Kenya’s Principal Secretary State Department for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Korir Sing’Oei and icipe Director General Dr. Abdou Tenkouano during the launch of icipe Vision and Strategy 2026–2030. Photo Credit: State Department for Foreign Affairs, Kenya
By Murimi Gitari, November 21, 2025, The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) has launched its Vision and Strategy 2026–2030, setting out an ambitious roadmap to harness insect science in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Building on decades of pioneering achievements, the strategy positions insect-based innovations as a cornerstone for advancing food and nutrition security, global health, environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience.
Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063, the strategy outlines impact across five domains. In agri-food systems, icipe will combat invasive and native pests, enhance soil health, integrate crop-livestock systems, reduce postharvest losses, and promote edible insects.
In global health, the Centre will mitigate vector-borne diseases through innovative control technologies, advanced surveillance tools, and early warning systems. For environment and biodiversity, icipe will conserve ecosystem services using nature-positive technologies, drive a circular bioeconomy, reverse biodiversity loss, expand pollination services, and reduce pollution with insects as bioindicators.
On climate change mitigation and adaptation, icipe will build resilience by understanding climate impacts on pests and vectors, scaling up regenerative production systems, and strengthening capacity for climate action.
Finally, in policy and enabling environment, the Centre will bridge the research-policy gap, support evidence-based standards and guidelines, foster innovation, and advance science diplomacy through regional and international cooperation.
During the launch, Dr. Korir Sing’Oei, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Foreign Affairs, commended the new strategic plan, emphasizing its commitment to tackling pressing issues in human, animal, plant, and environmental health through scientific innovation and integrated approaches.
He pointed to icipe’s groundbreaking solutions such as the Push-Pull technology, which enhances crop yields while controlling invasive pests like stem-borers and Striga as examples of how science is transforming the lives of smallholder farmers.
Dr. Sing’Oei described icipe as a leading hub of scientific excellence in Africa.
“Today, ICIPE stands as a beacon of scientific excellence in Africa, with the ability to translate scientific discoveries into practical solutions capable of addressing critical challenges including climate risks, biodiversity loss, poverty, hunger, and unemployment through innovative insect-based science” he said.
He further applauded the Centre’s eco-friendly pest management strategies and its role in advancing Kenya’s national development agenda, citing contributions to initiatives such as the Kenya Climate-Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP), the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP), the Agricultural Sector Development Support Programme (ASDSP), and the Eastern Africa Agricultural Productivity Project (EAAPP).
Calling for deeper collaboration to unlock the full potential of Africa’s bio-economy, Dr. Singoei appealed for enhanced technical financing, stronger public-private investment, joint research programmes and increased youth participation in scientific entrepreneurship and innovation.
Prof. PLO Lumumba, present at the launch, emphasized that science can only unlock Africa’s full potential when supportive policies, robust legal frameworks, and dedicated funding for research are in place.
“We can speak of a renaissance all we want, but the reality remains: we are still importing food; insects are back; and conflicts across the region continue to undermine the progress we have made. When we talk about the renaissance of science, we must ask ourselves: do we have the funding to support the ambitions we proclaim? Without sustainable financing and strong policy frameworks, there can be no true renaissance of science. Africa must not remain in scientific diapers forever. Change will only come when we take a solemn vow to invest in research, innovation and the systems that support them; to match our actions with our words.” Prof Lumumba noted.
The Vision and Strategy was developed through a highly consultative process, incorporating recommendations from the icipe Periodic External Review 2018–2022, a comprehensive Organizational Capacity and Human Resource Assessment (OCHRA), and the views of staff, partners, donors, and stakeholders. It emphasises strengthening partnerships, fostering gender integration, enhancing communication, and building human capital as enablers for achieving its mission.
icipe Director General, Dr Abdou Tenkouano reflected on the journey of developing the Vision and Strategy, noting that it had provided the institution with an opportunity to rediscover its identity, reaffirm its values, and clarify the role it must play in meeting Africa’s and the world’s needs in the decades ahead.
He described the unveiling as the start of a new era, one grounded in the Centre’s heritage, strengthened by its people, and driven by a shared ambition to transform Africa’s future through the power of insect science.
icipe’s unique thematic approach—bringing together plant, human, animal, and environmental health under the One Health paradigm—will be further enhanced. By balancing investments in basic and applied research, the Centre aims to maintain its cutting edge in scientific discovery while ensuring practical impact for communities, including those facing humanitarian crises exacerbated by climate risks and resource scarcity.
Through this Vision and Strategy, icipe reaffirms its commitment to delivering affordable, accessible, and nature-positive insect-based solutions that contribute to a sustainable bioeconomy. Staff, students, partners, and stakeholders are invited to co-implement actions, ensuring that insect science continues to be a pivotal force in transforming livelihoods, ecosystems, and societies—making the planet a place worth living in for generations to come.
