PROGRAMME
Agenda & Programme
The Africa Crop Forum 2026 is a working partnership event rather than a conventional conference. Our goal is always to co-create climate resilient crop research partnerships that start with African priorities. We listen to our breeders, scientists and funders on the greatest opportunities for impact and build projects and partnerships aimed at active proposal calls in 2027.
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The programme will be active engaging in conversations, short talks and long converstions, live panel discussions and interactive working sessions to develop new collaborations around shared priorities for African crop-systems.
Who the programme is designed for
- African scientists, breeders and national research partners
- Cambridge and international researchers
- Early-career and mid-career scientists
- Farmer-facing organisations and value-chain partners
- Funders, mentors and strategic partners
- Project teams seeking stronger collaboration and proposal development
In-person places are limited and curated. Online participation may be available for wider project teams, mentors and collaborators where relevant.
What to expect
The interactive and engaging sessions will include concise talks, structured discussions, and group work to turn broad ideas into clearer concept notes, partner plans, and follow-up actions.Â
African priorities and field realities
Participants will hear from African scientists, breeders, national partners and farmer-facing organisations about the crop-system challenges shaping research priorities.
Projects and emerging opportunities
The programme will highlight current and emerging work across crop resilience, breeding, pest and disease pressure, soil–microbe interactions, nutrition, processing and adoption pathways.
Funder perspectives and future calls
Participants will explore how emerging ideas may connect relevant funding opportunities in 2027 and beyond.
Working sessions for new collaborations
The event will include structured time to identify partners, sharpen research questions, develop concept-note ideas and plan follow-up.
Expected outcomes
The forum is designed to leave participants with practical next steps, stronger partnerships and clearer routes to funding.
Developed concept notes that can be taken forward into full proposals.
New collaboration teams linking African, Cambridge and international partners.
Mentoring relationships that support early-career and mid-career researchers.
Stronger Africa–Cambridge partnerships grounded in African priorities and field realities.
Clearer pathways to funding opportunities in 2027 and beyond.
A follow-up process that tracks proposals, awards and new collaborations after the event.