By Jackson Okata | amboleokata@gmail.com
For four transformative days this October, Nairobi will play host to the world’s largest gathering of agricultural journalists, communicators, scientists, innovators, and policy leaders as the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) World Congress 2025 kick off.
The IFAJ World Congress 2025 takes centre stage at the Ole Sereni Hotel at a time when climate change and technological disruption are reshaping the global food systems. This makes the congress vital and timely. Nairobi being Africa’s tech and innovation hub, offers the perfect stage for these urgent conversations.
From October 15–18, 2025, delegates from all over the world will engage in conversations designed not just to inform but to inspire action that will shape and transform the future of agriculture.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mutahi Kagwe is expected to lead a high-powered government delegation to the congress. Top researchers and scientists from research institutions including Croplife International, CGIAR, the Kenya Agriculture & Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), AGRA, Kenya Tea Board among others and global agribusiness companies such as BASF. The apex seed traders network, The African Seed Trade Association is also aboard. International Development Research Centre, Eastern and Southern Office will preside over insightful plenary sessions same to African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF). The Internal Seed Federation has also confirmed its participation at the Congress.
According to Dr Osir Oteng,’ a unique session under MESHA’s Action Research to Enhance Effective Coverage of Climate Change Issues in Africa (ARECCCA). The project which brings MESHA and IDRC together will tackle a topic on Gender, inclusion, and climate communication: Giving voice to the most vulnerable.
Furthermore, ILRI through CGIAR Accelerator on Gender Equality and Inclusion will also undertake a session Telling Stories of Gender, Youth and Social Inclusion in Agriculture in Africa: The CGIAR experience.
MESHA will mobilise regional media to develop and publish inspiring stories on how that encompass Gender, Youth and Social Inclusion in Agriculture in Africa that can easily be understood by policymakers, the political class and local communities in English and Kiswahili in Africa.
The annual global meet is hosted by the Media for Environment, Science, Health, and Agriculture (MESHA) under the theme of ‘Unlocking the agricultural potential in the cradle of mankind’. In engaging plenary sessions, delegates will tackle some of the biggest topics, including how Artificial Intelligence can transform the lives of Africa’s smallholder farmers, securing resilient food systems in a rapidly warming world, and the role of women, youth, and indigenous knowledge in shaping tomorrow’s food system.
During breakaway sessions, delegates will participate in intimate, hands-on engagements about seed systems, nutrition, input costs, land utilisation and market access: challenges farmers across the continents face.
Away from the conference rooms 14 immersive field tours are lined up as part of IFAJ World Congress 2025. From the tea plantations of Kericho to arid landscapes where climate-resilient practices are rewriting survival stories, these tours will offer delegates a glimpse of how policy can be transformed into action.
IFAJ 2025 congress offers journalists a rare opportunity to sharpen skills, build collaborations and networks, and uncover untold stories that demand global attention. Policy makers, researchers and scientists will have a rich marketplace for ideas, solutions, and alliances that can transform the globe’s agriculture.
The truth is simple: if agriculture is the backbone of humanity, then Nairobi in October is where that backbone will be strengthened. If you love agriculture, do not miss a moment in history by failing to be part of the IFAJ World Congress 2025.
