Africa Crop Forum 2026 to strengthen African and international crop science partnerships

Researchers, plant breeders, funders and farmers from across Africa, Cambridge, and the wider world will gather in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, from 12-14 October 2026 for the Africa Crop Forum 2026. The Forum will focus on accelerating collaborative solutions to some of the continent's most pressing agricultural challenges, including crop disease, climate resilience, and food security.

Organised by WAVE RESEARCH, the Crop Science Centre, and the Cambridge Africa Climate Collaborative Research Fund, the Forum will place African priorities at the heart of discussions and strengthen international connections. In doing so, the Forum aims to generate practical outcomes by turning knowledge into action.

Through interactive workshops and networking sessions, participants will form new collaborative teams and develop concept notes to become full proposals in 2027. Early- and mid-career researchers will also be matched with mentors to support their career ambitions.

These activities are intended to support stronger research collaborations and create clearer pathways towards future funding opportunities in 2027 and beyond. As Professor Justin Pita, Executive Director of WAVE RESEARCH and one of the Forum's organisers, explains: "It is our responsibility to build the systems that allow young scientists to grow, lead, and deliver solutions for African farmers."

Building on momentum

The Africa Crop Forum builds on relationships and ideas developed during the International Partnerships Event held in Cambridge in 2025. With more than 100 participants from 11 countries, the 2025 meeting strengthened relationships across the Africa-Cambridge partnership network and created a clearer, shared understanding of the priorities that will guide future collaborative research. Reflecting on the 2025 event, Christian Rogers, Head of International Partnerships at the Crop Science Centre, said "The event was about building trust and relationships, and lowering the barriers to integrating the work of scientists and breeders across continents and cultures.”

Discussions highlighted the importance of grounding research in the needs and experiences of farmers, while recognising that successful international partnerships depend on mutual value, trust, and respect. Participants also expressed a strong desire for follow-up activities and continued engagement.

The Africa Crop Forum 2026 was created in response to this call, providing a platform for partners to deepen existing relationships, form new collaborations and advance research with the potential to deliver real-world impact.

Get involved

Researchers, breeders, funders and agricultural practitioners interested in participating are invited to register their interest by 16 August 2026.

Participants can register interest to attended in person, join online, or register to receive updates about Forum activities. In-person places are limited, and priority will be given to invited African scientists, breeders, national partners, funders, early-career researchers, and selected Cambridge and international collaborators. Those unable to attend in person are encouraged to join online.

Read more and register your interest on the Africa Crop Forum website

The Circular and the Linear: A Southern Africanist (Re)Construction of the World 

In this lecture, Tsitsi Dangarembga will argue that modern nations are built around a particular model of human society based on hierarchy, inequality and the accumulation of wealth, and that this model contributes to many of today’s global problems.

Tracing the origins of this system back to 5000BC Varna, Bulgaria, Tsitsi will draw a direct historical trajectory from early forms of inequality to modern capitalism, culminating in the concept of “billionairism”: a late-stage capitalist system in which extreme concentrations of wealth and a growing number of billionaires coexist with increasing global inequality.

Practical information:

• Date: Thursday, 3 November 2026
• Time: 5:30pm - 6:30pm [doors open at 5:15pm], followed by a drinks reception in Central Hall, Divinity School, St John's College, Cambridge
• Venue: Main Lecture Theatre, Divinity School, St John's College, Cambridge

Register here

Partnerships that Deliver: Equitable, Effective, and Sustainable Global Health

The East of England Global Health Conference brings together leading voices from academia, healthcare, policy, and industry to explore what it takes for partnerships to truly deliver. Through real-world case studies and diverse perspectives, the conference will showcase how equitable, effective and sustainable collaborations are strengthening health systems, improving outcomes, and driving innovation—both globally and within the NHS. Join us to learn, connect, and be part of shaping the future of global health partnerships.

Practical information:

• Date: Thursday, 19 November 2026
• Time: 9.00am – 5pm followed by a drinks reception
• Venue: Robinson College, University of Cambridge

Register here