By Abbas Nazil
Prof Martin Fregene has been recognised at the Africa Food Systems Forum for his contribution to advancing agricultural productivity, climate resilience and sustainable food systems across Africa.
The recognition highlights Fregene’s work in agricultural transformation and efforts to promote approaches capable of improving food production while strengthening the resilience of African farmers and food systems to climate change.
Fregene, a plant geneticist and molecular breeder, is Director of Agriculture and Agro-Industry at the African Development Bank, where he works on initiatives aimed at advancing agriculture and agro-industrial development across the continent.
He has more than two decades of experience in genetics, crop improvement and agricultural policy and is credited with developing the first molecular genetic map of cassava and establishing an early molecular breeding programme for the crop.
His recognition comes as the Africa Food Systems Forum places increasing emphasis on solutions that can deliver both economic and environmental benefits, particularly as climate change continues to threaten agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods across Africa.
The Forum brings together governments, farmers, agribusinesses, investors, researchers, development organisations, young people and civil society to develop practical solutions to food security, agricultural investment, job creation, nutrition and climate resilience.
Its Impact Awards are designed to recognise individuals and businesses creating measurable social, economic and environmental value within Africa’s food systems.
The climate and productivity focus reflects the growing need for agricultural solutions that can help farmers increase yields and incomes while reducing vulnerability to drought, flooding, heat and other climate-related shocks.
Fregene’s career in agricultural science and policy has placed him at the intersection of crop improvement, food security and agricultural transformation.
He began his career at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan and later worked on the BioCassava Plus project at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in the United States, where he became project director.
He also served as Chief Technical Adviser to Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture between 2012 and 2015 before joining the African Development Bank in 2017 as an adviser to the Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Capacity Development.
He became Director of Agriculture and Agro-Industry at the bank in 2018.
The Africa Food Systems Forum has identified climate resilience as one of the major pillars of its food-system transformation agenda, with emphasis on adapting agriculture to climate change, reducing agricultural emissions and strengthening resilience to environmental and economic shocks.
The Forum argues that climate action within agriculture should go beyond reducing emissions to also improve productivity, lower production costs, strengthen market access and create more reliable incomes for farmers and agribusinesses.
The approach also encourages innovations that reduce waste and resource use, improve resilience to extreme weather and generate wider environmental benefits while maintaining commercially viable business models.
The Forum, formerly known as the African Green Revolution Forum, was established in 2006 and adopted the Africa Food Systems Forum name in 2022 to reflect a broader focus on the entire food system.
The broader approach covers agricultural production, processing, markets, investment, nutrition, technology and consumption.
The 2026 Africa Food Systems Forum Summit was held in Kigali, Rwanda, from September 1 to 4 under the theme, “Investing in Africa’s Agri-Food Systems: Nourishing Nations, Growing Jobs, Building Resilience.”
The summit brought together stakeholders from across Africa and beyond to discuss investment, innovation and policies capable of accelerating the transformation of the continent’s food systems.
Fregene’s recognition therefore comes at a time when African agricultural leaders and institutions are increasingly seeking solutions that can simultaneously improve productivity, strengthen livelihoods and make food systems more resilient to climate change.
