Egerton University Exploring New Opportunities to Deepen collaboration in Agricultural Innovation in plant biotechnology and biodiversity conservation
By John Emeripus
Prof. George Muthaa, Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Finance and Planning Egerton hosted a courtesy meeting with institutional partners to explore opportunities to deepen and broaden collaboration in areas of mutual interest, building on an existing relationship anchored in agriculture, research, professional training, innovation and environmental conservation. Landscape Alliance and Amb. Amina LIVE Foundation as partner institutions have consistently recruited high-quality graduates from Egerton University, particularly from programmes in agricultural sciences and agricultural extension.
DVC-Administration, Finance and planning Prof. George Muthaa (centre) pose for a group photo with a visiting team from Landscape Alliance and Amb. Amina Foundation at the main campus Njoro.
The team lead- Dr. Philip Osano said Egerton-trained professionals, scientists and students internships have continued to demonstrate strong technical capacity and are increasingly sought after for career and professional opportunities within the sector. This reflects the value of the University's agricultural training and its contribution to developing a skilled workforce. The partners also identified student mobility, internships and practical training as an area with significant potential for expansion.
While there have been strong engagements in professional and scientific training, opportunities for students and interns to gain practical experience through placements and exchange programmes between the institutions remain limited. Strengthening this partnership would provide students with exposure to industry and research environments while creating opportunities for joint mentorship, experiential learning and talent development. Another important dimension of the partnership was advanced scientific training in plant breeding and biotechnology.
Through the African Plant Breeding Academy and programmes undertaken in collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley, scientists have benefited from specialized training in modern plant-breeding technologies. The visiting team said initiatives have enhanced institutional capacity in emerging areas of agricultural research and innovation. In 2025, two staff members from the partner institution participated in an intensive CRISPR gene-editing training programme, which provided approximately six weeks of specialized training delivered in phases.
Following completion of the programme, the participants continued to benefit from mentorship by experts and professors from the United States, Nairobi and the University. Such programmes demonstrate the potential for the partnership to move beyond conventional academic collaboration towards cutting-edge scientific research, technology transfer and innovation. The discussions further explored the possibility of establishing an innovation hub in East Africa, particularly around plant breeding, biotechnology and emerging agricultural technologies.
Egerton University DVC-Administration, Finance and planning Prof. George Muthaa receives a gift from Landscape Alliance programme coordinator Imelda Ingumba when they paid him a courtesy at Main Campus, Njoro
Landscape Alliance said African Plant Breeding Academy has expressed interest in developing a regional innovation hub, and Egerton University presents a potentially strategic location because of its longstanding expertise in agriculture, plant breeding, research, innovation and its regional networks.Such a hub could serve as a platform for advanced training, collaborative research, technology development, mentorship and commercialization of agricultural innovations.
The partners also discussed a broader and increasingly important area of collaboration around Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives and ecosystem restoration, with particular attention to the Mau ecosystem.
The meeting recognized the need to move beyond fragmented conservation activities towards a more coordinated, measurable and accountable approach to environmental investment. The Mau ecosystem was discussed. That it provided a particularly important opportunity for such collaboration. The meeting therefore identified the need for a robust Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) framework for ecosystem restoration.
Egerton city campus principal Prof. George Ogendi( at the middle) with the visiting Team from Landscape Alliance and Amb. Amina Foundation who paid a courtesy visit to the Main campus , Njoro
