30 years of bean innovation: PABRA celebrates African-led science

KIGALI, RWANDA, 31 August 2026 - The Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) today marked its 30th anniversary at the Kigali Convention Centre, celebrating three decades of African-led science, partnership and market innovation that have strengthened food security, nutrition, incomes and climate resilience across the continent.

Hosted by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT on behalf of PABRA, the celebration brought together governments, national agricultural research systems, development partners, farmer organizations, private-sector actors, researchers and young innovators. Participants reflected on the network's achievements and began shaping its next 10-year strategy for 2027-2037, under the theme "PABRA beyond 30, and beyond beans."

Established in 1996, PABRA has grown from a regional research initiative into a partnership of more than 900 organizations in 31 African countries, connecting breeding, seed systems, markets, nutrition and enterprise development.

Its work has helped more than 43.5 million farmers, 58.1% of them women, access improved bean varieties, while supporting over 500 small and medium-sized enterprises and linking more than five million farmers to markets.

"The last 30 years allowed us to build a superhighway. Now it is about accelerating. We have achieved a great deal, but there is still much more to accomplish." - Jean Claude Rubyogo, Global Bean Program Leader and Director, PABRA, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT

Jean Claude Rubyogo

Leader, Global Bean Program, and Director, Pan Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA)

Thirty years of results

PABRA and its partners highlighted four areas of sustained impact:

Innovation at scale: more than 600 improved bean varieties released across 31 countries, including high-yielding, nutrient-rich and climate-resilient options.
Farmer and market impact: improved varieties have raised yields by an average of 36%, while stronger seed and commodity corridors connect production with consumer demand and structured markets.
Nutrition and public services: iron- and zinc-rich beans are contributing to healthier diets, including through home-grown school meal programs.
Inclusive enterprise: women and young people are increasingly participating as producers, scientists, seed entrepreneurs, processors and agribusiness leaders.

"Thirty years ago, PABRA planted a seed of partnership in Rwanda. Today, that seed has grown into one of Africa's most remarkable agricultural success stories. Let us renew our commitment to ensuring that innovation reaches every farmer, nutritious food reaches every household, and opportunity reaches every young African." - Dr Telesphore Ndabamenye, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Rwanda

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Partnership as the engine of lasting change

Rwanda played a foundational role in the PABRA story. Collaboration between Rwanda's national bean program and CIAT began in the mid-1980s and helped establish the scientific and institutional foundations for the network. Canada and Switzerland were among PABRA's early partners and have sustained long-term investments that enabled research to move from laboratories into farmers' fields, schools, enterprises and markets.

The celebration also honored the partners behind these gains: NARS scientists who developed and released adapted varieties locally; farmers and farmer organizations who shaped research priorities; seed producers who expanded access to quality seed; and private-sector actors, from traders and processors to retailers and financial institutions, who built markets and took innovation to scale. Governments and development partners sustained the long-term investment that made this possible.

"National agricultural research systems are the backbone of PABRA. Our scientists turn regional collaboration into locally adapted varieties and stronger seed systems, while private-sector partners carry those innovations into businesses and markets. This anniversary belongs to all of them, and to the farmers whose needs continue to guide our work." - Dr Florence Uwamahoro, Acting Director General, Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), on behalf of PABRA's NARS leaders

"One of the most important achievements of this collaboration has been the development and dissemination of high-iron beans. Rwanda provided an important platform for demonstrating the potential of iron-biofortified beans and their contribution to addressing nutritional challenges." - H.E. Julie Crowley, High Commissioner for Canada in the Republic of Rwanda

"PABRA's success conveys an important lesson. Research is not an end in itself. Its real value lies in its ability to improve people's daily lives." - H.E. Gilles Cerutti, Ambassador of Switzerland to Rwanda

Beyond 30 and beyond beans

Discussions focused on demand-led breeding, resilient and inclusive seed systems, school meals, private-sector investment, climate-smart agriculture, regional trade and the potential to adapt PABRA's partnership model to other crops and value chains.

PABRA's emerging 2027-2037 strategy will seek to deepen bean research while expanding the network's contribution to resilient food systems. Priorities under discussion include faster delivery of farmer- and market-preferred varieties, stronger African scientific capacity through the PABRA Academy, increased opportunities for women and young people, and closer links among research, finance, processing and markets.

The celebration concluded with a call for predictable, long-term investment in African-led research and for partnerships capable of moving proven innovations to scale. The anniversary was held on the opening day of the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026 in Kigali.

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About PABRA

The Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) is a network of national agricultural research systems and public, private and development partners working to improve bean production, commercialization and consumption across Africa. PABRA is facilitated by the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), part of CGIAR.

About the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT deliver research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people's lives. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future.