The Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) and Kasetsart University (KU) of Thailand have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening research, innovation, and food security in Africa. The agreement was formalized in Bangkok on the sidelines of the relaunch of the Thailand–Africa Initiative (TAI), in the presence of high-level diplomatic authorities, including H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Mr. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
This innovative partnership brings together AfricaRice’s pan-African mandate and the recognized expertise of Kasetsart University’s Rice Science Center, with the ambition of delivering cutting-edge scientific and technological solutions to support the development of Africa’s rice sector.
Built around four strategic pillars of cooperation, the collaboration focuses on:
(i) varietal development, through accelerating the breeding of high-quality, climate-resilient rice varieties by means of genetic material exchange, genome editing, and advanced breeding techniques;
(ii) nutrition and biofortification, aimed at addressing micronutrient deficiencies through the development of enriched rice products tailored to African markets;
(iii) mechanization and post-harvest technologies, including the deployment of appropriate equipment and the possible establishment of an assembly plant in Côte d’Ivoire; and
(iv) capacity building, through the training of researchers, extension agents, and young Africans via joint programs and technical exchanges.
The partnership is expected to contribute to the sustainable transformation of Africa’s rice economy, at a time when many African countries are intensifying efforts to achieve rice self-sufficiency and reduce dependence on imports.
By combining AfricaRice’s regional expertise with Kasetsart University’s advanced research capabilities, this cooperation aims to generate tangible and lasting impacts for the benefit of millions of smallholder farmers and consumers across Africa.
Dr. Baboucar Manneh, Director General of AfricaRice, emphasized that “this partnership strengthens our ability to deploy cutting-edge rice innovations across Africa. Kasetsart University’s excellence in rice sciences perfectly complements AfricaRice’s mission to transform rice value chains and sustainably improve food and nutrition security across the continent.”
For his part, Professor Dokrak Marod, Vice President for Research and Internationalization at Kasetsart University, stated: “We are proud to partner with AfricaRice. Together, we will harness scientific advances to develop innovative, climate-resilient rice varieties and technologies to support the sustainable growth of Africa’s rice economy.”
This MoU represents a strong example of South–South cooperation, illustrating Thailand’s renewed commitment to Africa under the Thailand–Africa Initiative. It stands as a model of collaboration, demonstrating how developing countries can join forces to address shared challenges related to food security, nutrition, and sustainable development.
It should be noted that the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) is a leading pan-African research organization and a CGIAR center. It works to transform Africa’s rice sector through innovative science, climate-resilient technologies, and strategic partnerships. Kasetsart University, Thailand’s leading agricultural research institution, is a pioneer in rice research through its Rice Science Center, with strong expertise in functional genomics, grain quality improvement, and the development of premium rice varieties for global markets.
Babacar Sene
Agropasteur Journal
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