The North Rift & Western Region Agribusiness Expo 2026 was successfully held at Kibabii University!

Farmers explored crop demonstration plots as the Agribusiness Expo 2026 kicked off at Kibabii University, gaining practical insights into agricultural practices and technologies that can strengthen production and support more sustainable food systems.

Organised by Eastern Africa Grain Council in partnership with Kibabii University University and the County Government of Bungoma, with support from FAO Kenya and DI East Africa, the Expo brought together farmers and other agricultural stakeholders to share knowledge, explore innovations and identify opportunities across the grain value chain.

Farmers gained practical knowledge on improved farming practices and technologies, accessed an array of service providers who showcased their products and services as well as connected with potential customers. The expo also featured business-to-business (B2B) engagements which gave farmers and traders/offtakers an opportunity to explore supply partnerships and new market opportunities.

The Agribusiness Expo 2026 focused on equipping farmers with practical skills for better harvests and stronger agribusinesses, with farmers taking part in training sessions organised by Eastern Africa Grain Council in collaboration with FAO Kenya.

The training focused on Harvesting and Post-Harvest Management, Soil Sampling and Testing, Organisation Management and Development and Business Management to address everyday challenges farmers face, from grain losses and low productivity to weak farmer organisations and limited market opportunities. Farmers were equipped with knowledge to put into practice to improve grain quality, make better business decisions, strengthen their groups and become more competitive in the market.

From improved seeds to modern farming technologies, solutions for every stage of the agricultural value chain, the Agribusiness Expo 2026 showcased a diverse range of agricultural solutions, bringing together innovators, technology providers and agribusinesses under one roof.

Farmers explored solutions in crop production, soil testing, climate-smart agriculture, mechanisation, post-harvest handling and grain storage, alongside products and services that support agricultural productivity and agribusiness development.

The Agribusiness Expo 2026 featured a soil testing exhibition, where farmers learned how soil testing can help them understand their soil’s nutrient status and identify the right inputs for their crops to support farmers in making informed decisions on fertiliser application, avoiding unnecessary input costs and improving soil health and crop productivity.

With support from FAO Kenya, this encouraged farmers to apply this knowledge on their farms, use soil testing to guide their input decisions and work towards healthier soils and better harvests.

Sustainability took centre stage at the North Rift & Western Region Agribusiness Expo 2026, where farmers received training on sustainable practices across the agricultural value chain.

Supported through the Sustainable African Value Chain Initiative (SAVI) program supported by DI East Africa, the training covered soil and water conservation, moisture conservation, water management, agroforestry and decarbonisation, topics that align with SAVI’s five pillars of Sustainable Value Chain Management, Water Efficiency, Decarbonisation, Environmental Social Governance and European Union Deforestation Regulation preparedness. Farmers also explored how climate variability influences seed selection and other production decisions, and were encouraged to adopt these practices to conserve natural resources, adapt to changing weather patterns and build more resilient, productive and sustainable farming systems.

The Agribusiness Expo 2026 showcased soybean demonstration plots to encourage local production and help farmers explore the crop’s potential.

Through the Sustainable African Value Chain Initiative (SAVI) programme, Eastern Africa Grain Council explored opportunities to strengthen Kenya’s soybean production by connecting sustainability initiatives with emerging market opportunities.

One of SAVI’s key pillars is the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which covers soybean among other commodities, presenting a potential market opportunity for Kenyan producers who can meet the applicable requirements.

With Kenya relying on soybean imports to meet domestic demand, increasing local production offers an opportunity to reduce import dependence and potentially develop export markets.

The demonstration plots provided farmers and other stakeholders with an opportunity to learn about soybean production and explore its potential for adoption on their farms. The ambition is to grow more of what Kenya consumes, strengthen local supply and, over time, position Kenyan soybean for regional and international markets.