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By Clementine Nyirangaruye
The signing of a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Alliance of Bioversity International, the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), and Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) marks a new chapter in Rwanda’s battle against malnutrition—with beans at the center of the strategy.
For more than a decade, Rwanda and the Alliance have collaborated through the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Board (RAB) to develop biofortified beans that are richer in iron and zinc—nutrients vital in addressing anemia and childhood stunting. The country, where beans are a staple food consumed daily by most households, has become a global leader in using crop innovation to tackle hidden hunger.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, highlighted the importance of bean research:
“Beans are not just a food for Rwanda, they are nutrition, income, and resilience in a single crop. The progress we’ve made with iron-rich beans is improving the health of our children, the productivity of our farmers, and the strength of our food systems.”
The Alliance’s new Kigali office is expected to further scale innovations in climate-smart, biofortified beans. Rwanda has already released 13 climbing bean varieties that help farmers cope with shrinking farmland while delivering higher yields and more nutrition. The focus now is to reach more rural households with biofortified beans, helping to reduce micronutrient deficiencies, particularly among women and children.
Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, Africa Managing Director for the Alliance, noted that Rwanda’s strong policies and adoption culture make it the perfect hub for nutrition-focused agricultural innovation.
“When we succeed with beans in Rwanda, it sets an example for the rest of Africa. These are not just beans—they are a lifeline against malnutrition.”
With beans already providing up to 40% of dietary protein in Rwanda, expanding access to nutrient-rich varieties could be transformative. Beyond nutrition, beans also boost farmer incomes, with growing demand from regional and international markets.
As Rwanda and the Alliance move into this next phase of collaboration, beans stand as the symbol of how agricultural science can deliver healthier diets, stronger economies, and more resilient communities.
