Dr. Allan Mweke, from the school of Pure and Applied Sciences, Nakuru campus 2 grant projects won in 2024 and participated in the launch of projects. The launch took place in Bagamoyo and Da re Salaam, Tanzania between 27th-29th November 2024. The project are:
1.Advancement and adaptation of agricultural biologicals to meet sub-Saharan Africa smallholderfarmers’ needs and build sustainable food systems (abbreviated AgBio4SSA) jointly funded by NRF Kenya and Swedesh Research Council for Sustainable Development (FORMAS) under the sustainable development goals (SDG theme. Being a consortium project it will also be implemented in Kenya, Sweden, Tanzania and South Africa. The project aims to improve research and access to biologicals as sustainable pest management as alternatives to synthetic pesticides. In Kenya the project will be implemented jointly the Mount Kenya university (technical lead-Dr. Allan Mweke) and the University of Nairobi. The project which is funded to the tune of Ksh 30million will recruit a post-doctoral research fellow and an MSc student who will carry out research on various aspects of application and availability of biologicals among smallholder farmers in Kenya.
The role of Mount Kenya university will be Establishing best practice protocols for the testing and adaption of biologicals suited for smallholder farming in SSA and Monitor the effectiveness of different biologicals with tomato leafminer (Phthorimaea absoluta, formerly Tuta absoluta) as a showcase.
The project will run for 3 years beginning January 2025.
2. Increasing Sustainability of Agribiologicals by Living Labs in sub-Saharan Africa (Abbreviated INSALSA). This project is a consortium and is funded by The European Biodiversity Partnership (Biodiversa+) and aims to enhance knowledge and access to agriobiologicals through co-creation of knowledge among stakeholders with focus on smallholder farmers. The project is being implemented in Kenya (Mount Kenya University) and The University of Nairobi, Ethiopia, Tanzania, South Africa, Sweden, Denmark, Italy and The Czech Republic and is funded to the tune of Ksh 68 million and will be implemented for 3 years. The role of Mount Kenya university will be Establishing three types of living labs to inform and educate, capture indigenous knowledge, and co-create knowledge and Testing of biologicals and biological soil amendments. The project will run for 3 years beginning April 2025.
