Our Feet: A Founder’s Story
“Growing up in Nigeria,” Dr Ibe recalled, “we visited the village during festive seasons, where love and laughter filled the air. But every morning, my grandparents would leave at sunrise for the farm, returning only at sunset, often without food.”
She recounted vivid memories: her grandfather toiling until illness overtook him, her grandmother pressing on with silent strength. Their resilience, she said, shaped her worldview. “To them, the soil was not just dirt. It was life, heritage, survival.”
That vision now crystallizes in AGRIIP, an ambitious initiative to unite 100 African scientists with 3,000 farmers to co-develop solutions for resilient agriculture, food security, and economic empowerment. And because stories move hearts, not just minds, the initiative also includes the JR Biotek Art Gallery, a new platform showcasing climate-themed African art. Works by artists like Obioha Nwaegbe (Obi) offer powerful visual narratives of agricultural heritage, resilience, and hope while raising funds for AGRIIP’s long-term impact.
Image: Obi Nwaegbe discussing his paintings and art creations around climate change and its negative impact on African farms and farmers in preparation for the exhibition during the Roots of Resilience event at the Sainsbury Lab, University of Cambridge.Keynotes that Challenged and Inspired
A compelling keynote by Professor Mark Tester (King Abdullah University of Science & Technology, KAUST) called for a radical rethink of how success in science is measured. Framing agriculture as the most environmentally intensive human activity, he urged the research community to prioritize solutions that reach the field.
“Too many discoveries remain trapped in journals. Real impact happens when we bridge the gap between lab and land.”
His innovations in salt-tolerant tomatoes and hybrid vigour preservation underscored this ethos.
Next, Professor Mizeck Chagunda (The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh) redefined livestock as not just food, but as vital threads in Africa’s social, economic, and ecological fabric. His team at CTLGH is pioneering genomics, mobile tech, and community breeding to enhance productivity and climate resilience.
“The future isn’t about more animals. It’s about smarter systems—and smarter animals.”
Bridging Science and Society: A Vision for African Agriculture
An electrifying keynote panel, moderated by Professor Shailaja Fennell, brought together Professors Tester, Chagunda, Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger, and Maureen Abel. The discussion wove together policy, science, and local innovation, highlighting gene editing, agroecology, advisory services, and the critical need for African leadership and donor alignment.
Image: Keynote speakers (Professor Mark Tester and Professor Mizeck Chagunda) and Chairs (Professor Shailaja Fennell, Professor Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger & Maureen Abel) during the panel-led discussion and audience Q&A sessionFrom Soil to Satellites: Climate-Smart Food Systems
Chaired by Professor Chagunda, another standout panel tackled climate-resilient agriculture. Ruth Jepkemoi (Kang4Nature, Kenya) called for greater investment in traditional knowledge and community-based climate action, particularly among women farmers.
Professor Mario Caccamo (NIAB, UK) emphasized the promise of bioinformatics and genetic diversity, urging African institutions to “leapfrog” outdated systems with AI and genomics.
Dr Bethan Manley (SPUN) shed light on the invisible foundation of farming: soil microbiomes and mycorrhizal fungi. She warned against generic inoculants and advocated for locally co-developed soil strategies.
Dr Chloé Orland (Action Against Hunger) pushed for integrated ecological approaches, while Dr Joanna Scales (Innovate UK) spotlighted public-private partnerships enabling innovation across Ghana, Nigeria, and Brazil.
Dr Gabriel Onagoruwa (Olaniwun Ajayi LLP) offered a sobering financial analysis, calling for blended finance models and green bonds to close Africa’s agricultural investment gap.
Image: Panel session chaired by Professor Chagunda with expert panellists from left to right, Dr Gabriel Onagoruwa, Ruth Jepkemoi, Dr Joanna Scales, Dr Chloé Orland, Dr Bethan Manley and Professor Mario Caccamo.The Power of Art: Resistance, Remembrance, and Renewal
Nigerian artist Obi Nwaegbe captivated the audience with an emotionally resonant exhibition of mixed-media works crafted from recycled materials. His art chronicled environmental degradation and displacement yet pulsed with hope.
“Art is not decoration. It is protest, memory, and possibility,” Obi said. “Through it, we confront injustice and imagine new futures.”
The exhibition marked the official launch of the JR Biotek Art Gallery, now live online and supporting both AGRIIP and Africa’s creative economy.
Image: Obi Nwaegbe (left) presenting his art creations and Obi & Nkechinyere (right) in front of the art exhibition during the Roots of Resilience event.Alumni at the Helm: The JR Biotek Ripple Effect
In a heartfelt session chaired by Dr Francis Wamonje (NIAB, UK), alumni reflected on how the Foundation shaped their paths. From Dr Bolaji Thanni’s environmental advocacy in Nigeria to Dr Jacob Ulzen’s soil work in Ghana, the stories were a testament to long-term impact.
“JR Biotek isn’t just a workshop. It’s a family,” said Dr Velma Okaron. “It gave us the tools and the belief to lead.”
Image: Dr Francis Wamonje chairing the JR Biotek alumni panel-led discussion (hybrid) session with panellists, Dr Bolaji Thanni (in green), Dr Olaide Ogunsanya (right to Bolaji), Dr Jacob Ulzen, Dr Velma Okaron and Dr Anthony Mabele (online).Launching AGRIIP: A Blueprint for Transformative Agriculture
The official launch of AGRIIP marked a defining moment. Designed to elevate indigenous crops, enhance rural livelihoods, and co-create climate solutions with farmers, AGRIIP is more than a project; it’s a movement.
“We’ve achieved so much with so little,” said Dr Ibe. “Imagine what’s possible with the support this work truly deserves.”
In a stirring display of ownership, all African partners self-funded their travel to Cambridge, a powerful testament to shared vision and deep-rooted commitment.
Image: JR Biotek and AGRIIP implementation partners from African research institutions. From left to right: Dr Albert Arhin (a Gates Cambridge alumnus and Research Fellow at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Ghana), Dr Ruth Naa Ashiokai Prempeh (JR Biotek alumna 2017 and Head of the Biotechnology Division at the CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Ghana), Dr Carol Ibe (Founder & Chief Visionary of JR Biotek Foundation), Dr Kabir Mustapha Umar (JR Biotek alumnus 2017 and Deputy-Director of Research & Publications at the Centre for Dryland Agriculutre, CDA, Bayero University, Nigeria) and panel chair, Dr Rebekah Sacher (Gates Cambridge alumna, executive board member of JR Biotek Foundation & Director at Sanofi, USA)Closing Reflections: Toward a Shared Future
The day concluded with a reflective panel titled A Shared Vision in Agricultural Innovation, where African scientists and partners from Ghana and Nigeria discussed how training and equitable partnerships have strengthened diagnostics, research capacity, and regional collaboration.
When a Cambridge student asked how the diaspora could help, Dr Ibe’s answer was clear:
“Africa’s transformation must come from within, but it will rise faster when the diaspora stands beside it.”
Finally, the JR Biotek Award Ceremony honoured the remarkable individuals and institutions that have powered a decade of impact in African agricultural science and innovation. From long-standing collaborators and institutional champions to the unsung heroes working behind the scenes, the awards celebrated excellence in partnership, leadership, mentorship, and service.
Highlights included the JR Biotek Excellence in Partnership Award presented to the CSIR–Crops Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana and the Centre for Dryland Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria; the JR Biotek Lifetime Contribution Award awarded to Professor John Carr for his enduring mentorship and tireless fundraising support; and a Certificate of Appreciation given to the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, for its steadfast institutional backing and belief in JR Biotek’s mission.
Image: Professor Mizeck Chagunda (Director of CTLGH, University of Edinburgh and Advisory Board Member at JR Biotek Foundation) presents JR Biotek Foundation’s individual and institutional awards.Individual honours recognised Outstanding Collaborators Dr Ruth Prempeh (Ghana), Dr Anthony Mabele (Kenya), and Dr Kabir M. Umar (Nigeria) for their leadership in co-delivering JR Biotek’s training and capacity-building programmes; Catalyst for Change Dr Velma Okaron (Uganda & Zambia), for helping to initiate and develop the JR Biotek-Plant Cell Atlas (PCA) mentorship programme for African early-career scientists; Exceptional Service & Leadership awardees Dr Jacob Ulzen (Ghana) and Dr Olaide Ogunsanya (Nigeria & UK) whose extreme commitment and efforts were instrumental to the success of the Roots of Resilience celebration to life; and Science Mentorship Impact awardee Ruth Nanjala (University of Oxford), whose storytelling platform is reshaping how African scientists experience and share science. These awardees exemplify the passion, commitment, and collaborative spirit that define JR Biotek’s vision for a resilient and food-secure Africa.
Image: Professor Mizeck Chagunda (Director of CTLGH, University of Edinburgh and Advisory Board Member at JR Biotek Foundation) presents the JR Biotek Science Mentorship Impact Award to Ruth NanjalaA Movement, Not a Moment
What echoed through every session of Roots of Resilience was this: lasting transformation happens at the intersection of disciplines, and when the people most affected are placed at the centre.
As Dr Rebekah Sacher, who chaired the closing session, reflected:
“Today, we witnessed what it truly means to build equitable partnerships. The vision is clear, the people are ready, and the future is now.”
Image: JR Biotek Board Member, Dr Rebekah Sacher (left) and Founder, Dr Carol Ibe (right) in front of the art exhibition (part of the JR Biotek Art Gallery, a pioneering initiative within AGRIIP) during the Roots of Resilience event in Cambridge.Join the Movement for Impact
Be part of our mission to transform African agriculture through science, innovation, and meaningful collaboration.
- Subscribe to our mailing list to stay updated on the Agri-Innovation & Impact Project (AGRIIP), Roots of Resilience 2026, and other initiatives that empower African scientists and smallholder farmers.
- Explore the JR Biotek Art Gallery, where science and creativity come together to honour Africa’s agricultural heritage and inspire collective action.
- Support our work by becoming a sponsor or making a donation to help us scale our impact, nurture local talent, and build resilient, food-secure communities across the continent. You can donate directly via our website or through GoFundMe. For alternative ways to give, please contact us at info@jrbiotekfoundation.org
Together, we can shape a flourishing future for African agriculture.
