WRITTEN BY: Matthew Burkhart (mkburkha@ncsu.edu)

A delegation from NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences recently returned from a pivotal trip to Kenya, strengthening partnerships and exploring new avenues for collaboration in agricultural research and education.

The visit, which included faculty members Harry Daniels and Peter Ferket, aimed to build upon existing relationships with Kenyan universities and government agencies while identifying opportunities for future joint initiatives.

The trip was part of a broader initiative called CREdO (Connecting Research, Education and Outreach), which aims to help African countries integrate research, extension and outreach into a collaborative unit. This model, common in U.S. land-grant universities like NC State, is less prevalent in many developing nations.

“Our purpose, working with these governments and areas, is to help link the infrastructure in these groups together,” Ferket said. “We’re teaching them how to do that, and using some example projects to begin to demonstrate how this connecting research, education and outreach works together.”

Daniels, an aquaculture specialist, emphasized the importance of face-to-face interactions in fostering international partnerships. 

“Sitting down and talking with the Kenyans is where you really learn the most information,” Daniels said. “Those are the sort of moments I enjoy the most.”

The delegation met with representatives from the University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University and government agencies such as KALRO (Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization), Kenya’s equivalent to the USDA-ARS, and KMFRI (Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute). These meetings allowed for in-depth discussions on potential collaborations and the exchange of ideas.

One of the primary focuses of the trip was to explore opportunities in aquaculture, particularly concerning tilapia production. Tilapia, native to Lake Victoria, is a preferred fish for consumption in Kenya. With a growing population and increasing need for food production in rural areas, Kenyan officials are keen on developing their aquaculture sector.

Daniels noted that while Kenya has excellent expertise in tilapia, they lack sufficient extension services to transfer knowledge from universities to producers. 

“That’s one of the links we’re going to try to serve,” he said.

CALS International Programs is particularly interested in developing fish feeds using locally produced products. 

“We want to look at creative and innovative ways of taking things that they produce there, turning that into fish feed, and feeding the fish that way,” Daniels said. “It’s a net improvement in their situation; we’re not diverting food crops into fish.”

The delegation’s composition reflected CALS’ commitment to addressing a wide range of agricultural challenges. Beyond aquaculture, the team included members from a variety of fields including youth engagement in agriculture, sustainable water management for irrigation and human nutrition.

Ferket, who has been involved in previous collaborations with Kenyan institutions, highlighted the mutual benefits of these partnerships. 

“We’re not the only people in the world who have ideas,” Ferket said. “The Kenyans will always have very clever and unique solutions to their own problems.”

Both Daniels and Ferket emphasized that the collaboration is a two-way process, with both sides learning from each other’s approaches and experiences.

The enthusiasm and willingness of Kenyan officials to work with CALS was evident throughout the trip. In a testament to their commitment to the partnership, Kenyan representatives expressed a strong desire to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) before the NC State delegation departed. 

Other than the immediate goals of the trip, Daniels and Ferket emphasized the long-term benefits of international collaborations. They see these partnerships as two-way exchanges that can enrich research, education and the worldview of those involved at NC State while making a meaningful impact abroad.

While the trip’s primary goal was to support Kenyan agricultural development, the NC State professors also see significant benefits for their institution and students.

“As far as faculty go, we do a lot of research, and certainly one of our focuses is to help people from North Carolina, because we are a state university,” Daniels said. “But I think that some of the work that you do over there is some of the most impactful work you can do in your whole career.”

Ferket echoed this sentiment, adding that these experiences are invaluable for NC State students. 

“One of the biggest components is to be able to take our students and give them those experiences to work internationally,” he said. “Go see these alternative cultures, use their creativity, come up with some novel solutions that are needed in those countries.”