The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) and the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) have agreed to deepen their longstanding partnership, with a renewed focus on climate-smart agriculture, digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), data governance and pest and disease management.
The renewed commitment was made on Friday when CABI Chief Executive Officer Dr Daniel Elger paid a courtesy visit to NARO top management at the organisation’s headquarters in Entebbe.
The engagement provided an opportunity for the two institutions to review their existing collaboration and identify new areas where scientific expertise, technology and resources can be deployed to address emerging challenges facing Uganda’s agricultural sector.
According to NARO, the discussions centred on climate change adaptation, agricultural digitisation, artificial intelligence, data and data governance, pest and disease management, and joint resource mobilisation.
Climate change puts agriculture under growing pressure
Dr Elger described climate change as one of the most urgent threats facing agricultural productivity, particularly because of its impact on the spread and behaviour of agricultural pests and diseases.
He said changing climatic conditions are altering pest and disease patterns globally, including contributing to the emergence of invasive species in areas where they had previously not been prevalent.
The changes are also affecting the timing and geographical distribution of agricultural pests, creating new risks for farmers and agricultural production systems.
CABI, Dr Elger said, has particular expertise in helping countries respond to these threats through interventions such as early warning systems and sustainable, nature-based solutions.
“Climate change is an absolute key priority,” Dr Elger said, noting that CABI works with its member countries to make agriculture more resilient to emerging pressures, particularly for smallholder farmers and food security.
The CABI chief executive said efforts to protect food production must go beyond simply controlling pests and diseases.
Farmers must also have access to timely and appropriate information and technologies that can help them maintain productive, profitable and sustainable farming systems as climatic and agricultural conditions change.
AI emerges as a new frontier for agricultural research
A significant part of the discussions focused on the growing role of artificial intelligence and data in agricultural research and service delivery.
Dr Elger noted that national agricultural research institutions such as NARO play a critical role not only in generating agricultural technologies and providing technical advice, but also in collecting valuable data and evidence about what works in different farming environments.
He said the partnership could help strengthen how such data is managed, governed and used to inform agricultural policy, research and investment decisions.
“How do we make the most of that data? How do we harness that data? How do we ensure that that data is managed in a respectful way from the perspective of the people who’ve generated that data and put to the best possible use?” Dr Elger said.
For NARO, the discussions come as the organisation explores how AI can be integrated into its operations to improve agricultural research and service delivery.
NARO Director General Dr Yona Baguma said the organisation is in the process of establishing a dedicated team to spearhead its work on artificial intelligence.
He expressed interest in working with CABI to develop an institutional framework that would guide the responsible harnessing of AI.
“Working with the team from CABI, we will look forward to developing an institutional framework to harness AI for service of humanity,” Dr Baguma said.
Dr Baguma further identified climate change transformation, digitisation of research processes and data sharing as key areas for expanded cooperation.
He said NARO could work with CABI to digitise research processes, enabling the organisation to deliver its services at greater scale.
The two institutions are also considering shared data platforms that could strengthen evidence-based investment and decision-making in agriculture.
“We want NARO to be a champion in establishing a governance framework for AI in Uganda,” Dr Baguma said.
Partnership to target farmers and agricultural decision-makers
The proposed collaboration is expected to support NARO’s broader mandate of generating and disseminating agricultural research, technologies and innovations that respond to the changing needs of farmers, value-chain actors and policymakers.
The partnership is also expected to strengthen efforts to mobilise resources for agricultural research and innovation in Uganda and the wider region.
Dr Baguma said stronger partnerships would be important in mobilising additional resources needed to address emerging challenges confronting the agricultural sector.
The engagement between NARO and CABI comes at a time when agricultural systems are facing multiple pressures, including climate change, emerging pests and diseases, food insecurity and increasing demand for more efficient agricultural information systems.
Both organisations see stronger collaboration between national agricultural research institutions and international scientific organisations as critical to developing practical solutions to these challenges.
Dr Elger described NARO as a crucial partner within the CABI family of member countries, underscoring the depth of cooperation that the two organisations have built over several years.
“NARO is a crucial part for us. NARO represents Uganda in the CABI family of member countries, and we came to discuss some of the most urgent priorities that NARO is envisaging for the future,” he said.
The meeting was attended by NARO Deputy Director General Dr Sadik Kassim, Director of Audit Denis Owor and Director of Finance Julius Tegiike, alongside other senior officials from NARO and CABI.
The strengthened partnership is expected to provide a platform for the two institutions to combine scientific knowledge, technology, data and resources in developing agricultural solutions capable of responding to Uganda’s evolving climate and food-security challenges.
