Defining the future of bean production in Eastern Africa: Challenges, trends, and strategic priorities to 2050

Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are central to food security, nutrition, and rural livelihoods in Eastern Africa, providing affordable protein and income to millions of smallholder farmers. While Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Tanzania have made notable productivity gains, Kenya continues to face p...

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Main Authors: Mwungu, Chris, Petsakos, Athanasios, Andrade, Robert, Gotor, Elisabetta
Format: Brief
Language:Inglés
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178533
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author Mwungu, Chris
Petsakos, Athanasios
Andrade, Robert
Gotor, Elisabetta
author_browse Andrade, Robert
Gotor, Elisabetta
Mwungu, Chris
Petsakos, Athanasios
author_facet Mwungu, Chris
Petsakos, Athanasios
Andrade, Robert
Gotor, Elisabetta
author_sort Mwungu, Chris
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are central to food security, nutrition, and rural livelihoods in Eastern Africa, providing affordable protein and income to millions of smallholder farmers. While Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Tanzania have made notable productivity gains, Kenya continues to face persistent structural constraints, and Burundi has experienced a long-term decline in productivity. Across the region, yields remain far below genetic potential due to weak seed systems, limited mechanisation, declining soil fertility, pest and disease pressures, and climate variability. Meanwhile, rapid population growth, urbanisation, and growing regional trade are driving strong demand, positioning beans as both a staple food and a commercial crop. Looking ahead to 2050, the future of the bean sector in Eastern Africa depends on scaling climate-resilient and biofortified varieties, strengthening seed and post-harvest systems, and promoting good agronomic practices. With sustained research investments and supportive policies, beans can continue to serve as a pillar of resilience, nutrition, and rural livelihoods, supporting regional food security and agricultural transformation.
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spelling CGSpace1785332025-12-05T02:18:15Z Defining the future of bean production in Eastern Africa: Challenges, trends, and strategic priorities to 2050 Mwungu, Chris Petsakos, Athanasios Andrade, Robert Gotor, Elisabetta beans markets seed systems nutrition value added Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are central to food security, nutrition, and rural livelihoods in Eastern Africa, providing affordable protein and income to millions of smallholder farmers. While Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Tanzania have made notable productivity gains, Kenya continues to face persistent structural constraints, and Burundi has experienced a long-term decline in productivity. Across the region, yields remain far below genetic potential due to weak seed systems, limited mechanisation, declining soil fertility, pest and disease pressures, and climate variability. Meanwhile, rapid population growth, urbanisation, and growing regional trade are driving strong demand, positioning beans as both a staple food and a commercial crop. Looking ahead to 2050, the future of the bean sector in Eastern Africa depends on scaling climate-resilient and biofortified varieties, strengthening seed and post-harvest systems, and promoting good agronomic practices. With sustained research investments and supportive policies, beans can continue to serve as a pillar of resilience, nutrition, and rural livelihoods, supporting regional food security and agricultural transformation. 2025-12-04 2025-12-04T11:24:28Z 2025-12-04T11:24:28Z Brief https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178533 en Open Access application/pdf Mwungu, C.; Petsakos, A.; Andrade, R.; Gotor, E. (2025) Defining the future of bean production in Eastern Africa: Challenges, trends, and strategic priorities to 2050. Foresight Policy Briefs Series. 7 p.
spellingShingle beans
markets
seed systems
nutrition
value added
Mwungu, Chris
Petsakos, Athanasios
Andrade, Robert
Gotor, Elisabetta
Defining the future of bean production in Eastern Africa: Challenges, trends, and strategic priorities to 2050
title Defining the future of bean production in Eastern Africa: Challenges, trends, and strategic priorities to 2050
title_full Defining the future of bean production in Eastern Africa: Challenges, trends, and strategic priorities to 2050
title_fullStr Defining the future of bean production in Eastern Africa: Challenges, trends, and strategic priorities to 2050
title_full_unstemmed Defining the future of bean production in Eastern Africa: Challenges, trends, and strategic priorities to 2050
title_short Defining the future of bean production in Eastern Africa: Challenges, trends, and strategic priorities to 2050
title_sort defining the future of bean production in eastern africa challenges trends and strategic priorities to 2050
topic beans
markets
seed systems
nutrition
value added
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178533
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