At the Science Summit Nairobi 2026, organised by Landscape Alliance, researchers, financiers, technology firms and coffee-industry representatives urged the adoption of science, technology and farmer-focused policies to halt the decline of Kenya’s coffee sector.
Philip Osano, Chief Operating Officer of Landscape Alliance, argued that agricultural investment decisions must be based on scientific proof, stating “Science must underpin Africa’s development decisions, ensuring that evidence guides investments and solutions to the continent’s development challenges.”
He added that higher yields cannot rely on fertiliser alone and that “Improving agricultural productivity requires more than fertiliser inputs. Soil testing and scientific understanding of soil conditions are essential to ensuring that investments translate into higher yields.”
Dr Tony Maritim, Deputy Director of the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), called for policies that place farmers at the centre, saying “Policies should be farmer-centric. We need to look at the whole value chain and ensure that the farmer can benefit from the different opportunities that exist.”
Maritim noted that research could produce coffee varieties able to withstand climate shifts and disease, highlighting the vulnerability of traditional types such as SL28 and K7 and the disease resistance of newer strains like Ruiru 11 and Batian, and urged a shift “to enhancing resistance.”
He also promoted regenerative practices such as retaining pruning residues, applying green manure and intercropping coffee instead of burning waste, linking these methods to economic gains for growers.
Benoit Yonga of CADI said digital tools could move farmers from reactive to predictive management, remarking “We need to move from reactive to predictive,” and pointed to artificial intelligence, satellite monitoring, digital diagnostics and predictive analytics as means to improve decision-making.
Yonga warned that the real challenge lies in converting raw farm data into reliable, actionable intelligence, echoing “The key is not collecting data, but turning data into trusted, actionable intelligence.”
Participants highlighted that finance remains a major obstacle, with coffee growers sometimes waiting six to twelve months for payment, and suggested that digital platforms could offer advances against expected deliveries while linking farmers to credit, inputs and markets.
The ageing profile of coffee farmers was raised as a concern, with calls for greater use of technology and improved returns to attract younger entrants to the sector.
Nancy Kareemi warned that Kenya must tackle falling production and boost value addition, noting that exports peaked at about 130,000 metric tonnes in the late 1980s while current output is markedly lower, and that coffee earnings have risen to roughly KSh52 billion from around KSh20 billion a decade ago.
She added “We should not just sell raw coffee beans. We need to invest in value addition and processed products so that we capture more value.”
Delegates also expressed worry over certification and European Union deforestation requirements, saying compliance costs could strain smallholders and that remote-sensing systems should be supported by local verification.
Osano concluded that stronger connections between researchers, policymakers and farmers are essential to translate scientific knowledge into practical solutions, stating “Bridging science, policy and practice is critical to translating research into action.”
