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A Decade of Investing in People. A Future of Transforming Food Systems.

Since 2015, JR Biotek Foundation has been empowering African scientists, strengthening research partnerships, engaging farming communities, and translating knowledge into lasting impact. Today, our work spans scientific capacity building, innovation, entrepreneurship, and farmer-centred agricultural development across Africa.

Explore Our Footprint
Read Alumni Stories

OUR IMPACT (BY 2026)

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  • African Scientists Trained Hands-On
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  • Smallholder Farmers & Agricultural Extension Professionals Engaged
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  • Farmers Served by an Alumni Venture in West Africa
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  • African Countries
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  • Research Institutions Represented
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  • Digital Learning Engagements
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  • University Students Taught Annually by Alumni
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  • Leveraged by 15 Alumni
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  • Mission-Aligned Resources Mobilised

VALUE CREATED

The true value of these resources lies not in the funding itself, but in the opportunities, leadership, networks, collaborations, and innovations they helped create. Over the past decade, JR Biotek Foundation has used collaborative resources, institutional support, volunteer expertise, and mission-aligned funding to create opportunities that extend far beyond individual programmes. These investments have supported the training of scientists, the development of leaders and mentors, the growth of research collaborations and innovation pathways, and the expansion of farmer-centred and community-responsive engagement through AGRIIP.

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Mission-Aligned Resources Mobilised

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Scientists Trained In-Person
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Research Institutions

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African Countries

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Digital Engagements

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Smallholder Farmers & Extension Professionals Engaged.

Evidence Informing AGRIIP

60

Alumni Scientists & Educators (Survey)

21,857

Students Taught

15

Alumni Researchers

£519,000+

Grants, Fellowships & Other Opportunities Secured.

JR Biotek Innovation Pathway

Africa Bio-Innovation Pitch Challenge

Winner:

Advocate for Clean Climate & Environment, Nigeria

Launched in Cambridge to encourage young African scientists and innovators to develop practical solutions to agricultural, environmental, and societal challenges.

Winner:

EcoSeed / Seed Services, Benin Republic

The winning team later expanded its ecological seed enterprise and strengthened access to indigenous vegetable seeds for farmers in Benin.

The 2019 edition expanded the model by recognising multiple winning groups across non-profit and for-profit categories, reflecting JR Biotek’s growing emphasis on both social impact and enterprise development.

Winner:

Soilless Veggy, Ghana

A low-cost soilless growing medium developed to support vegetable production in space-constrained and resource-limited settings.

As part of JR Biotek’s 2026 Integrated Molecular Biotechnology for Climate-Resilient Agriculture programme at MOUAU, Nigeria, participants took part in a Research & Innovation Challenge focused on climate resilience, indigenous crops, and food security. Winning teams will be invited and fast-tracked into the AGRIIP Research & Entrepreneurship Fellowship, helping promising ideas move beyond training towards practical, farmer-responsive solutions.

Impact Spotlight

From Trainee to Research Leader

“The Foundation’s initiatives helped me establish a strong professional network, creating reliable collaborations that will support my research endeavours well into the future. Through training programmes, mentorship, journal clubs, and international partnerships, I became part of a community of scientists who continue to learn from, collaborate with, and support one another. JR Biotek Foundation’s commitment to capacity building and mentorship has been truly transformative, enabling me to excel both academically and professionally.”
— Dr Anthony MabeleResearch Fellow, Kibabii University and the Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya
“The Foundation’s initiatives helped me establish a strong professional network, creating reliable collaborations that will support my research endeavours well into the future. Through training programmes, mentorship, journal clubs, and international partnerships, I became part of a community of scientists who continue to learn from, collaborate with, and support one another. JR Biotek Foundation’s commitment to capacity building and mentorship has been truly transformative, enabling me to excel both academically and professionally.”
— Dr Anthony MabeleResearch Fellow, Kibabii University and the Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya
“The Foundation’s initiatives helped me establish a strong professional network, creating reliable collaborations that will support my research endeavours well into the future. Through training programmes, mentorship, journal clubs, and international partnerships, I became part of a community of scientists who continue to learn from, collaborate with, and support one another. JR Biotek Foundation’s commitment to capacity building and mentorship has been truly transformative, enabling me to excel both academically and professionally.”
— Dr Anthony MabeleResearch Fellow, Kibabii University and the Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya

ELEVEN YEARS OF BUILDING SCIENTIFIC CAPACITY IN AFRICA

From One Vision to a Continental Movement

Year

Programme

Reach / Participation

Reach / Participation

2014*

Molecular Biotechnology Training
Workshop (IITA, Nigeria)

13-15 Scientists•4 African Countries

2015

JR Biotek Foundation Established

Organisation Officially Established

2017

Cambridge Molecular Biology & Bioinformatics Training

African Diaspora Biotech Summit

17 Scientists•6 African Countries

100+ Participants from Africa, UK & Europe

2018

Cambridge Molecular Biology & Bioinformatics Training

UK–Africa Food Security Symposium

17 Scientists•6 African Countries

100+ Participants from Africa & UK

2019

African Plant Breeders & OpenLabware Workshop (Benin)

Africa Bio-Innovation Pitch Challenge

100 Scientists•19 African Countries

100 Scientists•18 Teams

2020

COVID-19 Virtual Lecture Series

40+ Countries Reached – mostly Africa

2021

Molecular Biology Training – Nigeria

Molecular Biology Training – Ghana

Molecular Biology Training – Kenya

Africa Bio-Innovation Pitch Challenge

25 Scientists + Facilitators

25 Scientists + Facilitators

30 Scientists + Facilitators

Multi-country Participation

Year
Programme
Reach / Participation

2022

JR Biotek–Plant Cell Atlas African PhD Scholars Mentorship Programme

JR Biotek Alumni Symposium (Ghana)

15 Scholars, 30 Mentors

Multi-country Participation

2024

Africa Mycorrhizal Mapping & Metagenomics Workshop (SPUN)

15 Scientists•7 African Countries)

2025

Roots of Resilience: A Decade of Innovation & Impact & AGRIIP Launch

60+ Participants;
Multi-sector Stakeholders

2026

Roots of Resilience: A Decade of Innovation & Impact & AGRIIP Launch

Hands-On Plant Molecular Biology Climate-Resilient Agriculture (MOUAU)

Climate-Resilient Agriculture – Nigeria Summit

JR Biotek-AGRIIP Farmer–Scientist Engagement Activities, (Abia State, Nigeria)

Community Health Outreach

JR Biotek-AGRIIP Farmer Engagement , (Kano, Nigeria)

400+ Participants

30 Scientists

120+ Participants

50+ Farmers, 12 Extension Professionals

96 Community Members

637+ Farmers, 6 Extension  
Professionals

GEOGRAPHIC REACH & PROGRAMME FOOTPRINT

  • Benin
  • Botswana
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • Côte d'Ivoire
  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Ethiopia
  • Ghana
  • Kenya
  • Liberia
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Mali
  • Morocco
  • Namibia
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Rwanda
  • Senegal
  • Sierra Leone
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania
  • Togo
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

FROM SCIENCE TO IMPACT

How We Create Change

Scientific Capacity Building

Research Leadership & Collaboration

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Farmer Partnerships

Community Impact

Our programmes are designed to build knowledge, connect people, and ensure scientific discoveries lead to practical solutions that strengthen agriculture and improve livelihoods.

The Multiplier Effect

Our Greatest Impact Happens After Our Programmes End

The true measure of our work is what participants achieve long after a programme finishes.

Today, our alumni are:

  • Teaching 21,857+ university students each year (reported by 60 alumni).
  • Leveraging US$591,000+ in research funding and professional opportunities (15 alumni reported).
  • Leading research and innovation across 100+ African research institutions.
  • Supporting farmers, mentoring scientists, and building international collaborations.
Explore Our Alumni

VOICES OF IMPACT

Behind Every Statistic is a Story

Every number on this page represents a scientist whose confidence grew, a researcher whose career advanced, an educator who now teaches thousands of students, or an innovator creating solutions for farming communities.

Here are just a few reflections from members of the JR Biotek Foundation alumni community.

Read More Alumni Stories
“The Foundation's initiatives helped me establish a strong professional network, creating reliable collaborations that continue to support my research. JR Biotek Foundation's commitment to capacity building and mentorship has been truly transformative.”
Dr Anthony MabeleKibabii University & Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya
“The knowledge gained has enabled me to teach biotechnology concepts more confidently. I regularly share JR Biotek educational resources with my students and encourage them to learn beyond the classroom.”
Dr Obaiya Grace UtobloUniversity of Jos, Nigeria
“The cash prize enabled our start-up seed company to expand its operations and distribute high-quality indigenous vegetable seeds to nearly 2,500 farmers.”
Dr Aristide Carlos HoudegbeSeed Services (formerly EcoSeed), Benin
“JR Biotek encouraged me to move beyond the technical confines of my profession and adopt a holistic approach that integrates research and its broader applications.”
Beakal Tadesse GirmaUniversity of Cape Town / Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Ethiopia

Collaborators & Contributors

Working Together for Greater Impact

LOOKING AHEAD

The Next Decade

Our first decade focused on investing in people. Our next decade builds on that foundation through AGRIIP, connecting scientists, farmers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, industry, and communities to strengthen indigenous crops and build more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems across Africa.

REPORTS & PUBLICATIONS

Explore our work in more detail.

The Multiplier Effect – 2015–2026 Impact Report
Annual Reports
Programme Reports
Publications

HELP US MULTIPLY IMPACT

Whether you are a scientist, university, donor, policymaker, entrepreneur, or volunteer, your support can help create the next generation of African agricultural leaders.

Read the Impact Report
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